NAIROBI, Kenya – Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has announced a groundbreaking initiative to deploy drones—through a partnership with Kenya Airways—to collect vital soil data that will be shared directly with farmers via mobile phones.
The real-time agronomic information is expected to revolutionize decision-making on farms, enhancing productivity and climate resilience across Kenya’s agricultural sector.
Speaking during a high-level meeting with a delegation from the Rockefeller Foundation, led by Executive Vice President Liz Yee, Kagwe said the project is part of broader efforts to integrate emerging technologies into farming and extension services.
“We are leveraging innovation to empower farmers with timely, location-specific advice,” said Kagwe. “This partnership marks a significant step towards data-driven agriculture.”
The CS also called for urgent reforms in the curriculum of Kenya’s 10 agricultural training institutes, stressing the need to align training with modern technologies and equip extension officers with the skills required to support smart farming.
The talks with the Rockefeller Foundation focused on strategic collaborations to enhance food security, boost economic growth, and improve rural livelihoods.
Key agenda items included expanding market access for farmers, scaling up climate-smart agriculture, and improving the nutritional quality of meals across the country.
The meeting also explored ways to support Kenya’s Vision 2030 target of providing school meals to 10 million children.
A major component of the plan involves reviving 4K Clubs in primary and secondary schools, encouraging students to grow healthy, nutritious food and promoting agricultural interest among the youth.
