At the 28th graduation ceremony of Bukura Agricultural College, Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh delivered more than just a keynote he brought a message of transformation that’s beginning to take root across Kenya’s agricultural sector. From farmer training and digital systems to fertilizer subsidies and value chain reforms, the government is making it clear that agriculture is the engine powering Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
This year alone, agriculture has contributed 22.5% to the national GDP, up from 21.5% last year. Marketed production brought in Ksh 690 billion, reflecting a 7.2% increase. Behind these numbers are bold moves and one of the biggest is the Digital Fertilizer Subsidy Program, which has slashed the cost of fertilizer from Ksh 7,500 in 2022 to just Ksh 2,500 in 2025. That’s not just a subsidy; it’s a lifeline for smallholder farmers who now grow more while spending less.
Supporting all this is KIAMIS, the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management Information System, which has already registered over 6.8 million farmers. It’s helping the government target support accurately, distribute resources fairly, and monitor agricultural trends in real-time a big leap from the guesswork of the past.
These reforms are already feeding results. Maize production rose to 44.7 million bags in 2024 a 30.4% jump from 2022. That growth has allowed Kenya to cut maize imports by 67%, saving the country much-needed foreign exchange. Similar gains have been reported in beans and rice production, thanks to better seeds, wider access to inputs, and favorable weather. To protect harvests, the government has rolled out 100 high-volume grain driers, with 21 already distributed to counties in Western Kenya. It’s a strategic step to reduce post-harvest losses and improve food quality.
The shift isn’t just happening in the fields. Tea production climbed from 535 million kg in 2022 to 598 million kg this year, with export earnings reaching Ksh 181.69 billion. That momentum comes from smart policies including access to fertilizer, resilient seedlings, MSME training, and tax incentives that support value addition. The sugarcane sector is also on the rise, posting a 45% increase in output after the enactment of the Sugar Act 2024, the introduction of 27 high-sucrose varieties, and financial interventions like farmer payments and price reviews.
Young people are being pulled into the fold too. The Ministry has revived the 4-K Club program and plugged it into county-level training to grow a new generation of agripreneurs. Meanwhile, pest management is getting smarter. Tools like Aflasafe, hermetic storage bags, and mobile driers are being used to combat aflatoxins and other threats that reduce the quality and safety of food.
Dr. Kipronoh closed his remarks by reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to building a strong, inclusive, and modern agricultural sector. The government isn’t just talking about transformation it’s planting it, digitizing it, funding it, and watching it grow into real, measurable change.
