Over 1,000 farmers gathered at SEKU grounds, Kwa Vonza, for an agribusiness expo on 5th June, convened jointly by the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) and 911±¬ÁĎÍř (SEKU), to champion climate-smart technologies and practices for sustainable Food Systems.
Bringing together more than 30 agri-solution exhibitors, the expo came at a critical time for the region, where farmers, many battling erratic weather, degraded soils, and rising food costs, are urgently seeking climate- adaptive tools to boost productivity and safeguard livelihoods. The expo offered a practical, hands-on look at what sustainable farming can achieve in semi-arid counties like Makueni, Kitui, and Machakos.
Farmers also engaged directly with exhibitors showcasing innovative technologies such as solar irrigation systems, organic fertilizers, precision pest control, climate-resilient seeds, and mobile-based market access tools. Companies like SunCulture, ICIPE, Greenlife, Regen Organics, and OCP Kenya shared practical demonstrations, while financial partners like the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) offered tailored financing models to unlock adoption.
Key remarks
- EAGC Executive Director Gerald Masila emphasized EAGC’s commitment to promoting efficient, structured, and profitable grain trade across Eastern Africa and noted that the agricultural sector’s transformation must be grounded in both profitability and sustainability. He commended SEKU for its partnership and called on stakeholders to collaborate with EAGC to strengthen farmer cooperative management, post-harvest handling, value addition, and innovative marketing strategies to enhance food security and improve rural livelihoods.
- Prof. Harrison Maithya, Deputy Vice Chancellor – Academics, Research & Innovation, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to advancing farmer-centered innovation through research, training, and partnerships. “As an academic institution rooted in this region, SEKU is committed to linking science with society”. He added.
- Sustainable Land Use Planning Expert, Dr. Rose Musyoka, addressed the impact of rapid urbanization on agricultural land, especially in the wake of devolution. She cautioned that many rural market centers have quickly evolved into unregulated urban settlements, threatening Kenya’s food basket. “We cannot feed our people if we keep paving over the very land that feeds us. Planning is not about halting development, it’s about guiding it,” she noted.
- Gladys Kivoto, Chief Officer, Agriculture, Kitui County, emphasized that the county is shifting its approach to agriculture from viewing it as a subsistence activity to positioning it as a key economic enterprise and a strategic driver of rural transformation. "Under Governor Dr. Julius Malombe's Leadership, agriculture is being treated as a value chain and a commercial engine focused on resilience, productivity, and regional collaboration," said Kivoto. She reaffirmed Kitui County’s commitment to driving an inclusive, climate-resilient, and market-oriented agricultural transformation agenda in partnership with regional and national actors.