AGITECH Grand Expo; a master class show in the Agricultural Industry; a learning place for farmers
The two-day event Agitech Grand Expo, once again opened its doors on 11th and 12th of October 2024, captivating Kirinyaga County with vibrant tincture of Kenya’s agricultural sector beauties. The expo that has now turned into an annually event held at Agitech grounds in Mutithi area, along the Nairobi -Embu highway, has proved to be a prestigious and a pivotal platform for farmers, exporters, and stakeholders to converge, collaborate, and explore the latest trends and innovations in the Kenya’s Agricultural sector. The theme of the event was “Use of smart technologies in enhancing agricultural value chains from seed to market”.
The Event was graced by various dignitaries led by The Cabinet Secretary (CS), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), Dr. Andrew Karanja, Principal Secretary (PS) for Environment Mr. Gitonga Mugambi and the Chairperson of Kenya Seed Company Hon Purity Wangui Ngirichi.
The Key sponsors for this year’s Expo were agro input companies; Yara Fertilizers, Osho Chemicals, Amiran Kenya Ltd, Greenlife Crop Protection Africa Ltd, OCP, KCB Bank and BASF among others.
Exhibition stands and pavilions were speckling with a mixture of colors and designs; they were immaculately arranged at the Mutithi grounds, the venue of the fair. The venue was a buzz of activities as exhibitors put their unrelented efforts to showcase products and services to potential farmers, visitors and buyers.
Francis Karanja the brain child of Agitech Seedlings and the patron of the Expo; the company behind the Expo is working to see farmers have quality seedlings while offering employment to hundreds of residents of Kirinyaga County and its environs. Agitech Grand Expo Team has successfully organized two previous events; Agitech Seedlings Launch 2022 and Agitech Grand Expo 2023, which both received positive feedback and significant participation from key stakeholders in the agricultural sector. “Building on this success, we propose Agitech Grand Expo 2024 to be a 3-day event as a continuation of our commitment to promoting agricultural advancements and fostering partnerships within the industry,” said the Patron, Francis Karanja.
In his speech the CS Dr. Andrew Karanja applauded the private sector for scaling up the growth of the agriculture sector and retaliated the Governments commitments to working more with the private sector. “As a Government we are focusing more on value chains. This can only be done better by partnering with the private sector. In case of emerging issues in terms of policy and taxation is for the private sector to raise for harmonization. Under my leadership in the (MoALD) I will endeavor to find dialogue and solutions with the private sector,” said The Cabinet Secretary (CS), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), Dr. Andrew Karanja.
One of the big agenda which the Government has put its best foot forward is tackling reduction of food imports. It baffles that a country like Kenya is importing food items worthy 4 billion Us dollars which translates to Ksh520 billion every year. “Am a shamed as a Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), even when am releasing these statics to the public. For instance, we are importing 1 million metric tons of rice a year and yet we can expand our rice growing zones in Mwea and Ahero areas. We are also importing edible oils and wheat and the private sector as well farmers in Kenya have the capacity; be it human capital of producing this food commodities,” The CS lamented.
To mitigate these challenges which will in the end promote food and nutrition, the Government has focused more in production of availability of viable seeds and planting materials. As it stands, there are enough seeds for maize in the country.
The CS stated they are fighting fake seeds and planting materials which the Government has set up a multi-agency team to fight those replicating good seeds. In addition, the Government has set up parcel of lands through the Agricultural Development corporation (ADC) which private sector can approach the Government for leasing to cultivate more food products to inject in the food supply chain.
On his part, the Patron of the Expo Mr. Francis Karanja called up on the financial institutions to be supporting start up business so that they can in the end provide more meaningful employment to people and especially to the young people.
The organizers of the Expo were very happy “All went well, farmers and exhibitors seemed to be happy on the learning and business side.” Said Francis Karanja, the Patron of the Expo.
As the agriculture industry continues to evolve and experience success, new markets and emerging and new ways of doing business, the Expo has positioned itself as a focal point in bringing together key stakeholders in the agricultural value countrywide.
