Agriculture must be youth-centred and tech-driven, says CS nominee Mutahi Kagwe

Mutahi Kagwe, during his vetting for the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary position, outlined a comprehensive vision to revitalise Kenya’s agricultural sector.

Appearing before the National Assembly’s Appointments Committee, Kagwe stressed the importance of making farming profitable, technology-driven, and attractive to the youth, noting that the current challenges in agriculture require innovative and inclusive solutions.

“The average age of a farmer in Kenya is 65, yet the majority of our population is youthful. Youth will not engage in agriculture simply because we tell them to. They will only do so if it is profitable and exciting,” Kagwe said.

The nominee was responding to Gladys Boss, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly question on how he would involve the youths in the sector, who make up the majority of Kenya’s population.

The former Health CS identified profitability as the cornerstone of agricultural transformation, arguing that farmers must see financial gains to stay motivated.

“Unless the farmer looks at their profit and loss statement and sees they are making more money than they are spending, we will not succeed,” he said.

“Profitability is key to addressing food insecurity, underproduction, and the declining interest in farming,” Kagwe added.

Land access

One of the nominee’s proposals to involve youth in agriculture was to address their lack of access to land.

Mutahi Kagwe: No youth is going to agriculture because we are urging them. They will go there only if they are going to make money. Agriculture for the youth must be made cool. It’s too ordinary and boring pic.twitter.com/0pjq6pbbUC

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) January 14, 2025

He suggested leasing idle land owned by institutions like the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) and private entities to young people.

“There is plenty of unused land that can be leased to young people. However, for this to work, we must ensure the land is profitable by providing the right seeds, conducting soil analysis, and planting crops suited to specific regions,” Kagwe explained.

He also noted the transformative role of technology in modern farming. He noted that youth are naturally drawn to innovation and that incorporating tech-driven farming methods like hydroponics, aquaponics, and artificial intelligence would attract them to agriculture.

“The future of agriculture lies in technology and innovation. Young people are interested in fields that involve technology, and we must make agriculture appealing by integrating it into the sector,” Kagwe noted.

In addition to production, the nominee pointed to other areas in agriculture that could excite young people, such as agri-tourism and fintech.

“In many countries, agricultural tourism is a major attraction where people visit farms to learn about how crops are grown. Kenya can adopt the same model. Additionally, fintech can offer young farmers tailored financial solutions to support their ventures,” he noted.

In addition, Kagwe called for a revision of agricultural training programs to prepare future farmers for a competitive, technology-driven industry.

“The training we provide must focus on the future of agriculture, which will rely on AI, precision farming, and other innovations. Our farmers must be equipped to compete on a global scale,” he added.

He stressed that all agricultural policies and strategies should focus on empowering farmers. “When the farmer is profitable, we will achieve food security, increase exports, and attract youth to farming,” Kagwe stated.

The nominee concluded by urging stakeholders to collaborate in making agriculture a youth-centred and tech-driven industry that can ensure Kenya’s food security and economic growth.