Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe officially opened the Kakamega Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Show.
He called on the government’s commitment to safeguarding public agricultural assets and modernizing the sector through innovation, youth engagement, and climate-smart practices.
The annual event, held under the auspices of the Agricultural Society of Kenya, brings together farmers, researchers, agripreneurs, government agencies, and private sector players to showcase agricultural innovations, research breakthroughs, and investment opportunities in Western Kenya and beyond.
Speaking on Kakamega the CS lauded ASK for launching its 2025–2029 Strategic Plan, calling it a bold step toward transforming the agricultural sector and aligning it with Kenya’s development goals.
He urged counties to partner with ASK to boost productivity on its lands and protect the institution’s properties from encroachment or misuse.“ASK property is public agricultural land and must be safeguarded as such. Counties should not allow land grabbers or other interests to take over these assets. Instead, they should collaborate with ASK to make this land economically productive,” he emphasized.
Highlighting recent progress, the CS cited increased crop and livestock productivity, the revival of the sugar and tea sectors, and expanded support for climate-smart agriculture as key milestones under the government’s agricultural reform agenda.
He encouraged young people to actively engage in agribusiness and leverage the innovations on display at ASK shows, stressing the need to create a vibrant, youth-driven farming sector.“The future of agriculture lies in the hands of our youth. These shows are not just exhibitions, they are platforms for transformation and empowerment,” he said.
CS Kagwe also challenged extension officers and agripreneurs to adopt digital tools and data-driven approaches in service delivery, noting that modern agriculture must be tech-enabled to respond to emerging challenges such as climate change, market volatility, and resource scarcity.
The Kakamega ASK Show continues throughout the weekend, featuring exhibitions in agritech, mechanization, value addition, irrigation, and sustainable farming practices.