Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has aid that market demand is already secured for farm products from Coastal region but production must now rise.
Kagwe who is leading a summit for the Jumuia ya Kaunti za Pwani Agriculture Revitalization Summit convened by the AFA Kenya in Malindi noted that some products from the said area are still imported despite the region’s vast suitable land, assuring investors of full government support.
He emphasised on discussions centered on revitalising the entire coastal value chain, from cashew, coconut and mango to rice and sugarcane, while strengthening processing and value addition.
“Stakeholders agreed on improving access to clean planting materials, boosting research, privatizing idle processing facilities, commercializing unused public land, enhancing national-county collaboration, reforming regulations, promoting youth participation, and linking farmers to the Kenya Agricultural Digital Information Center (KADIC)” Kagwe said.
Processors called for policy clarity to unlock investment, while counties pledged support and urged farmers to organize and treat agriculture as a business.
CS Kagwe emphasized structured contract farming, credible farmer data, and proper investor vetting to protect smallholders and streamline the sector.
“With confirmed demand and renewed policy alignment, the Coast is positioning itself as a key driver of agricultural industrialization and economic growth” the CS noted.
