Kenya is seeking stronger support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to improve soil health and help farmers increase agricultural production.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe held talks with FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol at the organisation’s headquarters in Rome, Italy, to discuss areas of cooperation, including soil management, the use of technology in farming and training more soil scientists.
The discussions focused on the role of healthy soils in improving farm productivity and securing the country’s food supply.
FAO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Kenya’s soil health programmes, with both sides exploring ways to use technology and soil data to help farmers make better decisions about their land.
One of the areas discussed was the use of soil intelligence to guide precision farming. This approach uses information about soil conditions to help farmers determine what their land needs, including the right use of nutrients and other farm inputs.
The talks also covered the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management Information System (KIAMIS), which has now been integrated with KADIC, as part of efforts to strengthen the use of agricultural information in planning and decision-making.
Another proposal was to establish a team of soil health champions who would help raise awareness about the importance of maintaining healthy soils and encourage farmers to adopt better soil management practices.
Kenya and FAO also identified the need to train more soil scientists to strengthen the country’s capacity to manage its soils sustainably.
Soil health remains an important concern for agriculture because the condition of the land affects crop growth and the amount of food farmers can produce. Better soil management can also help protect the environment and support farming over the long term.
The engagement in Rome is part of Kenya’s efforts to promote data-driven agriculture, with the aim of giving farmers access to information that can guide decisions on their farms.
Through closer cooperation with FAO, the government hopes to improve soil management, support farmers in increasing production and strengthen the country’s ability to meet its food needs.
