NAIROBI, Kenya, June 3 – Kenya plans to modernize agricultural education and training, according to Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe.
Speaking during the opening of the International Floriculture Trade Expo (IFTEX) 2025 in Nairobi, Kagwe asserted that the government is working to upgrade infrastructure at the Kenya School of Agriculture’s (KSA) 10 campuses.
The upgrades include the integration of drones, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data systems.
The Ministry is also conducting a training market needs assessment to align curricula with technological changes and labor market requirements.
KSA is partnering with international agricultural training centers to offer short-term, certified courses.
“These efforts are aimed at making agricultural training more relevant, tech-savvy, and appealing to Kenya’s youth,” said Kagwe.
He described technology and innovation as essential in addressing climate change, environmental degradation, and the disengagement of youth from farming.
Kagwe said that the floriculture industry has adopted some climate-focused practices, such as precision irrigation, sea freight, solar energy, and fair labor policies.
He added that the government is using mobile platforms to distribute agricultural information and working with county governments on local agripreneurship training.
Likewise, he acknowledged ongoing issues such as air-freight costs, illegal fees, and export regulations.
He cited the implementation of the False Codling Moth Systems Approach (FCMSA), which has been approved by the European Commission and supports compliance with EU rose import rules.
The agriculture boss mentioned the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed between Kenya and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in January 2025, which he says brings on board cooperation on agriculture, ICT, and skills training.
IFTEX 2025 includes exhibitors and buyers from various countries and focuses on expanding export markets and building partnerships.
