Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has urged processors and investors to protect small-scale farmers through structured, transparent contract farming, warning against exploitative deals that leave growers stranded without markets.
Speaking at the Jumuia ya Kaunti za Pwani Agriculture Revitalization Summit convened by the Agriculture and Food Authority in Malindi on Wednesday, the CS emphasized the need for verified farmer data, credible investor vetting, and stronger national-county coordination to streamline the sector.
Kagwe noted that unlocking the coastal region’s cash crop potential is critical, highlighting that market demand is already secured but production remains low.
“Some coastal products are still being imported despite the region’s vast, suitable land, and we want to assure investors of full government support,” he said, stressing the importance of revitalizing the entire value chain from cashew, coconut, and mango to rice and sugarcane, while strengthening processing and value addition.
He made a direct appeal to processors to protect farmers when entering contracts. “It is important that you protect that farmer so that you do not ask the farmer to grow a crop which you are not prepared yourself to take,” Kagwe said, citing instances where farmers were left with crops because processors failed to honor agreements.
He added that the Office of the Farmer Information is critical, enabling farmers to verify with county governments whether processors have the financial capability and legitimacy to execute their commitments.
The CS warned against unstructured ventures, recalling past agricultural fads that caused more harm than good. “You all know the story of the quail. People ended up with health issues because of improper practices. This is what we are trying to avoid. We want the industry to be streamlined and work efficiently,” he said.
Kagwe also called for more investment in agriculture to meet growing demand. “We cannot continue practicing agriculture for 50 million people using outdated methods while the future population will be much larger. We are already importing 80% of our rice, yet we have suitable land in coastal counties like Tana River County to produce more,” he noted.
He added that there is also a shortage of sugar, despite strong production in Western Kenya, emphasizing the potential for coastal counties to contribute to national food security.
The summit discussions focused on improving access to clean planting materials, boosting research, privatizing idle processing facilities, commercializing unused public land, reforming regulations, promoting youth participation, and linking farmers to the Kenya Agricultural Digital Information Center (KADIC).
Kagwe concluded by urging all stakeholders to treat agriculture as a business, leverage structured contracts, and collaborate efficiently to make the coast a key driver of agricultural industrialization and economic growth.
