• Agriculture reforms in Kenya are reducing fertiliser costs and supporting higher crop production as the government expands irrigation and market access for farmers.

Kenya Farmers Urged to Increase Production as Agriculture Reforms Cut Costs and Raise Yields

Kenya Farmers Urged to Increase Production as Agriculture Reforms Cut Costs and Raise Yields

Farmers in Kenya have been urged to increase production, improve productivity and seek better market returns as the government points to gains from fertiliser subsidies and other agricultural reforms.

President William Ruto attended the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit at Jamhuri Park ASK Showground, where the government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening agricultural production through lower input costs, irrigation expansion, infrastructure development and improved market access.

The government says more than 38 million bags of fertiliser have been subsidised since 2022, bringing the price down from KSh7,500 to KSh2,000 per bag. The subsidy is intended to reduce production costs and make fertiliser more accessible to farmers.

The government also cited an increase in maize production from 34.3 million bags in 2022 to 71 million bags in 2025. Cotton yields reportedly rose from 177kg to 378kg per acre over the same period.

These figures were presented as evidence of progress under the government’s agricultural transformation agenda, which seeks to raise output and improve food security while strengthening farmers’ earnings.

Irrigation and Technology Expected to Support Farmers

Beyond fertiliser subsidies, the government is pursuing investments in irrigation, infrastructure, technology and skills development to support more consistent agricultural production.

Plans to develop mega, medium and micro dams under the National Infrastructure Fund are expected to support the expansion of irrigation to 2.5 million acres. Increased access to irrigation would give farmers in suitable areas greater control over water supply and reduce their reliance on rainfall.

Reliable water access is particularly important for farmers facing unpredictable weather and changing rainfall patterns. Combined with suitable crop varieties, soil management and timely access to farm inputs, irrigation supports more stable production across growing seasons.

The government is also emphasising stronger market linkages and value addition, recognising that higher yields alone do not guarantee better farm incomes. Farmers need dependable buyers, suitable storage, efficient transport and access to processing opportunities to reduce losses and secure better returns.

Farmers Challenged to Turn Higher Production Into Better Incomes

The message from the summit was that farmers need to build on production gains by adopting modern farming practices, improving the quality of their produce and connecting with reliable markets.

For smallholder farmers, this involves making informed decisions about input use, choosing crops suited to local conditions, managing production costs and understanding market demand before expanding acreage. Cooperatives and farmer groups also have a role in improving access to inputs, aggregation, processing and buyers.

Agriculture reforms in Kenya will ultimately be judged by their impact at farm level. Lower fertiliser prices and higher national production figures are important indicators, but farmers also need profitable market prices, affordable financing, extension services and infrastructure that allows them to move produce efficiently.

The wider challenge is to ensure that agricultural investments translate into stronger household incomes, more stable food supplies and sustainable opportunities for people working across the farming value chain.

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