National Agriculture Summit Set to Bring Farmers and Stakeholders Together in Nairobi

Kenya will host the sixth National Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit from October 7 to 9, bringing together farmers, county governments, young innovators and development partners to assess progress in the agriculture sector and chart the next phase of transformation.

The three-day summit will be held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, with the third and final day scheduled to take place at State House.

The meeting comes as the government seeks to accelerate implementation of agricultural reforms under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), with food security, food sovereignty and employment expected to feature prominently in the discussions.

Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said the summit would give stakeholders an opportunity to assess progress made in transforming agriculture and agree on priorities for the next phase.

Farmers from across the country are expected to participate alongside national and county governments, young innovators and development partners. Their involvement is expected to bring experiences from farms and agricultural value chains into national policy discussions.

The summit comes at a time when farmers continue to face challenges linked to climate variability, high production costs, market access and productivity. These pressures have increased the focus on measures that can make farming more productive while improving returns to producers.

Government officials have increasingly linked the success of agricultural reforms to the incomes earned by farmers. Koskei has said the impact of the transformation agenda should ultimately be reflected in better earnings for farmers and improved food security for households.

Food sovereignty is also expected to form part of the discussions as Kenya seeks to strengthen domestic food production and build food systems that can withstand climate and economic shocks.

The summit will take place as the government implements initiatives targeting different parts of the agricultural value chain. These include measures to raise productivity, strengthen farmer organisations, expand irrigation, improve market access and promote value addition.

The role of young people and technology is also expected to feature prominently. Young innovators will have an opportunity to showcase technologies and approaches aimed at improving agricultural production and addressing challenges across food systems.

The meeting follows the launch of the Kenya National Agri-food Systems Investment Plan 2026–2030 earlier this year. The Sh1.081 trillion framework is intended to guide investment in the agriculture and food sectors over the next five years.

The investment plan covers crops, livestock, fisheries, irrigation, agro-processing, digital agriculture, climate resilience, research and agricultural finance. It also places emphasis on job creation and improving farmer incomes.

For farmers and other sector players, the summit will provide an opportunity to assess whether ongoing reforms are translating into practical improvements on the ground. Discussions are also expected to identify gaps that require greater investment, coordination and policy action.

As stakeholders gather in Nairobi, attention will be on how national agricultural priorities can translate into stronger production, better markets and more reliable incomes for farmers.

The sixth National Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit is therefore expected to set priorities for Kenya’s next phase of agricultural transformation, with food security, farmer incomes and employment remaining central to the agenda.