Revolutionizing Agriculture, Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho Unveils New Framework
Principal Secretary Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho addressing delegates at a high-profile gathering held at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC)
In a groundbreaking announcement, Agriculture Principal Secretary CPA Ephantus Kimotho, CVS, has outlined a transformative plan aimed at revolutionizing the agricultural sector.
Speaking at a high-profile gathering that included development partners, private sector stakeholders, the National Education Authority, and key players in the irrigation sector held at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC),, Kimotho emphasized the need for a coordinated approach to enhance productivity and sustainability in farming.
“Under the leadership of our peers, we now have a framework, we have a plan. We are going to revolutionize education in the agricultural sector,” Kimotho declared, underscoring the significance of the initiative.
Kimotho stressed that the primary goal of this strategy is to create a well-structured coordination framework that empowers farmers to increase production while ensuring better integration of private sector players and government initiatives.
“The most important player in this plan is actually the farmer,” he stated. “We realize that farmers interact with different stakeholders—equipment suppliers, financial institutions, and the government—independently. A coordinated approach will help us maximize efficiency and output.”
One of the critical areas of focus is ensuring farmers have access to modern equipment and innovative technologies. However, affordability remains a challenge.
Kimotho acknowledged that while suppliers are introducing cutting-edge irrigation technologies, many farmers struggle to acquire them due to financial constraints.
“That’s where the government comes in—to standardize equipment, create awareness, and instill confidence in farmers,” he explained.
The plan includes interventions that bridge the affordability gap, ensuring farmers can access necessary resources without financial strain.
Through partnerships with financial institutions and development organizations, the government aims to provide funding options and partial guarantees, making agricultural investments more bankable.
“Most banks allocate only a small portion of their portfolios to agriculture due to perceived risks. Through this plan, we are working with financial institutions to introduce partial guarantees, making farmers more creditworthy and enabling them to access financing for essential equipment,” Kimotho said.
Beyond financing, the initiative will support contract farming by linking farmers to aggregators who purchase their produce. The government will also ensure that these farmers have access to reliable water sources to meet contractual obligations.
“Many aggregators engage farmers but struggle with inconsistent quality. Often, farmers fail to produce optimally due to water shortages. We are stepping in to provide water security, ensuring these contracts yield guaranteed income for farmers,” he noted.
The County Irrigation Development Units (SIGU) will play a pivotal role in delivering extension services, organizing farmers into cooperatives, and streamlining aggregator-farmer relationships.
Kimotho highlighted that the lack of a centralized plan has led to inefficiencies in resource allocation. Development partners often invest in overlapping initiatives within the same region, leading to redundancy and missed opportunities elsewhere.
“With a structured plan, we can ensure that resources are distributed effectively, achieving higher returns on investment,” he asserted.
Collaboration with other ministries, such as the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, will also be crucial in protecting water catchments and securing long-term water availability.
The unveiling of this initiative marks only the beginning. Moving forward, the Ministry will engage county governments and farmers directly at the grassroots level.
“We are not bringing county officials to Nairobi. Instead, we will go to them, sitting down with each county to co-create customized programs,” Kimotho concluded.
With private sector investment, strategic government interventions, and increased farmer participation, Kenya’s agricultural landscape is set for a revolutionary transformation one that promises increased productivity, sustainable irrigation, and economic empowerment for farmers across the country.
By Sharon Atieno and Allan Wandera
