Despite steady gains in agricultural production, Kenya continues to grapple with significant post-harvest losses that erode farmer incomes and undermine national food security.
At Chuka University, stakeholders converged recently to confront this challenge with renewed urgency, unveiling practical, scalable solutions aimed at strengthening the entire grain value chain from harvest to market.
The agribusiness expo, which attracted more than 1,500 farmers and about 30 exhibitors, was convened by the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) in partnership with Chuka University’s Faculty of Environmental Studies and Resource Development.
The event brought together key actors across the agricultural ecosystem, including development partners such as AGRA and Africa Harvest, financial institutions, agribusiness firms, grain traders and county government representatives, among others.
At the centre of discussions was the persistent challenge of post-harvest losses, widely recognised as one of the most critical constraints to agricultural productivity gains in the region.
Speaking during the expo, EAGC Executive Director Gerald Masila said the initiative is anchored on bridging the gap between production and post-harvest management through practical, farmer-centred interventions.
“We are deliberately focusing on actionable knowledge and technologies that farmers can adopt immediately to improve productivity and minimise losses,” he said.
Masila underscored the growing adoption of hermetic storage technologies, noting that they have significantly improved grain preservation by eliminating oxygen-dependent pests without reliance on chemical preservatives.
“This innovation reduces storage costs, preserves grain quality and enhances food safety standards, which are increasingly critical for accessing structured markets,” he said.
The Executive Director further emphasised the importance of good agronomic and post-harvest practices, including the use of tarpaulins during harvesting to prevent contamination.
“Quality management begins at harvest. Allowing produce to come into contact with soil exposes it to fungi, pests, and moulds, ultimately reducing its market value,” he added.
Among the participating farmers was Amos Njagi, a maize and bean farmer from Tharaka Nithi County, who described the expo as a turning point in his approach to farming.
Njagi acknowledged that post-harvest losses have historically eroded a significant portion of his returns, largely due to reliance on conventional storage methods.
“I used to store my maize in ordinary sacks, and within a few months I would lose a considerable portion to weevils and mould. I assumed it was an unavoidable part of farming,” he said.
Through the expo demonstrations, Njagi was introduced to hermetic storage systems and grain moisture management technologies that he says have fundamentally shifted his understanding of post-harvest handling.
“What I have realised is that profitability in agriculture is not only determined in the field but also by how well produce is handled after harvest. Proper storage means I can sell when market prices are favourable instead of being forced to sell immediately,” he noted.
He expressed intention to adopt the technologies and extend the knowledge to fellow farmers within his locality, particularly through informal farmer networks.
Extension officers also played a critical role in translating technical knowledge into actionable guidance for farmers at the community level.
Mercy Karimi, who trains farmers, emphasised the importance of strengthening last-mile agricultural advisory services to accelerate the adoption of improved post-harvest practices.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that this knowledge does not remain at the exhibition level. We must take it directly to farmers so they can reduce losses and improve their earnings,” she said.
Karimi noted that limited access to affordable storage technologies continues to constrain many smallholder farmers, underscoring the need for sustained capacity building and support systems.
At the academic front, Dr. Jafford Njeru from Chuka University, highlighted the importance of institutional collaboration in addressing structural challenges within the agricultural sector.
He observed that universities must increasingly position themselves as active partners in innovation dissemination and problem-solving, rather than purely academic entities.
“This platform demonstrates the value of multi-stakeholder engagement. It is through such collaboration that research outputs are translated into practical solutions for farmers,” he said.
Beyond technology transfer, the expo also facilitated direct engagement between farmers and structured buyers, including grain aggregators and market hubs.
Participants were exposed to climate-smart agriculture innovations, mechanisation solutions, agritech platforms, financial services, and post-harvest management technologies, reflecting a growing emphasis on end-to-end value chain strengthening.
Stakeholders noted that linking farmers to reliable markets remains a critical component in ensuring that productivity gains translate into improved household incomes.
Experts at the expo reiterated that addressing post-harvest losses is central to achieving food security and improving agricultural competitiveness. Without effective interventions at the post-harvest stage, significant proportions of harvested produce risk being lost before reaching consumers.
The Chuka agribusiness expo thus signalled a strategic shift toward a more integrated agricultural development model, one that prioritises not only production but also storage efficiency, value addition, and market access.
For farmers like Amos Njagi, the transformation is both practical and immediate.
“The difference will be in how much I save after harvest. If losses reduce, then everything else in farming starts to make sense financially,” he said.
By Dickson Mwiti and Christine Ngitori
