Access to quality seed, farmer education and adoption of technology among smallholder farmers has been termed as the key ingredients in ensuring that farmers increase their harvest and ensure that the country is food secure.
Bayer Kenya Managing Director John Kanyingi said that they are leveraging digital tools such as the FarmRise application to provide farmers with information and advisory services.
Speaking in Nairobi on Thursday during an award ceremony to reward loyal consumers and leading distributors of seeds and pharmaceuticals, Kanyingi noted that Bayer was working with various stakeholders including regulators, distributors and financial institutions, to ensure farmers accessed quality inputs and financing solutions.
He highlighted that the number of farmers enrolling on their platform had increased significantly during the campaign period.
Kanyingi lauded distributors, agro-dealers and farmers for supporting the initiative, saying collaboration remained key to achieving food security.
“This campaign has helped raise awareness on the importance of quality seed, good agricultural practices and the use of technology to improve productivity,” he said.
He said the initiative was part of Bayer’s global mission of “Health for All, Hunger for None.”
Smallholder Value Proposition Lead for Africa at Bayer, Everlyn Musyoka, reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to African farmers, saying agriculture remained critical in addressing food insecurity despite challenges such as climate change, pests and diseases.
“Our smallholder farmers are the backbone of our communities and food systems. Without farmers, there is no food security,” she said.
Musyoka said Bayer would continue investing in research and development of climate-smart seed varieties, including drought-tolerant and early-maturing crops, to help farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions.
She added that the company was also focusing on improving access to agricultural inputs through strong distribution networks and partnerships with agro-dealers across the country.
Enock Monda, Director and Founder of Enoch M. AgroVet Ltd, narrated the company’s journey since its establishment in 2002 after graduating as a veterinarian from the University of Nairobi.
Monda said the business had grown from humble beginnings into a major distributor of certified seeds and agricultural inputs, helping farmers embrace modern farming practices and improve productivity.
“We started by encouraging farmers to adopt certified seed instead of recycled seed dried over fireplaces. Today, farmers are seeing the benefits of quality seed and improved farming practices,” he said.
He noted that through partnerships with Bayer and financial service providers, the company had improved last-mile delivery of farm inputs, enabling farmers to receive seeds within 24 hours during planting seasons.
Monda added that the company had expanded into soil testing services after realizing that poor harvests were not always caused by seed quality alone.
“We discovered many farmers did not know the pH of their soil or the correct fertilizer application methods. That is why we introduced soil testing and deployed technicians to guide farmers on proper agronomic practices,” he said.
Speakers at the event also highlighted the role of collaboration between government agencies, private sector players and farming communities in driving sustainable agricultural transformation.
The ceremony celebrated winners of the national promotion campaign, including farmers who benefited from prizes aimed at encouraging adoption of certified hybrid seed and modern farming technologies.
Participants said continued investment in farmer training, innovation and partnerships would be key in ensuring increased agricultural productivity and improved livelihoods for smallholder farmers across the country.
By Paskal Osonga and Sallo Gobana
