Sweden in partnership with Kenya and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), intends to roll-out a digital platform, where local farmers could instantly access information pertaining to their activities.
Swedish Ambassador to Kenya, Håkan Akesson, said plans to put-up the system were underway to facilitate farmers register and subscribe for information at the click of the button.
Speaking when he toured Kirinyaga County in the company of senior officials from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to assess progress of digitization, Mr. Akesson underscored the need to embrace the digital era.
Kirinyaga was the first County selected to demonstrate how technology is transforming farming, reducing costs, boosting yields, and increasing household incomes. Ambassador Akesson hailed the County’s progress, noting that Sweden has supported Kenya’s agricultural sector since the 1960s.
“We are proud to work with Kirinyaga and FAO in this digital era. Farmers can now register, access subsidized fertilizer, and receive timely information. That brings transparency, accountability, and efficiency,” he said.
The envoy noted that Sweden has supported Kenya’s agriculture with an investment of over USD 5.5 million in the digital program, to ensure that all systems are working.
“The Swedish government has financed a part, corresponding to about 5.5 million USD, but this is not really about money and the volume of this financial support, it’s about finding smart systems. And what’s good about digitalization is that it doesn’t cost that much to develop systems.” The Envoy added
Kirinyaga’s County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Dr. John Gachara, described the reforms as a “digital agrarian revolution.” as the County emerged as the model of digital agriculture in Kenya, with over 135,000 farmers already registered on the Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (KIAMIS).
“We have only 4,000 farmers left to register. Our farmers now receive inputs at subsidized rates and can query services without waiting for officers to visit. This is the future of agriculture driven by data, powered by technology, and centered on the farmer,” Dr. Gachara noted.
Dr. Gachara said plans are underway to integrate the County system with that national system to offer the modernized form of extension services through a mobile App. allowing the farmer to get an interlink directly with our extension officers.
FAO’s Kenya Representative, Charles Bebay, said the collaboration with counties has proved the value of digitization. He noted existing challenges caused by specific needs of different counties especially in the value chain assuring that the digital platform will be customized to give more options.
“There are still some challenges, we need to ensure that it is well customized to address the specific needs of the counties and services, access to market that we think will work in the near future”
FAO Programme Officer, Wilfred Oluoch, said the main focus of the KIAMES system, is to make sure that all farmers in all value chains across all counties in Kenya, are registered and receive the benefits that are due to them.
Apart from other benefits that are planned for the farmers the immediate one being experienced now, is access to the national fertilizer subsidy program.
He added the program will ensure that extension services are available through the digital platform and readily available to farmers.
“We want to link farmers up to the right information at farm level, also ensuring that the technical officers in the counties are able to reach those farmers. We want to have digital platforms where farmers can request these services at their own time,” Olouch noted.
Beyond cheaper fertilizer, the system is linking farmers to markets, promoting climate-smart practices, and ensuring real-time communication between extension officers and households.
By Mutai Kipngetich
