Nairobi: Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient agriculture as a pathway to food security and economic growth. Kagwe emphasized the government’s dedication to supporting agricultural practices that enhance farmers’ livelihoods while ensuring national food security during a speech delivered by State Department of Agriculture Secretary Peter Owoko at the 3rd National Agroecology Symposium in Nairobi.
According to Kenya News Agency, the symposium, organized by Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Kenya in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, brought together various stakeholders to advance sustainable agrifood systems. The event’s theme, ‘Transforming Agrifood Systems through Agroecology: A One Health Approach for Inclusive, Sustainable, and Resilient Futures,’ highlighted the government’s focus on building resilient and sustainable food systems.
Kagwe noted that the forum builds on the momentum created by the National Agroecology Strategy for Food Systems Transformation (2024-2033), which outlines Kenya’s roadmap towards inclusive and sustainable food systems. He highlighted the government’s steps to promote safer agriculture by strengthening pesticide regulations in 2025, reflecting Kenya’s commitment to sustainable agricultural production.
The symposium holds global significance as it coincides with the International Year of the Woman Farmer and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, recognizing the contributions of women farmers and indigenous communities. Kagwe urged stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, promote innovation, and enhance knowledge sharing to drive Kenya’s agroecology agenda forward.
PELUM Kenya Country Coordinator Rosinah Mbenya emphasized the importance of positioning agroecology at the center of Kenya’s agrifood systems transformation. She called for increased investment to translate policies into action and reach the country’s smallholder farmers. Mbenya highlighted the need for wider adoption of agroecological practices across Kenya’s counties.
Betty Kibara, Director of Food Initiative at the Rockefeller Foundation, discussed the role of regenerative agriculture in strengthening school feeding programs. She noted the foundation’s efforts to connect farmers practicing agroecology with schools, thereby improving children’s nutrition and creating reliable markets for farmers.
VSF-Suisse Country Director Davis Ikiror highlighted the integration of ecological principles into farming for long-term food security and sustainable livelihoods. He urged governments to allocate resources for implementing agroecology policies and called for collaboration across sectors to achieve the desired transformation.
