Kitale: The Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) has affirmed its commitment to promote climate-smart agriculture and trade initiatives ahead of the Kitale National Show. Kitale Show Branch Manager Emily Awor emphasized the focus on climate-smart agriculture and the showcasing of innovations aimed at helping farmers adapt to climate change while enhancing food production. “We welcome everyone to come and learn how to farm and deal with climate change and hunger,” Awor stated.
According to Kenya News Agency, more than 10 exhibitors are expected to participate in the show for the first time, with new entrants from sectors including irrigation, organic fertiliser, education, manufacturing, and retail. The four-day event, scheduled from October 7 to 10 under the theme ‘Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth’, will gather players from agriculture, manufacturing, banking, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), development organisations, retail, and other sectors to showcase products, technologies, and services.
The exhibition is set to provide opportunities for businesses to market their products, close sales, conduct market surveys, benchmark against other industry players, build networks, and strengthen their brands. Assistant County Commissioner (ACC) Risper Kitum highlighted the exhibition as an essential platform for learning, networking, and adopting new technologies to boost agricultural production. Kitum shared her personal experience, noting the success of a kitchen garden inspired by a previous show.
ASK Kitale Show Marketing Specialist Fredrick Kemboi Tarus announced that more than 100 exhibitors are expected this year, compared to about 80 last year. He encouraged participation from farmers, students, businesses, and the public from Trans Nzoia and neighboring counties to take advantage of the technologies, products, and services on display. Tarus specifically mentioned the involvement of seed companies such as Kenya Seed, Western Seed, and SeedCo.
Stakeholders at the meeting urged a move away from reliance on rain-fed agriculture, advocating for irrigation and alternative technologies to cope with unpredictable weather patterns. Moses Sekina Makoha, a stakeholder from Bungoma, emphasized the importance of crop diversification to mitigate food shortages due to prolonged dry spells. He encouraged exploration of crops like sorghum and cassava.
Last year’s show attracted over 80,000 visitors, with organizers hopeful for increased attendance this year. The call to farmers, businesses, students, and the public remains clear: attend the exhibition to learn about new technologies, establish business linkages, market products, and explore opportunities in the agricultural and trade sectors.
