Agriculture

THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HOSTS FORUM WITH TRADEMARK AFRICA TO INTEGRATE KILIMO MAKUENI INTERGRATED SYSTEM (KMIS) WITH iSOKO

The Department of Agriculture, led by CECM Elizabeth Muli, on Wednesday hosted a collaborative forum with Trademark Africa to strengthen digital solutions for farmers through the integration of the Kilimo Makueni Integrated System (KMIS) with iSOKO.

KMIS is Makueni County’s digital agriculture platform designed to link farmers directly with extension officers, agronomic advice and production data, supporting informed and timely farm decisions.

Whereas, iSOKO is an information and market-digital platform currently in seven African countries that seeks to create a unified digital trade ecosystem through linkages to market, trade information and business support services across borders .

The integration will enhance service delivery, improve market access, exploration of alternative markets through intra-africa trade and empower farmers with reliable, real-time information to grow productivity and incomes.

MAKUENI STRENGTHENS EXPORT TIES TO GROW FARMER INCOMES

The County Government of Makueni has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding horticultural exports after a high-level review meeting with TradeMark Africa partners on the progress of the Makueni Export Supply Hub (ESH) programme.

The meeting, hosted by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, brought together key development partners, including Rodrigo Romero Van Cutsem of the EU Delegation to Kenya, Amarins Gerlofsma from the Embassy of the Netherlands, Anne Nalo of the British High Commission, and Joan Karanja from the Embassy of Sweden.

Mulili noted that since the partnership was signed in May 2025, the programme has delivered tangible results—training thousands of farmers on Good Agricultural Practices, strengthening pest control through fruit fly traps, operationalising packhouses, and improving direct linkages between farmer groups and export markets.

The delegation toured Greenfields Demonstration Farm and Iviani Farm in Muvau/Kikumini Ward, before visiting the Kibwezi Packhouse, where they witnessed progress in certification readiness, aggregation, value addition, and youth-led agribusinesses.

Mango, which accounts for 75 percent of the county’s fruit production and supports more than 71,000 farm families, remains the anchor of the export strategy, with improved standards compliance helping reduce post-harvest losses and raise farmer earnings.

The visit—attended by TradeMark Africa Country Director Lillian Mwai, CECM for Agriculture Elizabeth Muli, and Acting Chief Officer Felistus Mutune—reaffirmed the county’s focus on expanding Areas of Low Pest Prevalence, strengthening certification systems, and diversifying export markets.

Through these strategic partnerships, Makueni continues to position itself as a competitive horticultural export hub, delivering jobs, higher incomes, and inclusive growth in line with the development agenda of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.

KALAWA DAIRY FARMERS RECEIVE KSH 850,000 DROUGHT MITIGATION GRANT

Kalawa Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society Ltd on Monday received a KSh 850,000 Drought Mitigation Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), aimed at strengthening dairy farming resilience during the ongoing dry season.

Handed over by Livestock Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza, the grant is intended to support farmers in maintaining milk production amid anticipated feed shortages following the failed October–November–December (OND) rains.

Speaking during the event, Kiminza said the funds will be used to procure high-quality animal feeds to cushion farmers through the current dry spell and into the next rainy season.

He further said the intervention seeks to stabilize dairy productivity, secure livestock nutrition, and protect household incomes.

Beneficiary farmers were urged to strictly adhere to grant implementation guidelines to ensure prudent use of the funds and full accountability.

STRENGTHENING FARM RESILIENCE THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Officials from the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development on Wednesday met key development partners AGRA-Sustainably Growing Africa Food Systems, FIPS Africa, and the East African Grain Council—to align priorities ahead of the rollout of a major agricultural resilience programme.

The engagement focused on deepening collaboration, harmonising implementation strategies, and advancing farmer-centred solutions. The meeting was held as the County prepares to launch REGAIN, a three-year initiative set to benefit at least 65,000 smallholder farmers and 103 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Makueni County.

Implemented with support from AGRA, FIPS Africa and the Eastern African Grain Council, REGAIN seeks to boost incomes and strengthen resilience among agricultural producers through practical food loss reduction solutions. The programme will promote modern post-harvest handling technologies, improved storage systems and structured market linkages to reduce losses, enhance food security and raise profitability along the value chain.

County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Livestock, Elizabeth Muli, reaffirmed Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. commitment to work closely with development partners to ensure the project’s success and long-term sustainability.

She noted that strengthening agribusiness networks and addressing post-harvest losses would significantly improve farmer earnings and build resilience in the sector.

AGRA Country Acting Director, Dr Davies Muthini said strong partnerships and practical loss-reduction solutions are critical to transforming food systems and unlocking higher productivity and income growth for farmers.

The event was also attended by Ag. Agriculture Chief Officer Felistus Mutune, FIPS Africa Peter Githiri, EAGC’s Executive Director Gerald Masila among other officers.

MAKUENI HOSTS INDIAN IRRIGATION TECH GIANT FOR TRANSFORMATIVE AGRICULTURE PARTNERSHIP

Makueni County on Thursday welcomed a high-level delegation from Balson Polyplast Pvt. Ltd., a leading global irrigation technology company based in India, to explore strategic areas of collaboration aimed at transforming agriculture and sustainable energy in the region, like agricultural production,water management, fertigation, and renewable energy solutions including solar and wind power.

Speaking at the Makueni County Headquarters in Wote, Sitansu Sekhar Sarangi, Chief Operating Officer and head of the delegation, emphasized the importance of embracing green revolution technologies to combat the growing threat of climate change on global agriculture.

He pledged the company’s commitment to developing a 100-acre irrigation technology pilot and demonstration project in Makueni County.

Deputy Governor, Lucy Mulili described the proposed irrigation technology as a timely game changer in advancing food security—not only in Makueni but across Kenya.

Her sentiments were echoed by Elizabeth Muli CECM Agriculture, Japheth Mang’oka, Ag. CECM for Water, and Assembly Majority Leader Kisungi Katete, who reaffirmed the county’s commitment to innovative solutions that enhance sustainable development.

CECM Finance, Damaris Kavoi, and Tulimani MCA Kyalo Mumo also attended the meeting.

KITUI BENCHMARKS MAKUENI ON DIGITAL FARM EXTENSION

A delegation from Kitui County on Monday benchmarked digital agricultural extension services in a courtesy visit to Makueni County, aimed at strengthening technology-driven service delivery to farmers.

The delegation, led by Kitui’s Agriculture CECM Dr. Stephen Mbaya Kimwele, was hosted by Makueni’s counterpart Liz Muli at the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development.

Technical and policy teams from both counties shared experiences on e-extension models, digital farmer registration, real-time advisory services, data use for decision-making, climate-smart agriculture and market linkages.

The discussions also touched on value chains such as mango, highlighting how digital platforms can support timely advisory and reduce post-harvest losses.

Also attended by Chief officers Jonathan Kambi (Livestock – Kitui), Japheth Kiminza (Livestok – Makueni) and Felistus Mutune (Agriculture – Makueni), the engagement is an indication that inter-county collaboration is a pathway to improved productivity, resilience and farmer incomes through modernized extension systems.

MAKUENI COUNTY EYES GLOBAL MARKETS WITH NEW HORTICULTURE PACKHOUSE PLANS

Makueni County has stepped up efforts to improve the handling and marketing of horticultural produce amid rising production and recurring seasonal gluts.

A joint team from the county’s Departments of Agriculture and Transport and Infrastructure on Thursday conducted a benchmarking visit to the Horticulture Crops Development (HCD) Centre at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to assess requirements for establishing and operating a standard pack house.

The delegation, led by Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli and Transport and Infrastructure CECM Eng. Peter Mumo, held consultations with HCD officials on pack house design standards and best practices in produce handling that meet international quality and export requirements.

HCD Deputy Director for Regulation and Compliance Collins Otieno said proper produce protection is critical for maintaining quality, meeting export standards, and enabling efficient aggregation to enhance market competitiveness.

Makueni County currently operates packhouses and cold rooms at Kalawani, Kavuthu, and Kalongo, and plans to strengthen market linkages while developing a mega packhouse to reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmer returns.

MURANG’A COUNTY TURNS TO MAKUENI FOR LESSONS IN MANGO VALUE ADDITION AT KALAMBA PROCESSING PLANT.

Makueni County continues to set the national benchmark in agricultural value addition, proving that when farmers, innovation, and visionary leadership align, agriculture becomes a thriving engine of economic transformation.

This leadership was on full display Wednesday as Murang’a County Assembly Committees on Agriculture and Trade undertook a benchmarking visit to the Kalamba Fruit Processing Plant, hosted by the Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority (MCFDMA). The visit reaffirmed Makueni’s position as a trailblazer in transforming the mango value chain from subsistence farming into a competitive agribusiness powerhouse.

Murang’a County’s benchmarking visit underscored the growing recognition of Makueni’s integrated approach to agricultural development. From farmer organization and extension services to processing, branding, and market access, Makueni has built an end-to-end value chain model that other counties are now eager to replicate.

The engagement provided an opportunity for knowledge exchange on governance frameworks, public-private partnerships, and sustainable agribusiness models-cementing Kalamba’s role as a national learning hub for fruit processing and value addition.

MAKUENI STRENGTHENS MANGO MARKET LINKAGES TO BOOST FARMER INCOMES

With an annual mango productionl estimated at over 200 million Kilograms, the Department of Agriculture is intensifying efforts to ensure farmers gain better returns from their produce.

On Friday, the Department of Agriculture hosted Ward Administrators from across the county to discuss practical approaches to improving mango offtake and market access.

During the forum, it emerged that the Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority (MCFDMA) has been allocated 860 metric tonnes for purchase this season, with more than 700 metric tonnes already off taken.

While attending the meeting, Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli emphasized the importance of organized farmer groups, noting that exporters and processors largely source mangoes through cooperatives.

Further, administrators were urged to mobilize farmers into joining cooperatives within their wards and actively link them to buyers.

The forum, attended by Governor’s Political Advisor Nzioki King’ola, Chief Officers Dr. Victoria Kyalo (Agriculture), Dr. Jossylyn Nzilani (Trade) and Japheth Kiminza (Livestock), and MCFDMA CEO Joseph Kioko, aimed at strengthening coordinated marketing to empower farmers and enhance household incomes.

MAKUENI SET TO ROLL OUT MOBILE-BASED AGROECOLOGY SOIL HEALTH PROGRAMME

The Makueni County Department of Agriculture on Thursday convened a forum to roll out the KCEP CRAL SOIL/ILSA programme aimed at enhancing soil health and promoting agroecology through mobile-based access to farm inputs.

The three-year initiative, set to run from 2026 to 2028, brings together county administration officials, agricultural officers, agro-dealers, agroecology service providers, and KALRO. The programme will initially be implemented in three sub-counties, with Sub-County and Ward Agricultural Officers playing a key role in its rollout.

Supported by the European Union, the programme builds on Makueni County’s strong performance during the first phase of KCEP-CRAL. It targets 2,700 farmers for agroecology e-voucher inputs, while an additional 6,500 farmers will benefit from agroecology training. The initiative seeks to increase farm productivity, expand access to subsidized inputs, strengthen county agroecology systems, and improve food and nutrition security.

Speaking during the forum, CECM for Agriculture Elizabeth Muli said the initiative demonstrates the county government’s commitment to improving soil health, promoting sustainable agroecology practices, and empowering farmers through innovative, mobile-based input access.

On his part, KCEP-CRAL Eastern Region Coordinator Patrick Hinga said Makueni’s exemplary performance in earlier programme phases informed its selection, noting that the initiative will enhance farmer resilience, scale up agroecology adoption, and strengthen institutional capacity within the county.