The importance of agriculture has been highlighted in Kenya through Vision 2030 and the Medium-Term Plan III, and most recently the President’s Big Four priority agenda for 2017-2022, which emphasises the importance of 100% food and nutrition security for all Kenyans.

To transform Kenya’s agricultural sector and make it a regional powerhouse, the Government has formulated the ASTGS - Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy.

Key Agricultural Sector Facts

• Backbone of the economy with a great potential for growth and transformation
• 33% of total GDP and an additional 27% through linkages to other sectors such as manufacturing, distribution and services
• Employs more than 40% of the total population and about
• 70% of the rural population
• CAGR 4.8% between 2012 and 1016
• 8.6 million farmers
• 2nd largest livestock heard in Africa
• 13th largest number of dairy cows in the world
• Agricultural output and value add:
  80% crops, 15% livestock, 2% fish & aquaculture, 3% other

Source: ASTGS, published in 2019 by the Office of the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation

Opportunities in the agricultural industry include massive investments in crop production, agricultural technology and animal husbandry, the increase of yields and the reduction of immense post-harvest losses. Interestingly, Kenya’s imports of agricultural technology exceed those of Ethiopia and even Nigeria. Between 2012 and 2016, Kenya imported agricultural technology worth 359 million euros, while Ethiopia imported 335 million euros and Nigeria 318 million euros. (VDMA) So Kenya is the second largest importer of agricultural machinery in sub-Saharan Africa, right after South Africa.