Mutahi Kagwe, CS for Agriculture speaking during the opening of Data4Soil Health and Scale Summit 2025 in Nairobi on Tuesday
The government is stepping up efforts to improve soil health management in a bid to boost agricultural productivity and ensure food security for millions of Kenyans.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has announced new initiatives aimed at improving data collection, interpretation, and the prompt dissemination of soil testing results to smallholder farmers.
Speaking at a recent forum, Kagwe reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring farmers receive accurate and timely information on soil conditions, crop suitability, and fertiliser application to maximise yields.
“We are intensifying soil health data collection and interpretation to ensure that smallholder farmers are well guided in their production decisions,” the CS stated.
According to the latest Soil Atlas, soil degradation has emerged as a major threat to Kenya’s agricultural productivity, contributing to a 30 percent decline in output. The primary driver of this degradation has been poor soil management practices, including overuse of fertilisers, lack of soil testing, and unsustainable farming techniques.
To combat this, the government has launched a pilot program deploying seven youth per county to carry out soil sampling and testing. This grassroots initiative, which is expected to be rolled out nationwide, aims to build local capacity and generate real-time data to guide farmers in making informed decisions.
Experts and stakeholders have emphasized the need for collaboration in interpreting and implementing the soil health data.
“Achieving these goals requires strategic partnerships to ensure recommendations are not just produced but acted upon effectively,” a senior official involved in the program noted.
In addition, stakeholders called for enhanced data sharing mechanisms to improve the monitoring and evaluation of soil health initiatives. This, they argued, would empower policy makers to assess the effectiveness of ongoing programs and refine strategies to further enhance food production.
The intensified focus on soil health management comes at a critical time when Kenya is working to improve agricultural resilience in the face of climate change, land degradation, and growing food demand.
With the right data, technologies, and collaboration, the government believes Kenya can unlock the full potential of its agricultural sector and secure sustainable livelihoods for millions of farmers.