Agriculture - Sacco Review | The Leading Newspaper for Co-operative Movement in Kenya

Meru Governor assents to Miraa Promotion Act, declares war on miraa cartels, speeding vehicles

Sacco ReviewJanuary 29, 202607 mins

Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma has declared war on miraa cartels and speeding drivers after assenting to the Meru County Miraa Promotion Act, 2025 that enables the devolved unit to enforce miraa regulations. According to Governor Mutuma, the law will smoke out shadowy miraa exporters and cartels believed to be strangling farmers’ earnings. Under the new…

CS Kagwe gives maize hoarders 30 day ultimatum, warns of duty free imports

Sacco ReviewJanuary 27, 202604 mins

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has given maize traders and farmers hoarding grain a 30-day deadline to release stocks to the market, warning that the government will allow duty-free maize imports if supplies remain tight. Speaking in Sagana on Monday, Kagwe said the government’s first priority is to buy maize from local farmers to replenish…

Lower Turkwel Irrigation Project emerges as catalyst for growth in restive region

Sacco ReviewJanuary 23, 2026January 23, 202609 mins

The proposed Lower Turkwel Irrigation Project is increasingly being viewed as a transformative development initiative capable of reshaping agriculture, education and security in the Turkwel region, while also serving as a unifying platform for all communities living around Turkwel, including the Pokot, Turkana and other neighbouring groups. This position emerged following a high-level consultative meeting…

Central Kenya tomato farmers count losses as oversupply crashes prices

Sacco ReviewJanuary 23, 202603 mins

Tomato farmers in Central Kenya are incurring heavy losses after a surge in production flooded local markets, driving prices to record lows across Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Murang’a and Laikipia counties. At Kagio Market in Kirinyaga, one of the region’s main fresh produce hubs, a 60-kilogramme crate of Grade One tomatoes is currently selling for about Ksh1,000,…

Government unveils tax reforms to boost agricultural exports

Sacco ReviewJanuary 22, 202603 mins

The government has announced wide-ranging tax and regulatory reforms aimed at strengthening Kenya’s export-led growth strategy, with a particular focus on agricultural exporters. The measures are contained in the Finance Bill 2026, which is set to be tabled in Parliament in March. Speaking at the launch of Flamingo Group Investments’ Ksh2 billion expansion project in…

CS Kagwe opposes bid to merge human and veterinary medicines

Sacco ReviewJanuary 20, 2026January 24, 202603 mins

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary and Senator Mutahi Kagwe has opposed proposals before the Kenyan Parliament and the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) seeking to merge the regulation of human and veterinary medicines, warning that the move could undermine public health, food safety and livestock production. Speaking during a visit to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), Kagwe…

KTDA launches competitive search for new CEO after Muthaura’s term ended

Sacco ReviewJanuary 20, 2026January 20, 202602 mins

The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has announced the launch of a competitive, merit-based recruitment process to appoint a new Group Chief Executive Officer. According to the Agency, so far the process has attracted 50 applicants, of whom five are internal candidates drawn from KTDA’s senior leadership, including serving Managing Directors and General Managers. The…

Gov’t to establish national animal feed reserves to cushion livestock sector from drought

Sacco ReviewJanuary 19, 202604 mins

The government will establish national animal feed reserves to protect livestock and pastoralist livelihoods from recurring droughts that have previously wiped out more than 2.5 million animals and caused losses exceeding Ksh50 billion. Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe announced the initiative in Embu County, saying drought has become a recurring reality…

NBA: Kenya ready for commercialisation of GMO Cassava

Sacco ReviewJanuary 18, 2026January 18, 202604 mins

The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has announced that Kenya has successfully completed National Performance Trials (NPTs) for genetically modified (GM) cassava, paving way for the commercialization. According to NBA, the disease-resistant cassava varieties are engineered to resist Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD), which causes browning and malformation of edible roots. Some varieties are also drought-tolerant,…

Kenya, IFAD initiate Ksh 600 million EU funded program to boost soil health, agriculture

Sacco ReviewJanuary 17, 202607 mins

The government, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has initiated a Ksh600 million European Union–funded programme aimed at restoring soil health and boosting agricultural productivity for 40,000 smallholder farmers across six counties. The €4.3 million (about Ksh600 million) European Union grant will support integrated soil fertility management, soil testing, agroecological training,…