Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe during his U.S. Agriculture and trade mission signed deals and partnerships that are set to open new doors for Kenya’s agricultural exports, financing, and largescale investment partnerships.
At the heart of the visit was a high-level engagement with the United States Africa Trade Desk (USATD) CEO Gavin Van Der Burgh. Kagwe secured a commitment for Kenyan agricultural products to enter more U.S. retail markets, ensuring visibility on store shelves and stronger demand for Kenyan produce.
USATD pledged financing support for Kenyan exporters, enabling them to sustain the large export volumes required by expanded retail distribution, a vital financing backing which will stabilize supply chains and empower exporters to scale.
In his address to U.S. stakeholders, the CS urged American investors to venture into large-scale farming and agro-processing in Kenya, especially in wheat, yellow maize, and rice, noting that such investments could shift Kenya from being a net importer to an exporter of key staples, driving food security and trade competitiveness while turning the country into a regional breadbasket.
ALSO READ:
While in New York, the CS held talks with Tara Nathan, Executive Vice President of MasterCard, at the Kenya Consulate, the CS discussed ways in which farmers can be enabled to register as businesses and gain access to credit.
To support this, Kenya and MasterCard sealed deal to explore building a centralized Agriculture Information and Resource Centre (AIRC) that will consolidate farmer data, boost transparency, and unlock tailored financial solutions for producers.
The CS also saw collaboration deal where Kenya’s agricultural colleges will benefit from new academic and research ties through the collaboration with South Carolina State University 1890 Research & Extension which will provide training, knowledge exchange, and research on improved crop breeds and extension services. This partnership will strengthen Kenya’s capacity to produce resilient crops and build a skilled workforce in the agriculture sector.
ALSO READ:
Banks now prefer automation over upskilling, says KPMG Report
The mission also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and the South Carolina African American Chamber of Commerce (SCAACC), representing more than 15,000 businesses.
The agreement, signed by Simon Kariuki Nyagah (KNCCI Diaspora Chair) and Stephen Gilchrist (SCAACC Chair, appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights), sets the stage for increased trade, investment linkages, and business collaboration between the two regions.
As the mission comes to an end, Kenya is set for agricultural revitalization and boost in the farm produce to secure the food security basket in the country.
By Juma Ndigo
Get more stories from our website: Sacco Review.
For comments and clarifications, write to: Saccoreview@
Kindly follow us via our social media pages on Facebook: Sacco Review Newspaper for timely updates
Stay ahead of the pack! Grab the latest Sacco Review newspaper!
