Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has called on the developed nations and global investors to urgently finance climate-smart agriculture in Africa, warning that inaction could destabilize global food systems.
Speaking at the 3rd Climate Change Global Business Summit on Africa in Nairobi, CS Kagwe said climate change is no longer a future threat but a present crisis already disrupting farming systems.
He noted that Kenya’s heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture has left millions vulnerable, with five failed rainy seasons between 2020 and 2023, over 4M people pushed into food insecurity and significant livestock losses.
He added that the crisis persists, with parts of the country facing floods while others endure drought and extreme heat.
He emphasized that Africa must no longer be sidelined in global climate decision-making, insisting that solutions must be locally driven and tailored to farmers’ realities. He also called for enforcement of the “polluter pays” principle, urging developed economies to match their climate commitments with accountable financing.
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Highlighting Kenya’s progress, Kagwe pointed to ongoing investments in renewable energy, climate-smart farming technologies, irrigation, and resilience-building measures, alongside more than USD 250M already secured for climate financing.
However, he stressed that significantly more capital is needed to unlock Africa’s agricultural potential.
Positioning Africa at the center of global food security, Kagwe urged investors to view climate-smart agriculture not as a risk but as one of the biggest opportunities of the decade, adding that Kenya is ready to lead in driving sustainable agricultural transformation.
By Juma Ndigo
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