It brings together more than 400 local and international exhibitors. Agricultural Society of Kenya Chief Executive Officer Batram Muthoka when he addressed the press at Jamhuri Park Showground The seven-day fair, which opened on Monday at the Jamhuri Park Showground in Nairobi, is targeting a record 600,000 visitors, up from about 400,000 last year.
The Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) seeks to expand the event’s reach beyond traditional agricultural exhibitions. The 125th edition is being held under the theme, “Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth.” It brings together more than 400 local and international exhibitors, with agriculture, manufacturing, financial services, technology, education and enterprise represented.
At the heart of this year’s exhibition is the question of how farmers can use technology to remain productive as weather patterns become less predictable. Speaking during the opening of the fair on Monday, ASK chief executive Batram Muthoka said the exhibition was designed to expose farmers to technologies that can improve productivity while reducing the risks posed by climate change.
“Agriculture is moving into the digital space. We are showcasing drones, for example, which can be used for spraying farms and demonstrate how technology can change farming practices,” Muthoka said. “One of our key focuses this year is climate-smart agriculture.
We are bringing together initiatives and technologies that can help farmers mitigate the challenges that come with climate change.” The shift is coming as Kenyan farmers grapple with droughts, floods, rising temperatures and increasingly erratic rainfall. The World Bank estimates that 98 per cent of Kenya’s agriculture is rain-fed, leaving farmers particularly exposed to changing rainfall patterns.