Mutahi Kagwe has challenged Kenyan farmers to stop viewing farming as a traditional activity and instead treat it as a serious business venture aimed at generating profit and improving livelihoods.
Speaking during an agricultural engagement, Kagwe emphasized that modern farming must be managed professionally, just like any other successful enterprise. He noted that farmers should focus on planning, investment, productivity, marketing, and financial management if they want to succeed in today’s competitive agricultural sector.
“Farming is a business; therefore, people do not go into farming just for the sake of farming, but to make money and earn a living,” Kagwe stated. He added that agriculture remains one of Kenya’s strongest economic pillars and has the potential to create jobs, reduce poverty, and improve food security when handled commercially.
The Cabinet Secretary encouraged farmers to embrace modern technology, irrigation, quality seeds, mechanization, and proper record keeping to maximize profits. He also urged young people to consider agribusiness opportunities, saying agriculture has evolved beyond subsistence farming and now offers lucrative opportunities across the value chain.
Kagwe further stressed the importance of value addition and access to markets, noting that farmers who process and package their products earn more compared to those selling raw produce. He called on cooperatives, financial institutions, and county governments to support farmers through affordable credit, training, and market linkages.
His remarks reflect the government’s push to transform agriculture into a profitable and sustainable sector capable of driving Kenya’s economic growth.
