The future of farming in Kenya is digital. With numerous programs being started to fully digitize government services, the future of Kenya is computerized.

Digitize farming?

Not quite at the point of digitizing farming but the relationship between the government and farmers will be. The government of Kenya has partnered with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to create Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (KIAMIS).

This will be a database of all farmers in the country. The system will provide decision makers with accurate information to allow them to make the best decisions when it comes to the country’s food safety. It will also help farmers by streamlining how they access government services.

The government and the farmer.

The government will be able to maintain a direct relationship with farmers and cut out the cartels and middle men who have plagued the agricultural sector in the past. Gone will be the days of exorbitant price spikes during droughts and shortages.

Decision-makers have a better understanding of inputs consumption patterns through automated capturing of farmers’ purchases at selected agro-dealer outlets. Furthermore, it improves targeting of beneficiaries and reduction of ghost farmers, thereby enhancing the impact of the inputs.

It’s already started

The program is to be rolled out in future but trials have already started in Tapsagoi Ward, Turbo Sub- County. 25 farmers as well as select agro-dealers have been trained in using the system. The farmers were able to redeem a government e-voucher giving them a 40% subsidy.

FAO through its Land Governance Programme has been a major player in the digitization of land records and is extending this to digitization of the registration of farmers and service delivery in the agricultural sector.