As the world’s population grows, there is a high demand for food with less land and resources to quench this demand. Other factors such as climate change, soil degradation, water scarcity, and pesticide resistance add to the burden. Addressing such problems will require significant changes in agricultural practices, policies, consumer behavior, and a shift towards more sustainable and equitable food systems.

HOW HAVE KENYAN UNIVERSITIES CONTRIBUTED TO THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE?

Higher education institutions in Kenya are embracing and contributing to the future of agriculture through skilling in agriculture, value chain development, and incubation.
Agricultural education, where they have introduced agriculture as one of the core subjects in their curriculum to equip students with the skills and knowledge to understand agriculture, the importance of food security, and sustainable farming practices. Other methods include; School farms, Agricultural clubs, Technology and integration.

Egerton University is one of the leading institutions of higher learning with a strong focus on agriculture. It has not been left behind in contributing to research and development. The university implements research and development, education and training, outreach and extension services to local farmers, communities, and stakeholders, and partnerships and collaboration with other institutions, organizations, and agents.

The future of agriculture involves technology and the use of innovative farming methods as sustainable practices. This future is likely to be shaped by the application of sustainable agriculture techniques.

Sustainable Agriculture

This is a farming activity that aims to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to be able to meet their own needs. Due to challenges such as soil degradation, water scarcity, and climate change in Kenya, sustainable agriculture has become very important. Sustainable agriculture includes practices such as regenerative agriculture and organic farming which prioritize environmental and social sustainability, helping to reduce the environmental impacts of agriculture while also trying to improve the health of the soil and people who try to consume the food. Other practices are Conservative agriculture, Agroforestry, Organic Farming, and Irrigation Management.
These practices are developed by organizations and companies such as; Organic Farmers Market and Biovision Africa. They include:

i. Vertical Farming

This promising and affordable technique involves growing crops in controlled environments using artificial lighting and vertically stacked layers. In Kenya, vertical farming is becoming popular due to its ability to produce large quantities of food in a limited space. It also offers people living in urban areas a chance to grow their food, reducing dependence on rural areas.  Vertical farming is being practiced and applied by CoELIB to; grow more crops per unit of land, reduce water usage compared to traditional farming methods, eliminate the need for harmful pesticides and herbicides through the elimination of soil-borne diseases, minimize the quantity of fertilizer used and lastly, to increase the harvesting period. It’s important to note that vertical farming requires a high capital since its very costly, skilled labor, and specialized equipment for example automated irrigation systems and climate control systems. Vertical farming may require additional training for the farmers. CoELIB practices this technique because it aligns with CoELIB’s mission to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

CoELIB practices vertical farming because it’s a promising approach to meeting the increasing demand for food while addressing an environmental concern. CoELIB has planted mushroom plants using this method of farming.

Other companies applying vertical farming include Amiran Kenya, Greentech Africa, Kenya Climate Ventures, Vertical Agrotech, and Twiga Foods.

https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/news/columns/dakota-gardener/dakota-gardener-farms-of-the-future

ii. Film farming

This is a farming method that involves the use of a hydro-membrane known as a hydrogel, an insoluble, moisture-absorbing material used in agriculture. The film was first developed in Japan by Mori Yuichi, the current chairman of Mebiol Inc. in year1995. This technique involves covering the soil with a thin layer of plastic film to conserve moisture, prevent weed growth, and regulate soil temperature.  The technique can be used for a variety of crops including fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. CoELIB is an organization that has recently adopted an innovative agricultural technique known as film farming or plasticulture. CoELIB’s’ adoption of this technique, reflects a growing trend toward sustainable and efficient farming practices that prioritize conservation and productivity. According to Chalse Oloo, by utilizing film farming, CoELIB aims to increase crop yields, facilitates ease during transplanting, reduce water consumption, minimize the need for pesticides and herbicides, and produce tasty and high-quality fruits. It’s important to note that the films act as a barrier to roots and nutrients. CoELIB has currently planted tomatoes on the film farm.

Precision Agriculture

Also referred to as “smart farming” or “digital agriculture”, this method uses technology to optimize crop yields, reduce waste and minimize the environmental impacts of farming. Precision agriculture is still new in Kenya. There are several applications of this farming technique to improve yields. Such include:

a. The use of drones to survey farmland - The drones that fly over fields are equipped with cameras and sensors that collect data on crop health, soil moisture, and other factors that can affect crop yields. The data can be used to optimize decision-making on irrigation, fertilizer application, or identifying areas where crops might be struggling.

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b. The use of mobile apps - The apps monitor crop health and growth. Farmers also use these apps to collect data on soil quality, pest infestations, and other factors that affect crop yield. This data is later used to make informed decisions about fertilizer application, irrigation, and other farming practices.

c. Use of Artificial intelligence - Most companies in Kenya developing precision farming technologies are specifically driven by the needs of small-scale farmers. Such companies include CoELIB Organization which has developed the Mtama Bora app. An app that is designed to provide livestock farmers with information and resources to improve their farming practices and increase their productivity. The app includes features such as animal health, disease, and nutrition information, market information which includes the prizes of livestock, feeds, and other information thus, helping farmers make informed decisions about selling their animals and purchasing inputs, and farm management tools for farmers to manage herds such as tracking animal health, breeding cycles, and vaccination schedules and lastly networking and community building feature which allows farmers to connect, share information and resources and collaborate on projects and initiatives.  , Farm Drive Company which has developed a mobile app that helps small-scale farmers access financing and credit through the use of weather patterns, crop yields, and other factors to assess the creditworthiness of farmers and provide them with loans to improve their farming activities. Other companies and initiatives include; Soil Cares Africa - a project that provides farmers with soil analysis services using a mobile app, Digi Farm - a mobile platform that Safaricom developed to give the farmers access to a range of agricultural services, e.g. soil testing and weather information and the IProcure company which provides farmers with access to high-quality inputs such as seeds through a mobile app which uses analytics to give the farmers personalized recommendation on which information to use, based on the specific farming conditions. CoELIB has also implemented Digifarm through the provision of mobile phones to farmers that are preinstalled with the Digifarm app, which allows farmers to access the platform and its services without the need for a smartphone or connection, offering training to farmers on how to use the Digifarm app and access its services, through collaboration with the organization, CoELIB is able to provide farmers with a broader range of services and resources.

iii. Gene Editing and Biotechnology

These are advances that have the potential to revolutionize agriculture in the world. They help create crops that are more resistant to pests and diseases and have higher yields. Biotechnology has the potential to address challenges facing agriculture, such as environmental degradation, climate change, and food insecurity, by offering a range of potential benefits including improved crop yields, enhanced nutritional value, reduced use of pesticides, and herbicides, and improved livestock production.  for example, replacing polluting chemical processes and making textile waste recyclable and biodegradable Examples of research developments in these areas include gene editing research to develop banana varieties more resistant to fungal diseases. Bananas are a staple food in Africa and are vulnerable to diseases like Banana wilt. This has led researchers at institutes like the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to use gene editing techniques to develop banana plants more resistant to diseases. According to Chalse from CoELIB, biotechnology is very essential in ensuring that there is food security since it involves the production of crops that are more diverse.

An example of a Biotechnology research company in Africa is the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) which uses biotechnology to develop crops like maize, sorghum, and beans to withstand drought conditions.

iv. Robotics and Automation

Emerging robotics and automation technologies continue to transform various sectors of agriculture. Robotics and automation are often used due to their potential to improve productivity, efficiency, and quality. By automation of farm activities such as planting, harvesting and, irrigation (which has also been applied by CoELIB in their tomato greenhouse.), farmers can improve efficiency, reduce or avoid wastage of resources and nutrients, auto-detect the level of nutrients required and, reduce labor costs.  CoELIB has also contributed to the development of this technique by providing guidance, skills, mentorship, and, capital to incubars, thus enabling and motivating them to develop new innovations. For example, Plotus Technology in partnership with Malkia incubrooders, headed by Samwel Mwangi, developed an automated incubrooder that provides optimum conditions for brooding thereby improving the growth rate in chicks. They have also developed robots used to cut sheet metals using high-velocity air. The robot was initially meant to be used to manufacture the incubrooder.  The organization has also contributed to automation through the application of automated nutrient irrigation pumps in their tomato greenhouses to regulate the level of nutrient intake by a plant providing a precise and, consistent supply of water and nutrients. By using sensors and controllers, automated irrigation systems can monitor the nutrient levels in the soil and adjust the nutrient solution accordingly, providing the plant with the right amount of nutrients at the right time. This precision helps to avoid over or underfeeding the plant which can lead to nutrient imbalances or toxicity. Additionally, automated nutrient greenhouse irrigation helps to reduce labor cost, improve plant growth and yield, reduce the risk of diseases, ensures consistent quality, and conserve water and nutrients.

Thanks to advances in technology, the future of agriculture is very bright. Upcoming technologies have led to increased yields, resistance to pests and diseases, improved efficiencies, and, reduced cost of labor. In future, it’s essential to continue investing in research and development to support small-scale farmers and promote sustainable , equitable agriculture.

By: Mercy Wanyoike