Farmers, veterinarians and international agribusiness players have called for stronger collaboration across the food value chain at the 10th AgroFood-Plastpack-Paper Expo underway in Nairobi.
The event highlighted market access, food safety, technology and value addition which have been tipped to help improve the food value chain.
The expo is jointly hosted by MXM Exhibitors and the Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA), brought together stakeholders in agriculture, livestock, food processing, packaging, manufacturing and related sectors from more than 60 countries.
Speaking during the opening, Kenya National Farmers Federation (KENAFF) head of Membership Service Enoch Mutai said farmers must be recognised as important players in the market and not merely producers of agricultural commodities.
He said farmers needed to understand market requirements from the production stage if they were to secure better returns from their produce.
According to Mutai, farmers should undertake cost-benefit analysis, adhere to quality standards, establish direct market linkages and embrace aggregation, value addition, digitisation and traceability. Noting that integration of farming with agribusiness would increasingly determine the competitiveness of Kenya’s agricultural sector.
The call for a stronger food value chain was echoed by the Kenya Veterinary Association, which used the expo to highlight the role of veterinarians in protecting food safety and public health.
Dr. Ambrose Kipyegon Ng’eno- National Vice President – Kenya Veterinary Association noted that veterinary professionals were at the centre of ensuring the safety of food, particularly products originating from animals.
He said the association was ready to work with stakeholders across the agricultural and food sectors to strengthen food safety systems.The focus on collaboration also extended to international partnerships, with Sri Lanka calling for stronger economic and agribusiness ties between Asia and Africa.
The Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Kenya, Ruvini De Silva, highlighted the potential for deeper cooperation between Sri Lanka, Kenya, Asia and the wider African region.De Silva said exhibitions such as the AgroFood Expo provide an important platform for countries and businesses to exchange expertise, technology and investment opportunities.She said stronger partnerships could help businesses access new markets while supporting the exchange of agricultural technologies and expertise between the two regions.
Her remarks come as Kenya seeks to increase agricultural productivity, expand value addition and strengthen its position in regional and international food markets.
The expo provides a platform for manufacturers, farmers, investors, policymakers, researchers and technology providers to showcase innovations and establish commercial partnerships.
It features dedicated sections covering agriculture, livestock, poultry farming, irrigation, greenhouse technology, food processing machinery, cold-chain logistics, food ingredients, plastics manufacturing, printing technology and sustainable packaging.
Among the innovations being showcased are smart irrigation systems, artificial intelligence-powered farm management tools, agricultural drones, automated poultry systems, biodegradable packaging, recyclable plastics and energy-efficient food processing equipment.
The technologies come at a time when farmers are facing increasing pressure to produce food efficiently while meeting changing consumer preferences, food safety requirements and international export standards.
