Government Sets Coast Counties on Course to Triple Agricultural Production

The Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to unlock the Coast region’s underutilised agricultural potential by increasing production, expanding value addition and connecting farmers to domestic and international markets.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said Lamu, Tana River, Kwale, Kilifi and Taita Taveta have the potential to triple or even quadruple output of key crops and livestock products with increased investment in irrigation, technology and agricultural infrastructure.

Speaking at the ASK Mombasa International Show, Kagwe said the Government is implementing a Coast Region Economic Revival Strategy that will transform agriculture through a “From Farm to Port” approach.

Under the strategy, Kwale, Kilifi, Taita Taveta and Tana River will concentrate on agricultural production and local value addition, while Mombasa and Lamu will play a major role in logistics and supply chains connecting farmers and processors to markets in Kenya, East Africa and beyond.

Kagwe said the transformation will require stronger cooperation between national and county governments, private investors, development partners, farmers and community organisations. He noted that agriculture is a devolved function, making county governments central to implementing the strategy.

The Government is placing particular emphasis on high-value value chains with potential to create jobs and increase farmer incomes. These include coconut, cashew nuts, cassava, cotton, milk and meat.

The coconut industry is one of the region’s largest agricultural opportunities, supporting more than 100,000 farming households along the Coast. More than 100,000 tonnes of coconut nuts valued at about KSh10.8 billion were processed in 2025.

The Government is seeking to move the industry beyond raw coconut production by encouraging investment in higher-value products. These include virgin coconut oil, coconut water, coconut flour, coconut cream and coconut milk, which could give farmers and processors access to more profitable markets.

Efforts are also being intensified to revive the Coast’s cashew nut industry. The interventions include distributing subsidised seedlings, expanding production areas, improving yields and promoting value addition to increase returns to farmers.

Cotton production is another area showing growth. The area under cotton increased from 8,000 hectares in 2022 to 18,000 hectares in 2026, while production rose from 6,779 bales weighing 105 kilograms each to about 15,000 bales over the same period.

Kagwe attributed the growth partly to government support for Bt cotton, improved access to seed and stronger coordination across the value chain.

Technology is expected to play a central role in the agricultural transformation. The Kenya Agricultural and Digital Information Centre (KADIC) is being positioned as a one-stop centre for agricultural digitalisation and innovation.

Public-private partnerships will support wider adoption of mechanisation, drone technology, animal identification and traceability, artificial intelligence and other digital tools. The technologies are expected to improve farm productivity, strengthen supply chains and provide farmers with better access to information and markets.

The Coast strategy also comes as Kenya and Tanzania seek to deepen agricultural trade and investment within the East African Community. Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Agriculture, David Silinde, said the two countries share strong economic and social ties that provide a foundation for increased cross-border agricultural cooperation.

For the Coast region, the Government’s strategy seeks to turn its large tracts of agricultural land and strategic access to the Indian Ocean into a stronger production and trade base. If supported by reliable infrastructure, irrigation, investment and effective coordination, the initiative could create new markets while increasing incomes for thousands of farmers across the five targeted counties.