Kenya is stepping up the use of technology and data-driven farming as the government looks for new ways to increase agricultural productivity and strengthen national food security.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has urged greater adoption of smart-farming technologies, including drones and digital tools, to help farmers monitor crops, manage resources and make better production decisions.

The push was highlighted during the Agricultural and Food Security Transformation Summit in Nairobi, where technology was presented as an important part of transforming Kenya’s agricultural sector.

Digital agriculture can help farmers collect information about crops and soil, identify problems earlier and improve the efficiency of farm inputs. Drone technology can also provide farmers with detailed aerial information, supporting faster monitoring of large agricultural areas.

Kenya’s wider digital transformation agenda is increasingly connecting technology with sectors such as agriculture, business and public services. The government has also been seeking to move artificial intelligence and digital investments from policy discussions toward practical economic applications.

The growing smart-farming drive could create new opportunities for Kenyan technology companies, agritech startups and farmers while helping modernise one of the country’s most important economic sectors.