Reimagining Kenya’s Agricultural Future in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands
When most people think of Kenya’s agricultural heartlands, they often picture the lush highlands of the Rift Valley or the fertile plains of Western Kenya. However, the nation’s most promising agricultural potential lies in a different part of the country—its vast Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), which cover nearly 80% of Kenya’s territory. These regions, long considered unproductive and inhospitable, may hold the key to feeding Kenya’s growing population and enhancing resilience against climate change.
Experts argue that traditional breadbaskets are no longer viable due to declining productivity caused by land fragmentation, soil degradation, and unpredictable weather patterns. This has made it increasingly difficult to sustain food production in these areas. As a result, there is a growing consensus that the focus must shift towards the ASALs, where the right strategies could unlock significant agricultural potential.
Phyllis Njane, a policy analyst at the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized this point during the Kenya National Research Festival 2025. She stated that research, innovation, and technology should be directed toward the ASALs, as these areas have the capacity to ensure food and nutrition security for the nation. “All research, innovation, and technologies should be focused on ASAL areas. These areas have the potential to make our country food and nutrition secure,” she said.
Njane highlighted that the foundation for transformation already exists. Institutions such as the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and international partners like the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have developed drought-tolerant crops such as sorghum, millet, cowpea, and pigeon pea. These crops thrive in conditions where traditional staples like maize fail. Additionally, livestock research has introduced improved breeds and rangeland management practices that can enhance productivity in dryland environments.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain. According to Njane, many initiatives are still donor-driven and localized, with limited integration into national agricultural policies. “Technological innovations are proving effective in pilot projects across Turkana, Kitui, and Garissa. The challenge is scale. Most initiatives remain donor-driven and localized, with limited integration into national agricultural policy frameworks,” she noted.
Prof. Abdulrazak Shaukat, Principal Secretary for Science, Research, and Innovation, echoed these concerns. He pointed out that without proper systems to translate research into practical solutions, valuable knowledge remains confined to laboratories rather than reaching farmers. “The lack of scale means that many of the innovations developed remain out of reach for the farmers who need them most. Without proper systems to extend research from the laboratory to the farm, valuable knowledge continues to sit in research institutions, gathering dust on shelves instead of driving agricultural transformation in the ASALs,” he explained.
To address this gap, the Ministry of Education is working to create an ecosystem that connects innovators with investors and financial institutions. The goal is to ensure that promising agricultural innovations are not only developed but also scaled up to reach farmers nationwide. “We already have strong innovations that are well-suited for the ASALs, but they are not being fully utilized. It is time for research in this country to move beyond academic journals and be translated into practical solutions that reach the farmers,” said Prof. Shaukat.
Kenya cannot afford to continue importing food while large tracts of land remain underutilized. The ASALs provide ideal conditions for drought-tolerant crops such as sorghum, millet, cowpea, green gram, and pigeon pea. These crops are not only resilient to climate change but are also in increasing demand both locally and regionally. Scaling up their production would diversify diets, reduce reliance on imports, and build greater national resilience.
Moreover, the economic potential of the ASALs is significant. Livestock, which is largely raised in these regions, contributes about 12% to Kenya’s GDP and employs nearly 90% of the population in those areas. Expanding crop production through dryland farming could further diversify incomes and reduce overreliance on pastoralism.
“If Kenya is serious about food security and climate resilience, a policy shift toward ASAL-focused investment is urgent. This means increasing public research funding targeted specifically at dryland agriculture and integrating indigenous knowledge with formal research to improve adoption,” added Prof. Shaukat.
