For farmers, the harvest is more than the end of a growing season. It is a measure of resilience after navigating unpredictable weather, rising production risks and the challenge of finding markets for what they produce.
That reality took centre stage in Nairobi on Sunday as the Agricultural Society of Kenya (A.S.K.) brought together farmers, exhibitors, industry stakeholders and members of the public for a Harvest Festival Thanksgiving service ahead of the Nairobi International Trade Fair.
Held at the All Saints Cathedral, the festival celebrated farmers’ contribution to food security, livelihoods and the economy while also providing an opportunity for the agricultural community to give back through donations to orphanages and children’s homes.
The Nairobi International Trade Fair opens on September 28 at Jamhuri Park Showground and will run until October 4, bringing together more than 500 exhibitors from Kenya, the region and international markets.
The fair is expected to bring farmers and agribusinesses into contact with manufacturers, technology companies, financial institutions, innovators, investors and consumers.
For ASK National Chairman John Kibira, the Harvest Festival was both a thanksgiving and a bridge to the week-long trade event.
“The Harvest Festival is an opportunity to give thanks for the agricultural season, celebrate our farmers and give back to the community through donations to orphanages and children’s homes,” Kibira said.
He noted that the Trade Fair would provide a platform for farmers, businesses, innovators and consumers to showcase agriculture as a driver of food security, trade and economic growth.
With farmers and agribusinesses preparing for the Fair, attention is also turning to the practical challenges confronting agriculture, including climate variability, rising production risks, efficient use of farm inputs and access to markets.
Anthony Kioko, the Chief Executive Officer, Cereal Growers Association (CGA), said the Trade Fair would offer practical opportunities for farmers and businesses to expand their networks and improve their operations.
“The Fair connects farmers and businesses to new markets, technologies, suppliers, investors and potential customers,” Kioko said.
He added that exhibitors and visitors would have opportunities to learn practical production and business skills, showcase products and build partnerships beyond their immediate markets.
Technology is expected to be one of the major features of this year’s exhibition.
ASK Chief Executive Officer, Batram Muthoka said exhibitors would showcase technologies and approaches aimed at improving farm productivity and resilience, including climate-smart production, water management, resilient crops and more efficient use of inputs.
Artificial intelligence (AI), precision agriculture, digital platforms and data-driven farming will also feature prominently as the agricultural sector increasingly looks to technology to improve decision-making and manage production and market risks.
“Technology will be central to the Fair,” Muthoka said, noting that AI, precision agriculture, digital tools and data-driven farming could help farmers make better decisions and use inputs more efficiently.
The emphasis on technology is also part of an effort to attract young people into agriculture by presenting farming as a modern commercial enterprise rather than solely as subsistence activity.
Levi Mukhweso, chairman of the A.S.K. Nairobi Branch, said young people would be exposed to opportunities across the agricultural value chain through exhibitions, innovation showcases, Young Farmers Clubs and entrepreneurship opportunities.
“We want young people to see agriculture not simply as subsistence farming, but as a modern business and technology-driven industry,” Mukhweso said.
The Harvest Festival also provided a moment to reflect on the difficulties farmers continue to face, including climate and market shocks, even as they remain central to the country’s food production and wider economy.
Beyond the agricultural sector, A.S.K. expects the Nairobi International Trade Fair to generate economic activity through exhibition sales, business-to-business engagements, product launches, new market connections, tourism, hospitality and transport.
The event will provide indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces at Jamhuri Park, with participants expected to demonstrate products and services, engage prospective customers, identify suppliers and establish commercial partnerships.
As the Fair approaches, the message from the Harvest Festival is therefore extending beyond celebration.
“Agriculture remains a livelihood for millions, a source of food for the country and an increasingly technology-driven business in which access to markets, innovation and resilience will shape the future.”
