MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVEMENT REPORT

A Competitive, Profitable and Sustainable Agricultural Sector

The Achievement Report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development for Financial Year 2024–2025 is presented at a pivotal moment in Kenya’s agricultural transformation journey. Guided by the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), Kenya Vision 2030, and the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy 2019–2029, the Ministry has pursued an ambitious agenda focused on productivity enhancement, value addition, climate resilience, market access and institutional strengthening. The financial year under review marked significant progress on all these fronts, even as the sector continued to navigate a challenging operating environment characterized by climate variability, global supply chain disruptions, rising production costs and evolving market dynamics.
Agriculture’s macroeconomic performance was robust. The sector recorded growth of 4.8 per cent during the reporting period, exceeding the sub-Saharan Africa agricultural growth average. Agricultural GDP contribution grew from 22 per cent to 23.5 per cent, reflecting improved productivity and value addition across the value chain. This performance is particularly noteworthy given the difficult global context: ongoing conflicts affecting grain and fertilizer supply chains, climate anomalies affecting major production zones, and competitive pressures from regional agricultural exporters.
Crop production recorded landmark achievements. Maize output reached 44.5 million bags of 90 kg, a 12 per cent increase from 39.7 million bags in 2023, driven by improved access to subsidized inputs, favourable weather in key production zones, and expanded acreage under production. Rice production grew by 15 per cent to 185,000 metric tonnes through irrigation expansion and high-yielding variety adoption. Horticultural production reached 6.8 million metric tonnes valued at Ksh 320 billion, with exports earning Ksh 165 billion. Coffee production improved from 48,000 to 55,000 metric tonnes following value chain reforms. Tea production maintained Kenya’s position as a leading global exporter, with 570 million kilograms earning Ksh 145 billion.
The livestock sub-sector recorded equally impressive performance. Milk production reached 5.8 billion litres, an 8 per cent increase from 5.4 billion litres in the prior year. Meat production grew by 8 per cent to 720,000 metric tonnes. Egg production increased by 10 per cent to 2.1 billion eggs. Fifteen point two million livestock were vaccinated against priority diseases including Foot and Mouth Disease, Peste des Petits Ruminants and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia. Five hundred and twenty thousand pastoralists were enrolled in livestock insurance covering 2.8 million animals against drought and disease-related losses.
Agricultural inputs and services were dramatically scaled up. The fertilizer subsidy program benefited 3.5 million farmers through the e-Voucher platform, with 1.2 million metric tonnes of subsidized fertilizer distributed. Certified seeds were distributed to 2.1 million farmers. The agricultural extension workforce grew to 6,150 officers with 1,500 new deployments, improving the extension officer-to-farmer ratio. Four hundred and fifty tractors and implements were procured and distributed to farmer groups and cooperatives, and 28 farm mechanization service centres were established.
The Ministry invested heavily in climate resilience. Twenty-five thousand additional acres were brought under irrigation, increasing the total irrigated area to 185,000 acres. Eight new smallholder irrigation schemes covering 5,500 acres were completed and 15 existing schemes were rehabilitated. Climate information centres were established in all 47 counties, providing weather forecasts and agro-advisory services to 1.8 million farmers. Two hundred and eighty thousand farmers adopted drought-tolerant crop varieties. Forty- five thousand acres were treated through soil and water conservation measures.
Market access and value addition received strategic investment. Agricultural export earnings reached Ksh 485 billion, a 6 per cent increase from Ksh 458 billion. Thirty-five modern agricultural centres with cold storage, processing and packaging facilities were established. The warehouse receipt system enabled 125,000 metric tonnes of produce valued at Ksh 6.2 billion to be stored as collateral for farmer credit. Ksh 28 billion was disbursed in agricultural credit through AFC and commercial banks. Youth and women received targeted support: Ksh 2.5 billion to 25,000 young farmers and Ksh 3.2 billion to 40,000 women farmers.
The Ministry received an unqualified audit opinion for FY 2024/25, reflecting significant improvement in financial management, compliance and governance. The budget absorption rate improved from 91.5 per cent to 94.7 per cent. Pending bills were reduced by 60 per cent from Ksh 4.2 billion to Ksh 1.7 billion. Revenue collection improved by 35 per cent against the prior year. The Kilimo Connect mobile application was launched with 1.2 million downloads, and the toll-free agricultural helpline handled 850,000 calls. These governance and service delivery achievements reflect the Ministry’s commitment to transparency, accountability and citizen-centred service.

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