February 05, 2026
For Kenya’s Government and policymakers, horticulture is no longer just a productive agricultural sub-sector; it is a strategic national asset for food security, export earnings, employment, and climate resilience. The long-term sustainability and competitiveness of this sector will depend squarely on the Government’s decisive investment in research, innovation, and skills development.
Global policy discussions ahead of Green Week in Berlin reinforce a reality Kenya is already confronting: horticulture can only respond to climate change, rising production costs, and stricter international market requirements if science is effectively translated into on-farm and industry practice. Innovations such as energy-efficient greenhouses, renewable energy integration, automation, and climate-responsive urban greening are already transforming horticulture elsewhere. With the right policy support, these solutions can be scaled within Kenya’s production systems.
This transformation, however, requires deliberate Government action. Strong and predictable public investment in horticultural research institutions, universities, and training systems is essential. Institutions such as KALRO, public universities, and specialised training centres form the backbone of innovation, advisory services, and regulatory capacity. Any weakening of these structures undermines productivity, slows technology uptake, and erodes Kenya’s ability to meet export standards and environmental obligations.
Horticulture delivers clear public goods that justify sustained Government support. It contributes directly to climate adaptation through efficient water and energy use, enhances urban environments, supports youth and women employment, and remains a leading source of foreign exchange. These outcomes align directly with national development priorities under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and Kenya’s climate commitments.
International experience also offers a warning. Where governments allow erosion of research funding, university capacity, and technical skills, the impacts are felt across the entire value chain—from farms and agribusinesses to extension services and policy formulation itself. Recovering lost capacity is costly and slow.
For the government, the policy message is unambiguous: securing Kenya’s horticultural future requires long-term, coordinated investment in research, innovation, and human capital. Clear regulatory frameworks, stable funding, and stronger public–private collaboration will ensure horticulture continues to drive economic growth, resilience, and national prosperity.