Deputy President Kithure Kindiki used the opening of the Agricultural and Food Security Transformation Summit in Nairobi to detail the government’s plan to lower farming costs, a priority of the Bottom‑Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

The price of a 50 kg bag of fertilizer has been reduced from KSh7,000 in 2022 to KSh2,000, a cut intended to make crop production more affordable for smallholders.

Certified maize seed now costs KSh150 per kilogram, down from KSh300 per kilogram, providing a 50 percent reduction for growers.

For dairy producers, the cost of sexed semen for artificial insemination has fallen from KSh8,000 to KSh1,400 per dose, aimed at improving herd productivity.

Kindiki said the interventions are already showing results, citing an increase in maize output from 34 million bags to 75 million bags and a rise in milk production from 4.6 billion litres to 5.2 billion litres.

Milk prices have risen to about KSh50 per litre, compared with KSh35‑KSh37 in 2022, reflecting higher farm‑gate returns.

Coffee growers now receive between KSh120 and KSh150 per kilogram, up from KSh50‑KSh60 in 2022, depending on quality.

The deputy president noted ongoing challenges in wheat and rice production, stressing that Kenya still imports much of its wheat and will continue to lower input costs, including livestock feed, to spur domestic output.