By Bernard Oketch
Homa Bay County Government, through the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), participated in the 2026 Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit (AFSS), connecting farmers and agripreneurs to emerging agricultural innovations, investment opportunities and strategic partnerships aimed at transforming farming into a more productive, resilient and commercially viable enterprise.
The county delegation was led by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Development, Dr. Joash Aloo, accompanied by Chief Officer Ms. Judith Ombok and NAVCDP County Programme Coordinator Mr. Henry Nzinga.
Held from October 7 to 9, 2026, at the Jamhuri Park–ASK Grounds in Nairobi, the three-day summit brought together farmers, agripreneurs, government institutions, development partners, researchers and private sector players to explore practical solutions to increase agricultural productivity, strengthen agribusiness and improve farmers' incomes.
The summit, held under the theme “Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation — Advancing Food Sovereignty, Job Creation, and Shared Prosperity under BETA,” provided a national platform to showcase innovations, share knowledge and foster partnerships to accelerate the transformation of Kenya's agricultural sector.
Homa Bay's participation underscored the county government's commitment to linking farmers and agripreneurs with modern farming technologies, digital agricultural solutions, affordable financing, investment networks and reliable markets. The engagements also provided an opportunity to identify approaches that can strengthen farmer organisations, improve access to agricultural services and enhance the competitiveness of local agricultural value chains.
Key areas of focus included digital agriculture, smart irrigation, cold storage, post-harvest management, agro-processing and value addition. The showcased innovations highlighted opportunities to minimise post-harvest losses, improve the quality of agricultural produce, expand market access and increase returns for farmers and agribusiness enterprises.
The summit also highlighted the role of youth and women-led agribusinesses in creating employment, promoting entrepreneurship and strengthening household incomes. These opportunities are particularly relevant to Homa Bay County, where agriculture remains a key pillar of livelihoods, food security and local economic development.
Homa Bay County Government continues to support the development of farmer institutions, improve access to agricultural support services and promote commercially oriented value chains. Participation in national platforms such as AFSS 2026 strengthens opportunities for knowledge exchange, partnership development and the adoption of innovative approaches suited to the county's agricultural potential.
