The agricultural sector plays a critical role in the Kenyan economy; more than 40% of the population (70% in rural areas) depends on agriculture for their livelihood. The sector represents 18% of all formal employment and also provides a livelihood for a large part of the country’s youth. The Kenyan agricultural sector has performed relatively well in recent years, recovering from a negative growth rate of -2.1% in 2000 to 2.9% in 2013. The strong internal demand for major staples, pulses, livestock products and horticultural goods as well as returns from key export subsectors, notably coffee, tea, pyrethrum, fruits, vegetables and cut flowers have been key to recovery. However, agricultural growth remains low relative to the growth in the other sectors of the economy. The national diet is heavily based on starchy staples, with maize representing 36% of the country’s daily calorie intake. Kenya is simultaneously affected by both over and undernutrition and persistent micronutrient deficiencies, and these issues vary according to region. Indicators reflect that nutritional deficiencies are particularly serious in the North-Eastern region, while overweight and obesity are high in Nairobi.
Read the full country dossier here, visit the Kenya innovation contest page here, and read the country innovation study on the status of agricultural innovations, innovation platforms and innovation investments in Kenya here.
Kenya on 
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Published as: Makini FW, Mose LO , Kamau GK, Salasya B, Mulinge WW, Ongala J Makelo MN and Fatunbi AO (2017). Innovation opportunities in Sweet potato Production in Kenya. Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).
Read more Innovation Opportunities in Sweet Potato production in Kenya
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Published as: Felister Makini, Wellington Mulinge, Lawrence Mose, Beatrice Salasya, Geoffrey Kamau, Margaret Makelo, and On’gala, J. (2018) Impact of Agricultural Innovation Platforms on Smallholder livelihoods in Eastern and Western Kenya. FARA Research Results Vol2(6)
Published as ZEF Working Paper No. 166.
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Further information about the farmer innovation contests organised by PARI in Africa can be found here.Read more Recognizing and rewarding farmers’ creativity through contests: experiences and insights from four African countries
Published as ZEF Working Paper No. 165.
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This study is based on a more detailed report which is available here (3.2 MB).Read more Identifying Options for the Development of Sustainable Seed Systems – Insights from Kenya and Mali
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Publishes as: Makini F. et al (2018) Innovation Opportunities in Sweet Potato production in Kenya. FARA, KALRO and ZEF.
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Published as: Makini FW, Kamau GM, Mose LO, Ongala J, Salasya B, Mulinge WW and Makelo M (2017) Status, Challenges, and Prospects of Agricultural Mechanisation in Kenya: The Case of Rice and Banana Value Chains. FARA Research Results Vol 1(2)Read more Agricultural Mechanization in Kenya: rice and banana value chains
Dossiers available for download by country (October 2017).Read more Innovation for Sustainable Agricultural Growth – 12 Country Dossiers
Published as E.E. Rezaei and T. Giaser, ZEF Discussion Papers on Development Policy No. 239
Download paper.Read more Change in crop management strategies could double the maize yield in Africa
Download the poster (3.6 Mb).Read more PARI Poster: Recognizing Farmer Innovators in Africa
The ReSAKSS Country eAtlases is a GIS-based mapping tool designed to help policy analysts and policymakers access and use high quality and highly disaggregated data on agricultural, socio-economic, and bio-physical indicators to guide agricultural policy and investment decisions.
The University of Hohenheim developed a milk cooling solution based on a commercially available DC Refrigerator equipped with an adaptive control unit for its conversion to a smart ice-maker that operates depending on the availability of solar energy. It can help small- and medium-sized dairy farms to improve the storage, transportation, and hygiene of their produced milk.
More information is available here. Read more Solar Milk Cooling with Insulated Milk Cans
The Innovation Studies for the 12 African PARI countries provide an overview of the status of agricultural innovations, innovation platforms and innovation investment in the respective country. Read more Country Innovation Studies
A study for the special initiative “One World, No Hunger” of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
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Summary of a report on potentials and possibilities for German collaboration in agriculture in the 12 PARI countries.
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Read more Report on Potentials and Cooperation Opportunities in African Countries
Dossiers available for download by country and as a complete collection (September 2015) .Read more Potentials and Possibilities for German Collaboration in Agriculture – 12 Country Dossiers
Published as: ZEF Discussion Papers on Development Policy No. 200.
Download paper.Read more Regional trade and volatility in staple food markets in Africa