This Week in Agriculture

01 EDITOR’S NOTE

Hi Agrarian, 

Welcome to the top stories making the headlines this week.

Firstly, thank you for checking in with us each week. We absolutely appreciate the feedback and commentary.

We had a really interesting request from Hellen, who wrote in asking for some insight into Dorper sheep rearing. Our team is currently discussing this, and we hope to get to work on it soon.

Please feel free to hit reply and drop us a message if there is there is anything that you feel you would like us to cover.

Let’s kick off with the roundup.

02 NEWS ROUND-UP

Prolonged dry and cold conditions are putting pressure on Kenya’s dairy sector, with formal milk deliveries falling 3.7% between June and July as pasture dries up and feed costs rise. Some supermarkets are already rationing fresh milk as processors struggle to maintain supply.

The problem goes beyond lower milk yields. Rising feed costs are squeezing farm margins while processors and retailers face less reliable supply and higher procurement costs. It also highlights the growing need for better fodder production, water infrastructure and climate-resilient dairy systems.

After months of dry conditions, farmers are being urged to prepare early for the October–December short rains. The season could bring much-needed pasture regeneration, improved soil moisture and a boost to crop and livestock production.

But the opportunity comes with another risk: excessive rainfall and flooding. For agriculture, the ability to respond to both extremes is becoming increasingly important, making timely weather information, drainage, water management and careful planting decisions more valuable.

Laikipia County has launched a five-year agro-ecology policy aimed at improving soil health, reducing reliance on hazardous chemicals and promoting safer food production. The policy will include chemical-free demonstration plots across all 15 wards.

The bigger shift is towards building healthier soils and more resilient production systems over time. It could also create new demand for organic fertilisers, biological pest control, advisory services and other sustainable agricultural inputs.

The Turkana County Veterinary Laboratory is set to become a regional disease surveillance hub, strengthening the detection of livestock and zoonotic diseases including rabies and hydatidosis.

Faster diagnosis can mean earlier intervention, fewer livestock losses and lower treatment costs. Better disease surveillance also strengthens the wider livestock economy by making production and trade more reliable.

A Sh221 million expansion of the Rombo irrigation project will increase the area under irrigation in Kajiado South from about 2,983 to 5,500 acres. The expansion is expected to give farmers more reliable access to water beyond the traditional rainfall seasons.

That could change what is economically possible in an area where farming is constrained by unreliable rainfall. More consistent production can support higher-value crops while creating additional demand for inputs, transport, storage and processing.

03 OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURE

I’m also excited to share with you a few event opportunities worth your attention this coming week!