By Nelson Musungu
More than 50 grain companies and exhibitors convened at Kibabii University for this yearโs Eastern African Grain Council (EAGC) expo, an event strongly centered on advancing climate-smart agriculture across the region.
With the theme โClimate-Smart Technologies and Practices for Sustainable Food Systems,โ the exhibition highlighted solutions designed to help farmers adapt to changing weather patterns while sustaining productivity.
Demonstrations focused on sustainable agribusiness practices, including seed selection, tillage, pest management and post-harvest handling as key areas where climate change continues to pose challenges.
Speaking during a tour of a demonstration plot, EAGC Executive Director Gerald Masila underscored the importance of research-driven innovation in building climate-resilient farming systems.
He said the councilโs collaboration with universities, research institutions and other partners is essential in developing and scaling technologies that respond to emerging climate threats.
โThe involvement of students is crucial in developing and bringing agribusiness solutions to market,โ Masila said,
Masila noted that each expo reaches more than 2,000 farmers, equipping them with practical skills and new farming techniques that enhance resilience to climate variability.
He added that the council continues to support farmer groups in producing high-quality crops and accessing reliable markets, enabling them to sustain incomes even during climate-related disruptions.
โOur role also involves connecting farmers with buyers to ensure they receive competitive prices and to strengthen agro-processing,โ he said.
Masila noted that even as climate change intensifies, the EAGC is strengthening research on climate-smart practices to enable farmers to maintain production and safeguard food security.
He emphasized that conservation agriculture, widely regarded as a highly effective climate-smart approach, has expanded significantly through the councilโs training programs.
Exhibitors echoed this message, emphasizing the importance of sustainable inputs and ecological farming
Irene Mbeka of Green World International said the expo has encouraged farmers to adopt organic practices and reduce dependence on chemical inputs.
Farmers attending the event said the climate-focused demonstrations helped them understand how day-to-day decisions impact production.
According to farmer Erastus Wanjala, the expo helped him understand why transplanting vegetable seedlings before they over-mature is crucial for better yields.
The expo brought together key players from across the cereal value chain, including experts in mechanization, storage, processing and value addition areas that are essential in minimizing losses made worse by climate-related challenges.
EAGCโs diverse membership spans grain producers, traders, processors and a range of service providers, including agro-input companies, financial institutions and animal-feed manufacturers.
