By Aoma Keziah,
The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) officially opened its 1st Socio-Economics and Policy Development Conference and Exhibition at the KALRO Headquarters in Nairobi. Themed “Building Resilient Food Systems through Socio-Economics and Policy Research,” the three-day event brings together key stakeholders from research institutions, government, development partners, and the private sector to explore how socio-economic and policy research can shape Kenya’s agricultural future.
Officiating the opening ceremony, KALRO Director General, Dr. Eliud Kireger underscored the need for research that not only generates innovative technologies but also ensures these innovations are economically viable, socially inclusive, and guided by supportive policy frameworks. He highlighted the growing complexity of agricultural systems, noting that while KALRO continues to develop Technologies, Innovations, and Management Practices (TIMPs), their success depends heavily on understanding the socio-economic context, market systems, and policy environments in which they operate.
“The transformation of agriculture is not only about technology. It is about ensuring that innovations are socially acceptable, economically viable, and supported by sound policies and functional markets,” he stated.
The Director General Further stated that the conference is closely aligned with both national and regional priorities, supporting the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS) in Kenya, especially its emphasis on evidence-based interventions and inclusive value chain development.
“It also advances the goals of the National Agricultural Policy, the Climate Smart Agriculture Strategy, and the Food and Nutrition Security Implementation Plan, all of which call for policy coherence, research-informed decision-making, and socio-economic inclusion,” Dr. Kireger added.
The conference aligns with national priorities and policy instruments such as Kenya’s Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS), the Climate Smart Agriculture Strategy, and the Food and Nutrition Security Implementation Plan. At the continental level, it responds to the CAADP Results Framework by advancing inclusive, evidence-based policy and market interventions.
“What we usually do before any research is done, is to identify what are the farmers needs, then we do baseline studies or analysis, understanding the community we are working with, their needs, and what they really want. We always want to understand from the community first, their preferences, and then we advice our biological scientists,” remarked Dr. Alice Murage, acting Director in the Socioeconomics and Policy Department of KALRO.
Dr. Felistus Makini, the Deputy Director General in charge of Crops at KALRO, highlighted a major gap in how agricultural innovations are introduced and implemented, pointing out that while men often dominate initial engagement meetings, it is women who ultimately bear the responsibility of applying most of the farming technologies on the ground.
“When you look at what actually happens on the farms, you’ll find that the majority of day-to-day agricultural activities are carried out by women. But when it comes to developing the technologies or calling for stakeholder meetings, it’s usually the men who show up,” she explained.
Supported by a wide array of development partners and collaborators including KAFACI, AWARD, SAF-NICE, CIMMYT, ILRI, Tegemeo, and ICIPE, Keynote speakers are participating in the conference alongside pioneer socio-economists who laid the foundation for policy-focused agricultural research at KALRO.
The three-day conference features presentations and discussions structured around major sub-themes, including Market systems and agribusiness, Gender and youth inclusion in agriculture, Agricultural policy reform and Digital transformation in agricultural value chains.
The KALRO conference marks a significant milestone in the institution’s commitment to placing evidence based policy and socio-economic analysis at the core of agricultural transformation in Kenya and the region.
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