India’s $250 Million Credit Line Boosts Farm Productivity in Kenya: Report

New Delhi: Precision agriculture technologies are helping millions of small farmers in Kenya increase crop yields while reducing fertiliser waste, with a $250 million line of credit from India playing a key role in modernising farm operations, according to a new report.

An opinion article published by India Narrative and written by a Kenyan agronomist highlighted how satellite data, drones and artificial intelligence tools are transforming farming practices in the country.

The report said satellite data from the Kenya Space Agency allows farmers to monitor soil moisture levels, identify nutrient deficiencies and detect pests more accurately. These insights have helped cut water and fertiliser waste by up to 30 per cent, improving efficiency on farms.

Drones are also being deployed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya to analyse soil health in real time. This enables targeted spraying of crops, helping control pest outbreaks early and boosting productivity.

In western Kenya, agricultural technology startups such as DigiFarm and Kipkebe have experimented with drone spraying on tea plantations, significantly reducing application time and operational costs.

Artificial intelligence is further supporting farmers through mobile-based chatbots that provide guidance on fertiliser usage and pest control. Image-recognition tools also help farmers diagnose crop diseases instantly.

These innovations are particularly important for the country’s five million smallholder farmers, who cultivate nearly 75 per cent of Kenya’s arable land and are increasingly dealing with soil degradation and unpredictable rainfall.

The report also noted growing cooperation between India and Kenya in agriculture. Kenya has offered land to Indian companies to grow millets through cooperative farming models, helping diversify crops beyond traditional staples such as maize.

Kenya’s agriculture sector currently operates with about 30 per cent mechanisation, short of the 50 per cent target set under Kenya Vision 2030, but the momentum for modernisation is increasing.

A major catalyst, the report said, is the $250 million line of credit provided by India through the Export-Import Bank of India, which supports the supply of hand tractors and smart irrigation systems to Kenyan farmers.

Agriculture remains the backbone of Kenya’s economy, employing more than 70 per cent of the rural workforce and contributing around 30 per cent of the country’s GDP.

However, the report also pointed to ongoing challenges, including high costs that discourage youth participation in farming and gaps in digital literacy and rural internet connectivity. It suggested that scalable and affordable technologies — such as drone rentals and shared tractors — could help ensure wider adoption in the future.

With inputs from IANS