The Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC), in collaboration with Pwani University, hosted the Coast Region Agribusiness Expo today at Pwani University. The expo convened over 800 farmers from across the six coastal counties: Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Tana River, and Lamu, alongside 35 exhibitors for a full-day showcase and dialogue under the theme: “Climate-Smart Technologies for Sustainable Food Systems.”
The Expo is part of EAGC’s commitment to fostering structured, inclusive, and climate-resilient grain markets by linking climate-smart technology providers directly with farming communities. The goal is to enable farmers to adopt affordable and scalable technologies that boost productivity and improve post-harvest handling, thereby increasing household food security and generating surplus tradeable volumes for structured market access. The Coast region holds immense potential for agriculture, particularly in the production of drought-resilient crops such as green grams, sorghum, cassava, cowpeas, and millet.
This year’s expo focused on solutions to the region’s most pressing agricultural challenges, including erratic weather, land degradation, post-harvest losses, and food safety concerns. Exhibitors showcased a diverse range of innovations, including solar-powered irrigation systems, drought-tolerant seed varieties, hermetic storage bags, aflatoxin testing kits, Black Soldier Farming by ICIPE and mechanisation equipment.
The expo provided a vital space for farmers and SMEs to network with solution providers and to access knowledge that will help increase productivity and resilience amid the impacts of climate change.
Delivering the keynote address, Kilifi County Deputy Governor Hon. Flora Mbetsa Chibule emphasised the importance of partnerships in scaling climate-resilient agricultural practices across the coastal region: “Kilifi has the resources, land, labour, and determination. What we now need are the right technologies and inclusive partnerships to build a climate-resilient agricultural economy. We are committed to supporting our farmers to not only grow more, but grow better and sustainably,” said the Deputy Governor.
Representing the voice of grain in Eastern Africa, EAGC Executive Director, Mr. Gerald Masila, called for a regional shift toward climate-responsive grain systems: “This expo is part of our broader agenda to make Eastern Africa’s food systems climate-smart, market-oriented, and farmer-inclusive. We must invest in innovation and structured trade mechanisms that help our farmers cope with climate shocks while enhancing food security across borders,” he stated.
Prof. Halimu Shauri, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Extension, Pwani University, underscored the role of academic institutions in linking research with field application: “We are honoured to host this expo. As a university, we are not just about teaching; we co-create solutions with communities. Our research in sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, and biotechnology is helping bridge the gap between knowledge and practice,” he noted.
Farmers who attended expressed optimism about the new tools and connections made during the event. A farmer from Kaloleni shared: “I have seen solar irrigation systems that can help me farm throughout the year, even when rains fail. These kinds of expos give us hope because they bring the solutions to us.”
