The MoU is expected to accelerate Kenya’s 100% food and nutrition security under its Vision 2030 programme

ethiopia-4117604_1280

Image: Microsoft to support Kenya in securing 100% food security. (Credit: Pixabay/D Mz.)

Tech giant Microsoft has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with
Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives (MALFC) to
collaborate on innovation in the agricultural sector.

Through the MoU, the agriculture ministry will tap into Microsoft technology to
accelerate its 100% food and nutrition security, a part of the Government’s Big Four
programme.

The five-year development plan has been designed to speed up the country’s Vision
2030 programme.

Previously, Microsoft partnered with the World Bank through its One Million Farmers
Platform, and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), to co-create
technology solutions in Africa.

Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives principal secretary Hamadi Boga
said: “To ensure that we achieve our Food Security goal, we are striving for a 34
percent increase in the daily average income of farmers, a 47 percent reduction in the
cost of food as a percentage of income, a 50 percent reduction in the number of food-
insecure Kenyans and to create 1,000 Agro-SMEs and 600,000 new jobs.

“Microsoft’s technology will enable us to find innovative solutions that drive progress in
agriculture and support our 2030 vision.”

Under the MoU, Microsoft will design, pilot and launch a programme to drive innovation in agricultural solutions to address the key challenges faced by the sector including pests and disease control, sustainable agricultural resource management, agri-weather data among others.

The company will use its Open Data Platform and Azure Chatbot services to support
farmers in pest control diagnostics.

Furthermore, Microsoft’s investment in agriculture includes its FarmBeats project, which uses low-cost sensors, drones and machine learning algorithms to support data-driven, precision farming.

Microsoft Kenya country manager Kendi Nderitu said: “Microsoft believes that adoption
and integration of technologies such as the cloud, AI and more, into the agricultural
space will bring about this transformation in the form of precision.

“Microsoft wants to enable agricultural firms to become thriving digital businesses that
provide sustainable food and nutrition to the world.”