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Technology is taking centre stage at this year’s Nairobi International Trade Fair, with organisers seek to showcase how innovation can help farmers navigate an increasingly unpredictable climate.
The seven-day fair, which opened on Monday at the Jamhuri Park Showground in Nairobi, is targeting a record 600,000 visitors, up from about 400,000 last year.
The Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) seeks to expand the event’s reach beyond traditional agricultural exhibitions.
The 125th edition is being held under the theme, “Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth.”
It brings together more than 400 local and international exhibitors, with agriculture, manufacturing, financial services, technology, education and enterprise represented.
At the heart of this year’s exhibition is the question of how farmers can use technology to remain productive as weather patterns become less predictable.
Speaking during the opening of the fair on Monday, ASK chief executive Batram Muthoka said the exhibition was designed to expose farmers to technologies that can improve productivity while reducing the risks posed by climate change.
“Agriculture is moving into the digital space. We are showcasing drones, for example, which can be used for spraying farms and demonstrate how technology can change farming practices,” Muthoka said.
“One of our key focuses this year is climate-smart agriculture. We are bringing together initiatives and technologies that can help farmers mitigate the challenges that come with climate change.”
The shift is coming as Kenyan farmers grapple with droughts, floods, rising temperatures and increasingly erratic rainfall.
The World Bank estimates that 98 per cent of Kenya’s agriculture is rain-fed, leaving farmers particularly exposed to changing rainfall patterns.
It says digital weather information and climate forecasting can improve farm-level decision-making and help mitigate climate risks.
Kenya has consequently been expanding the use of digital agriculture.
The Kenya Agricultural Observatory Platform, supported by government, KALRO and development partners, combines climate, soil, crop and market information to provide farmers with more targeted advisories.
By early 2026, the enhanced platform was providing advisories to more than 700,000 farmers.
A separate World Bank-supported digital agriculture initiative has used mobile applications, SMS, weather data and agronomic information to deliver climate-smart advice, with the broader programme reaching millions of smallholder farmers.
This year’s fair is showcasing that transition on the ground.
“We have looked at the seed sector, with players bringing seed varieties that are able to withstand high temperatures as well as drought, which are some of the effects associated with climate change,” Muthoka said.
ASK Nairobi Branch Chairman Levi Mukhweso said farmers would also have access to international technologies, including irrigation equipment and tractors from Thailand.
“We want farmers to come to the show and learn from these technologies,” he said, adding that artificial intelligence could help farmers determine which crops to plant and plan for changing weather conditions.
The relevance of such technologies is underscored by recent research in Kenya.
A 2026 study of smallholder farmers in Murang’a found high awareness of climate-smart practices, including certified seeds, rainwater harvesting, conservation agriculture, crop diversification and improved livestock breeds.
Yesterday (Tuesday) the programme focused on livestock and county-level enterprise, with modern livestock production, value addition and farming technologies taking centre stage.
Today (Wednesday) will give the fair a national dimension when President William Ruto, ASK’s national patron, is expected to officially open the exhibition. The programme will focus on agriculture, technology and innovation.
Thursday will be Life Governors Day, while Friday will be Members and Schools Day, highlighting youth engagement, school agricultural projects and enterprise.
The weekend will open the fair to the wider public, with Saturday designated Family Day before the exhibition closes on Sunday, October 4, with an inter-denominational thanksgiving service.
The expanded technology focus reflects a wider shift in Kenyan agriculture, from relying largely on traditional farming practices to using data, artificial intelligence, precision agriculture, improved seeds and digital weather information to make farming more resilient.
A recent FAO initiatives similarly show the growing importance of digital climate advisories, with farmers being connected to weather information through digital platforms, including WhatsApp and other mobile services.
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