African farmers will have an opportunity to access affordable agricultural technologies, including small-scale machinery for harvesting, processing and irrigation, at the Africa International Agricultural Expo 2026.
The expo will be held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi from October 23-25 under the theme “Gathering global agricultural technologies and innovations to advance modernisation of African agriculture.”
Agricultural Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, James Wanjohi, said the expo will showcase technologies targeting different categories of farmers, including small-scale producers and young farmers.
Wanjohi said lessons from last year’s expo showed that farmers were willing to adopt technologies when they were affordable.
“We have very cheap technologies, like shellers, that were costing less than Sh10,000. So they went like hotcakes,” he said.
He urged farmers not to be discouraged by the cost of agricultural machinery before visiting the expo to see the available options.
“There are technologies that are affordable, that can be used in the field by our small-scale farmers and youth,” Wanjohi said.
The technologies will cover areas including processing, harvesting and irrigation, with exhibitors expected to showcase equipment across different agricultural value chains.
Wanjohi said farmers could also access financing through financial institutions participating in the expo, including the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC).
He encouraged farmers to work through cooperatives and associations so they can purchase and share machinery, reducing the cost for individual producers.
“What may look like an expensive accessory or technology can be procured and shared between farmers of a particular association,” he said.
Wanjohi said the expo will also seek to help farmers move beyond the production of raw agricultural commodities by promoting processing, packaging and branding.
He said improved technology could help Kenyan farmers meet quality requirements and access international markets, including China and Europe.
“There is a huge push by government not just to sell raw materials,” he said.
The value chains expected to benefit include coffee, tea, cashew and rice, among others, with counties selecting those that fit their agricultural potential.
Wanjohi said adoption of new technology would also depend on farmers receiving adequate extension and technical support, as well as having reliable markets for their produce.
“Technology that is being pushed must also come with some earning. That value must give an extra earning to the farmers,” he said.
He said value addition and access to markets could encourage more farmers to move from traditional production methods to modern technologies.
Flacko Wang, Director of Market Development, Hunan Hongxing International Exhibition Limited, said the focus should be on bringing affordable machinery and technologies that can serve Kenya’s local market, particularly small-scale farmers.
He said Kenya could benefit from Chinese technologies such as small tractors and other small-scale equipment that can help farmers improve production and add value to products such as tea, coffee, flowers and avocado.
Wang said the machinery could help farmers process and add value to their produce before exporting finished products to international markets.
He also said artificial intelligence (AI) companies are expected to participate in the expo, with the technology offering potential applications for small-scale farmers.
“AI can solve some basic questions and daily questions. Farmers can get information from AI without having to ask around,” he said.
Wang said AI could also help small-scale farmers plan their farming activities throughout the year and support the use of modern machinery. The technology could help improve the efficiency of farm operations and machinery.
Tito Mutai, chief executive of Agri-Africa Exhibition, said more than 100 Chinese companies are expected to participate in this year’s expo.
He said the 2025 edition attracted more than 150 exhibitors, including over 100 Chinese companies.
Mutai said this year’s exhibition would focus not only on large machinery but also on affordable equipment for small-scale farmers.
Some equipment will cost less than Sh10,000, while larger machinery could cost between Sh5 million and Sh7 million, he said.
Among the technologies expected at the expo are small tractors, maize shellers and animal feed-making equipment.
Mutai said poultry and animal feed were among the value chains attracting interest from Chinese exhibitors because of their potential in Kenya.
He added that Kenya should also use partnerships with foreign technology suppliers to strengthen local manufacturing and assembly.
“We have local fabricators, we have local assemblies here in Kenya, and I think as time goes by, the goal should be that we should have the capability to manufacture our own equipment,” Mutai said.
He said some machinery could be assembled locally using imported components and locally fabricated parts, creating opportunities for Kenyan manufacturers.
The expo is expected to bring together farmers, technology companies, financial institutions, equipment manufacturers and other players in the agricultural value chain.
