Ministry of Agriculture Introduces New Crop Variety
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has confirmed that 20,000 seedlings of the improved variety will be distributed across the country in preparation for the upcoming long rains...
✨ Key Highlights
The Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture has launched a new disease-tolerant cashew nut variety, developed by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), aiming to revitalize the struggling cashew industry and boost production.
- The new variety is expected to double cashew nut yields.
- Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced the distribution of 20,000 seedlings, primarily in the coastal region.
- This initiative is projected to create over 350,000 jobs and contribute over Ksh30 billion to the country's GDP.
- KALRO plans to introduce four more improved varieties within the next six months.
- The current annual production of 13,000 tonnes is significantly below the processing capacity.
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Farmers Demand Action in Tea and Macadamia Sectors; New Cashew Variety Launched - January 2026
The Green Thinking Action Party (GTAP) has urged the National Government to swiftly intervene to rescue Kenya’s tea sector, which has been impacted by market failures and a 2023 ban on Kenyan tea by Iran. Separately, Kenyan macadamia farmers are demanding an urgent meeting with President William Ruto, bypassing Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, whom they accuse of failing to engage stakeholders. In a positive development for the agricultural sector, the Ministry of Agriculture has launched a new disease-tolerant cashew nut variety developed by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) to revitalize the industry.
