Inside the expansive halls hosting the 2025 Africa International Agricultural Expo, which runs from Tuesday to Friday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, Hezekiah Kiprop was among the thousands of visitors exploring the latest innovations emerging in the agricultural sector.
Kiprop, a 48-year-old dairy farmer, was looking for affordable forage-cutting machines for his herd in Trans Nzoia, western Kenya. He found what he was looking for at the booth of China’s Hunan Dongfanghong Electromechanical Manufacturing Company, which showcased a wide variety of agricultural machinery suited for small-scale farmers.
“Technology from China can help me find an affordable solution to feed my livestock,” he said.
He Nanhui, manager of the Chinese company, said his enterprise has developed machinery priced as low as 100 U.S. dollars to help African farmers increase their harvests. Through extensive research, he said, they have developed a diverse range of electric and diesel-powered machines capable of cutting various kinds of plant materials, including grass, millet and corn, to meet the needs of feeding animals.
Mary Khaemba, an agrovet dealer in Nakuru County in west-central Kenya, praised the water-saving irrigation systems displayed by Dayu Irrigation Group, a leading Chinese irrigation enterprise dedicated to advancing agricultural efficiency through innovative solutions.
According to Khaemba, erratic climate conditions in Kenya have forced farmers to reduce dependence on rainfall-based agriculture and embrace drip irrigation methods, which can apply water in small but continuous amounts directly to plant roots, cutting the amount of water needed to nourish crops.
For his part, Allan Edumbe, a budding entrepreneur in the horticulture sector, said that he has already reached out to representatives from an agricultural greenhouse technology company based in China’s Hunan Province to acquire modern greenhouses for his agribusiness venture.
Edumbe said Chinese technology provides high-quality greenhouses that offer superior ventilation and enhanced temperature and humidity control for flowers, maintaining a protected environment that shields plants from harsh weather and ensures optimal growth conditions.
The expo, under the theme “Increasing Agricultural Productivity in Africa through Innovation and Market Access,” has brought together over 150 exhibitors, including 100 from China, representing a milestone that underscores Kenya’s growing role as a regional hub for agribusiness and innovation.
Tito Mutai, chief executive officer of Agri-Africa Exhibition, one of the organizers of the expo, attributed the popularity of Chinese agricultural machinery in Kenya to its affordability as well as its design suited to meet Africa’s needs.
During the expo, five agreements were signed between Chinese and Kenyan entities to boost investment and trade in the agricultural field between the two countries, Mutai said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
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