Pathways to Industrialization: CIP's Role in Building Youth Capacity for Policy Innovation in Kenya

The 7th Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) Annual Regional Conference (KARC) was held at the Ciala Resort in Kisumu County, Kenya from the 26^th to the 28^th of June 2024. KIPPRA organized the event in collaboration with the International Potato Center (CIP), the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investments, the National Information Platform for Food and Nutrition (NIPFN), the County Government of Kisumu, and other key partners. The conference focused on the theme: “The Future of Industrialization in Kenya: Pathways to Industrialization in The Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda” and brought together stakeholders from different sectors.  

The conference comprised three main components: the Main Event, the Youth Side Event, and the Technical Side Event. Approximately 600 delegates, from the public sector, private sector, civil society, development partners, and academic institutions attended these sessions each day. This provided a platform for engaging in discussions and collaborative efforts to promote Kenya’s industrialization agenda. 

The youth side event, and the pre-conference capacity-building session, were sponsored by CIP through the CGIAR Research Initiative on National Policies and Strategies (NPS), the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Foundation. The Youth Side Event brought together over 130 youths from 14 counties that make up the Lake Region Economic Bloc, including 15 learning institutions such as Kibabii University, Laikipia University, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, and others. Other participating institutions included the National Youth Service, Kenya Economic Students Association (KESA), Kenya Youth in Climate Action Directorate, Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Kenyatta University Economic Students Association, Kenya Inter-University Environmental Students Association, Kenya Commercial Bank Foundation Kenya Investment Authority, the National Youth Council, and Isisa Limited. This emphasized the importance of engaging the younger generation in agricultural innovation and development conversations.  

Empowering Youth through Root and Tuber Crops 

CIP’s Food Scientist, Dr. Mukani Moyo’s presentation on “Empowering Youth through Roots and Tuber Crops”, at the pre-conference capacity-building session, emphasized the immense potential of Roots and Tuber Crops (RTCs) in driving industrial growth and enhancing food security. She highlighted several key strategies and initiatives impertinent to these efforts, including the Value Chain Approach, focusing on the “farm to fork” concept to create a seamless and efficient food system from production to consumption in different markets. Additionally, she discussed transforming RTCs into Industrial Drivers through leveraging CIP’s knowledge, resources, and opportunities to make these crops significant contributors to industrial growth and food security. Dr. Moyo also stressed the importance of boosting productivity by promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and adopting new technologies to enhance productivity. The session also covered post-harvest technologies, focusing on value addition, packaging, and preservation to reduce post-harvest losses and increase the market

value of RTC products. Sustainable solutions were highlighted, advocating for cost-effective and environmentally friendly technologies to ensure sustainable agricultural practices. Dr. Moyo’s session provided a comprehensive roadmap for fostering sustainable development and empowering youth through the Roots and Tuber Crops. Case studies on the value addition of Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) puree demonstrated how agricultural products can be transformed into high-value commodities with significant health and economic benefits, outlining the comprehensive value-chain approach for OFSP puree from fresh roots to final products.  

During the main session, Dr. Moyo chaired a panel discussion on “Exploiting Value Addition Opportunities in Livestock and Industrial Crops.” The panel brought together experts from Egerton University, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Coffee Industry, the Leather Industry, the Agricultural and Food Authority (AFA), KIPPRA, and ICIPE/BioInnovate. The discussion focused on leveraging agricultural value addition to spur industrialization, identifying opportunities, and formulating recommendations to enhance agricultural productivity and market competitiveness. The experts highlighted the potential of Emerging Technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics to boost agricultural productivity and streamline value-addition processes. Additionally, there was an emphasis on recognizing the growing demand for processed foods and the necessity to diversify product offerings to meet evolving consumer needs. 

As a result of the discussions, several recommendations were put forward to support and improve agricultural value addition. These recommendations included providing training and support to farmers in utilizing emerging technologies to boost productivity and efficiency. Furthermore, there was an emphasis on creating awareness and helping farmers comply with sanitary and phytosanitary standards to improve food safety, market access and competitiveness. Additionally, it was suggested that advocating for the harmonization of non-tariff measures and the elimination of non-tariff barriers would be crucial for promoting the competitiveness of value-added products in the export market and enhancing market access. 

Conclusion 

The 7th KIPPRA Annual Regional Conference was a notable success, convening a diverse and dynamic group of stakeholders to deliberate and advance crucial aspects of agricultural value addition, industrial growth, and food security. The conference highlighted the significance of engaging with the youth and harnessing emerging technologies to propel sustainable agricultural practices and industrial expansion. Moving forward, the insights and recommendations derived from this conference are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping policies and practices to foster agricultural development and value addition. 

Authors:

Leonard Kirui, Senior Manager, CIP

Joyce Maru, Regional Director for Africa, CIP

Mukani Moyo, Postdoctoral Researcher, CIP

Sheewa Saikah, Consultant, CIP

This work is part of the CGIAR Research Initiative on National Policies and Strategies (NPS). CGIAR launched NPS with national and international partners to build policy coherence, respond to policy demands and crises, and integrate policy tools at national and subnational levels in countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. CGIAR centers participating in NPS are The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), International Potato Center (CIP), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and WorldFish. We would like to thank all funders who supported this research through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund.  

Photo credit: KIPPRA