NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 26 – Kenya is seeking to use an international agricultural expo to accelerate technology adoption, investment and market linkages as the country looks to modernize farming and strengthen value addition across key value chains.

The 2026 Africa International Agricultural Expo (AIAE) scheduled for October 23 to 25 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), bringing together farmers, technology companies, investors, researchers, financial institutions and other players in the agricultural sector.

Agriculture Secretary James Wanjohi said the expo will provide a platform for technology transfer and business linkages, with a significant share of exhibitors expected to come from China.

“It is a good platform for technology transfer, also for business linkages, and also for knowledge exchange.”

“This year, we are even expecting a higher number. We have more than 200 booths ready for expo, ready for exhibition.”

Wanjohi said the event will focus on areas including mechanization, irrigation, improved agricultural inputs, climate-smart farming, digital agriculture, livestock technologies, processing and storage.

The expo will also target investment and market access, with organizers seeking to connect Kenyan agricultural businesses with local, regional and international markets.

 Chinese exhibitors are expected to account for about half of the available exhibition space, according to the organizers.

A key issue expected to feature at the expo is financing, following interest from farmers in agricultural equipment showcased during the previous edition.

Wanjohi said discussions involving equipment suppliers, prospective buyers and financial institutions are planned to help address the financing gap and enable more farmers and businesses to acquire new technologies.

Flacko Wang, Director of Market Development at Hongxing Sparkle Africa International Convention & Exhibition, said the expo is intended to go beyond showcasing products by connecting different parts of the agricultural value chain.

“The most important feature is connecting the entire agriculture value chain.”

“We are connecting not only industrial, but also finance, research, and digitalization.”

Wang said the exhibition will cover agricultural inputs, machinery and smart farming, livestock and fisheries, post-harvest handling and processing, as well as agricultural finance and development resources.

The organizers say the 2025 edition attracted more than 150 exhibitors, with more than half coming from international markets, while Kenya’s Agriculture Ministry said the previous event drew more than 5,000 participants and over 200 exhibiting companies.

For Kenya, the organizers say the focus this year will be on converting exposure to agricultural technologies into commercial partnerships, investment, technology transfer and practical solutions suited to local farming conditions.