[Interview] Jacinta, Senior Deputy Director of Agriculture, Trans Nzoia County, Kenya

[Korea Agricultural Technology News = Reporter Baek Cheol-hyun] South Korea’s advanced digital technologies and smart agriculture systems are drawing attention as an alternative for addressing food security challenges in developing countries around the world. The Korean-style smart farm model built by the government, research institutions, and farmers is providing a foundation for innovation to African countries struggling with climate change and declining crop yields.

However, transplanting automated greenhouses and data-based precision agriculture technologies directly to local settings is a different matter altogether. For smallholder farmers in Africa, where capital is scarce and infrastructure is weak, what is most urgent is not advanced technology but “affordable introduction costs” and “practicality.” This is why official development assistance (ODA) and training programs run by public institutions must think beyond simply transferring technology and consider locally tailored sustainability.

We met Jacinta, Senior Deputy Director of Agriculture of Trans Nzoia County, Kenya, who visited Korea for the “Smart Agriculture Capacity-Building Training for Food Security in Kenya,” jointly promoted by the Jeollanam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services and KOICA. We heard her reflections after visiting the Jeonnam agricultural institute and sites for fostering young farmers, as well as practical strategies for the expansion of K-AgTech into Africa for local smallholder farmers.

How do you feel after completing this smart agriculture capacity-building program? 
“I consider it meaningful to have participated in the ‘Smart Agriculture Capacity-Building Training for Food Security in Kenya.’ This training was an opportunity to learn in practical terms about smart agriculture technology, innovation in food production, and sustainable agricultural systems. In particular, through exchanges with Korean agricultural experts, I was able to gain a deep understanding of various approaches to solving the pressing challenges of modern agriculture and food security issues. This experience served as an opportunity to enhance the professional capabilities of Kenyan public officials, and it strengthened my resolve to contribute to the development of agriculture in my country going forward.”

Among the many countries in the world, was there a particular reason for choosing South Korea as the destination for this training? 
“South Korea is a country with advanced digital technology development and an e-government system. What was especially impressive was how it has effectively applied these advanced technologies, research capabilities, and innovative ideas to the agricultural sector in combination with government support. When the Korean side informed us before the training to bring our personal laptops, I even expected that we might be installing special software for smart agriculture practice. That is how high my expectations were for Korea’s digital technology and smart agriculture. I wanted to see firsthand how Korea has secured agricultural productivity and sustainability through greenhouse automation and efficient resource management. I am convinced that the Korean cases confirmed this time will provide practical implications that can also be applied in Kenya’s agricultural field.”

What field activity during this program schedule was the most memorable? 
“It was visiting advanced smart farm operations, the Jeollanam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, and sites for fostering young farmers who will lead the future of Korean agriculture. I saw firsthand how automated irrigation systems, environmentally controlled greenhouses, and precision data-based agricultural technologies operate organically in actual farming settings. What was even more noteworthy was the organic support system in which the central government, local government research institutions, and farmers in the field communicate closely and cooperate to increase agricultural productivity. In addition to the technical learning, the hospitality shown by Koreans and the cultural exchanges during the training period will also remain memorable.”

After returning to Kenya, how do you plan to apply and spread the outcomes of this training in the field? 
“Based on what I learned in this training, I hope to improve agricultural productivity and efficiency in Kenya and spread practical smart agriculture measures that can respond to climate change. I also plan to use it to concretize related mid- to long-term projects, secure government funding, and expand opportunities for international cooperation. However, since this training dealt considerably with advanced technical content, I hope that continuous consultation and mentoring from Korean experts will continue in the future during the planning of local projects and the actual application process. In particular, I hope governance will be established so that technical details can be accurately reflected when drawing up concrete implementation plans. In addition, if future training programs strengthen sessions for exchange with Korea’s private agtech companies, I believe it would be of great help in obtaining more practical market information, such as introduction costs and methods of business cooperation.”

For Korean-style technology to take root smoothly among Kenya’s key “smallholder farmers,” what role will you play as a public official going forward?
“I intend to serve as a bridge so that Korea’s advanced agricultural technologies can be applied in a customized way to suit Kenya’s local climate, soil, infrastructure conditions, and the actual needs of smallholder farmers. To this end, I plan to strengthen a network encompassing Kenyan government agencies, research institutes, development cooperation partners, and farmers’ organizations, and to activate systems for technology transfer and knowledge sharing. Above all, I will focus my capabilities on establishing related policies and programs so that the top priority in dissemination is given to technologies that small-scale farms, the foundation of Kenyan agriculture, can actually use in the field—that is, appropriate technologies with low cost burdens, suitability for local electricity and resource infrastructure, and intuitive operation.”