Radical plans, including a possible shift to genetically modified organisms technology, have been laid out to revive Kenya’s agriculture — one of the least profitable in the world. One of the key proposals is the establishment of 50 new large-scale farms of 2,500 acres or more, in a plan aimed at unlocking up to 500,000 acres of new farm production. “While much of the land will be state-owned, the new farm enterprises will be predominantly funded, owned and operated by the private sector,” reads a document called Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy, 2019-2029.

The plan will see 150,000 acres under sustainable irrigation, and the farms will benefit from government infrastructure such as roads and irrigation systems and power. “A request for proposal pack will be released announcing minimum eligibility criteria, bid evaluation criteria (including five-10 per cent shareholding for communities that recognise women, youth and minorities), and standard concession agreements,” the document further reads.