Kenya Faces Agricultural Crisis as 80% of Soil Becomes Unfit for Farming
A recent report has revealed that only 20 per cent of Kenya’s soil is suitable for food production, signaling potential challenges for the country’s agricultural sector.
The Soil Atlas Health Report 2025 highlights severe soil degradation across Kenya, with the country losing an estimated 26 tons of soil per hectare annually due to water-driven erosion. In some regions, the losses surpass 90 tons per hectare, raising concerns about the future of food security.
Soil plays a crucial role in ensuring food and nutritional security. Research indicates that soil is also essential in combating climate change, as it holds more carbon than both vegetation and the atmosphere combined. Plants absorb carbon from the air and store it in the soil through their root systems, making healthy soil a key factor in reducing greenhouse gases.
The report also paints a grim picture for East Africa, where over 40 per cent of soils are degraded, threatening agricultural productivity and the region’s ability to sustain food production.
Causes of Soil Degradation
The decline in soil health is driven by both human activities and natural factors. Overgrazing, unsustainable agricultural practices, deforestation, and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns are major contributors to the problem.
In dry regions, overgrazing significantly worsens the situation by stripping the land of vegetation that acts as a protective barrier for the soil. Without this cover, the soil becomes prone to erosion and compaction, which reduces its capacity to absorb water and sustain crops.
Another growing challenge in Kenya is salinization, the excessive buildup of salts in the soil. This is especially problematic in arid and semi-arid regions, where poor irrigation methods—such as using low-quality water—cause salts to accumulate over time. When the water evaporates, it leaves behind salt deposits, which gradually reach harmful levels. The situation is worsened by high evaporation rates and waterlogging, further diminishing the land’s ability to support crops.
The report states: “Approximately 40 per cent of irrigated land in Kenya is affected by salinity, making it difficult to meet agricultural demands.”
Additionally, nutrient depletion is another serious issue, with over 85 per cent of Kenyan soils lacking essential nutrients. The report warns that, “Continuous farming without replenishing nutrients, combined with increasing soil acidity and poor land management, has made the situation worse.”
Impact on Agriculture and Food Security
The decline in soil quality is directly affecting food production, with degraded soils estimated to reduce agricultural yields by 30 per cent. This shortfall has increased reliance on food imports, raising concerns about long-term food security.
The findings come at a time when the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also released a separate report warning that approximately 2.8 million people in Kenya may experience severe food shortages between April and June 2026 due to anticipated below-average rainfall.
NDMA’s assessment of 23 Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties reveals a surge in the number of people needing urgent humanitarian aid, rising from 2.15 million to 2.8 million, an increase of 650,000 people.
Among those most vulnerable are children aged six months to six years and breastfeeding mothers, who face a high risk of acute malnutrition in the affected regions.
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Kenya Faces Agricultural Crisis as 80% of Soil Becomes Unfit for Farming
