The challenges range from changed climatic conditions, newly arrived pests and parasites, and fast changing soil health conditions among others.
Farmers require more guidance about what pesticides and acaricides to use.
They need advice about what fertilizers to use and the best soil sustenance practices to keep the gardens well nourished.
In an opinion piece of the organization’s magazine, dated May 26 2026, Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) referred to the Agro -input dealers and agricultural extension service providers as ‘important frontlineadvisors’ supporting more resilient, climate-smart farming systems.
He wrote, ‘For decades they have primarily been viewed as suppliers of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and farm machinery. But as climate pressures intensify, fertilizer prices rise, and global supply chains become increasingly unstable, agriculture itself is undergoing a profound transformation.’
In a situation where farmers have to heavily depend on the use of agro-chemicals there is a bigger need for them to receive proper guidance on how to apply them to avoid poisoning food crops.
We don’t want the agrochemicals to destroy biodiversity and the environment. Our farmers need advice on where to purchase resilient and fast growing seeds, given the current climatic challenges.
They should be drought tolerant and disease resistant. It is a reality that our farmers are already facing erratic rainfall, water scarcity, and declining soil fertility.
This means that agricultural services extension workers at every sub-county should be more equipped and supported to meet the farmers in their villages and on their farms to provide the needed education and training.
The farmers need to apply farming practices that naturally support good soil health and withstanding climate shocks.
There ought to be measures that strictly ensure that the Farmers’ Shops are manned by people that are well trained to give the necessary guidance on agrochemicals’ application.
We have to be alive to what Dr. Himanshu Pathak has said about the unstable prices of fertilizers.
‘Across many parts of the world, geopolitical instability is now directly affecting agriculture. Global fertilizer markets have become increasingly volatile, driven by conflicts and supply chain disruptions, which are contributing to rising production costs and growing uncertainty for farming communities.’