Kenya will channel investments towards climate-resilient farming in arid and semi-arid lands in order to achieve food security, an official said on Thursday.

Hamadi Boga, principal secretary for agricultural research at Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation, said the government has prioritized policy reforms, research, innovations and capacity development for local communities to ensure arid lands are the next hubs for climate-smart food production.

“The arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) have the potential to contribute to food security and manufacturing agenda in the country,” said Boga at a forum on promoting the contribution of arid lands to Kenya’s development blueprint on food security and manufacturing.

Boga said that Kenya’s ASALs that comprise more than 70 percent of the country’s total land could be the next frontier for food production subject to investments in climate-resilient crop production and pastoralism.

“It is high time we adopted alternative farming methods in the ASAL regions that are climate compatible to promote food security and employment for future generations,” said Boga.

He said that promotion of climate-smart farming and pastoralism in arid lands will help position Kenya as a hub for agro-processing.