Plan to transform agriculture sector laudable
The assurance by President Uhuru Kenyatta that the government has adopted a strategy to transform the agriculture sector to grow the economy and enhance food security is welcome news to both farmers and consumers.
Food systems are critical in every aspect of people’s well-being, from what they eat to how they earn their livelihoods to their options for the future.
According to the Global Food Policy Report 2020 set to be launched by the International Food Policy Research Institute later this month, inclusive food systems can play a critical role in improving nutrition, creating employment and empowerment of disadvantaged groups.
Key policy initiatives in the government’s agricultural transformation strategy appear to have recognised the overwhelming need to restructure the ailing sector and restore hope for millions of demoralised farmers.
The President’s legacy Big Four agenda if implemented effectively, will give impetus to devolution since agriculture is now a devolved function.
The strategy will be implemented collaboratively between the ministries of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation, Devolution, Environment, Industrialisation, Trade, Lands, Transport, Water and Sanitation, and the Treasury.
It will supplement the Kenya Vision 2030, the Medium Term Plan III and the 10-year Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS 2019-2029) which seek to improve farmers and local community incomes, lower the cost of food and increase employment.
Despite these developments, Kenya is still far from meeting the concrete agricultural goals to be attained by 2025 (the Malabo Declaration of 2014) set by the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit. ASTGS 2019-2029 could help bridge the wide gap in meeting the goals.
The declaration on accelerated agricultural growth and growth for shared prosperity and improved livelihoods sought a more targeted approach that recognises agriculture as a priority on the development agenda.
That agriculture is critical for economic growth and poverty reduction.
Many African governments, including Kenya, have committed to promoting inclusive agricultural growth in recent years, but their efforts often neglect the key role played by women.
According to the Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (ReSAKSS) established under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), gender differences are affecting African countries’ ability to meet their goals of ending hunger, reducing poverty, boosting trade, and resilience to climate change and other risks.
In executing its new agricultural transformation strategy, the government must closely adhere to the ReSAKSS objectives that support efforts to promote evidence- and outcome-based policy planning and implementation.
It will not be possible to realise the Malabo commitments without taking into account and working toward achieving gender equality, the ReSAKSS report notes.
Further, measuring progress toward these commitments and holding leaders accountable will not be possible without data systems that provide information on gender gaps.
The government’s new agricultural transformation strategy is critical to achieving the Big Four agenda on food security.
To attain success under the new strategy, the government is bound to strengthen the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Organisation, working closely with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, the private sector and various other partners. —[email protected]
