Study to find ways to make farming profitable for SMEs

Richard Ngatia (2nd right), the KNCCI President with Angela Ndamuki (2nd left) during the launch of the SME study in Nairobi yesterday. [Courtesy]

A new study has been launched on the agricultural sector value chain with the aim of finding means of delivering value to the farmer.

It comes amid growing concerns that producers of agricultural commodities including tea and coffee are harvesting the least gains along the value chain.

Richard Ngatia, the President of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, yesterday launched the study on the opportunities and challenges faced by Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in the agricultural sector.

It is a programme by the chamber in partnership with Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). 

The study has the overall goal to contribute towards the development of an enabling environment for private sector growth in agriculture in Kenya. The study is also aimed at supporting successful change that can be used to accelerate the agenda for sustainable agricultural growth and development in the country.

Ultimately, it is expected that the study will lead to evidence based policy making as a way of strengthening policy and advocacy engagement.

In his speech, the Chamber President said the programme is clear evidence of the commitment by KNCCI to improve the lives of Kenyans through business in agribusiness, livestock and the realisation of the Big 4 Agenda on food security and nutrition.

Ngatia added that the Chamber is a crucial partner in the sector in relations to increasing value chains, reducing food losses and waste, improve market access and accelerate private investment into agriculture. 

KNCCI plans to strengthen and deepen its engagement with county governments through regional economic blocks which have been established to enhance the counties comparative advantage and economies of scale.

The collection will take place at the county level using the CEOs of the county chapters as the data collection agents. In that regard, the chamber has embarked on training its county chief executive officers for them to get an appreciation of the research objectives and specially the research methodology.