Kenya requires Sh475 billion to boost agriculture

By NICHOLAS WAITATHU

The Government and private sector faces a daunting task of mobilising Sh475 billion in the next three years to finance various programmes in the agriculture sector. This will help the country increase food production.

According to the draft Medium Term Expenditure Framework 2014/15-2016/17, Kenya plans to spend the amount to address various challenges in agriculture.

The agriculture sector, which currently contributes about 26 per cent the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is struggling with inappropriate institutional, legal and policy framework, low productivity, inadequate utilisation of land, limited value addition and poor market access.

Treasury says priority will be given to fertiliser cost reduction and expansion of area under irrigation. This will also include promotion of greenhouse farming, enactment of the Consolidated Agricultural Reform Bill, establishment of Livestock Disease Free Zone and increased access of sector products to markets. The Government is currently procuring subsidised fertilizer for the next planting season.  Other programmes to be pursued during the period include agro processing, value addition and product diversification of farm, livestock and fisheries products.

Land reforms and issuance of title deeds, establishment of National Land Information Management System, establishment of national spatial data infrastructure, development of affordable and quality houses for lower income Kenyans, installation of physical and social infrastructure in slums and informal settlements in urban areas are other strategies to be fast tracked.

“To undertake these programmes, the sector requires Sh145 billion in the next financial year 2014/15. Further, the sector will require Sh164 billion for 2015/16 and Sh166 billion for 2016/17,” the report says in part.