Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei plans abattoirs in 47 Counties as part of reforms in Agriculture ministry

By Vitalis Kimutai

NAIROBI, KENYA: Cabinet Secretary in charge of Agriculture Felix Koskei has said reforms in the state corporations falling under the ministry will be undertaken to make them effectively respond to farmers’ needs.

Koskei said the reforms would be geared towards boosting food production and ensuring farmers make maximum returns from their investment.

“We need to re-engineer the way we do things so that we move from subsistence to commercial farming. As a country and with proper incentives to farmers, we have the capacity to produce enough for local consumption and export,” Koskei said.

Koskei wants the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to embark on a process to appoint agents to distribute subsidized fertilizers to farmers across the country.

He said that appointment of the agents would enable farmers to easily access the fertilizers and boost food production noting that unscrupulous businessmen were exploiting farmers by selling farm inputs expensively yet the government had provided subsidies.

“As it is now, farmers are now only able to buy the subsidized fertilizers in NCPB depots which are far apart. There is an urgent need to bring on board agents to distribute fertilsers and other farm inputs in the corporations depots,” Koskei said.

The government recently imported 45,000 metric tons of fertilizers at a cost of Sh 2.7 billion which are available to farmers in NCPB depots.

A 50 kilograme bag of DAP fertiliser is retailing at Sh 2,500 while CAN goes for Sh 1,600.

Speaking to The Standard, Koskei said that the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) would be revived within the next three months so as to create market for beef cattle.

“Abattoirs will be opened in all the 47 Counties so that markets for beef cattle is readily available and businessmen can be saved the trouble of transporting cattle for slaughter to Nairobi,” Koskei stated.

He said opening of the abattoirs would create more job opportunities in the Counties in line with the devolved system of government adding that it would also be easy and cost effective for beef dealers to transport meat to various markets.

Koskei said that the ministry of agriculture would provide subsidized veterinary services in conjunction with development partners adding that special focus would be given to Artificial Insemination Services (AI).

“We are going to ensure that farmers are facilitated to access AI services so as to improve the quality of their livestock by moving from traditional to modern farming techniques,” Koskei said.

For a long time, he stated, farmers have clung to traditional approach to rearing of livestock thus the need for paradigm shift with a view to reaping profits from the investment.

Warehouse receipting for grain farmers to cushion them against losses and exploitation by middle men during harvest season, he said, would be encouraged.

“The Ministry would soon be formulating a Bill on warehouse receipting so that grain growers could use the receipts to secure money from financial institutions even as they wait for prices of their produce to increase,” Koskei stated.

Middlemen have been exploiting farmers for decades by purchasing grains at low prices and selling them at exorbitant prices to millers while others export the produce to neighbouring countries including Southern Sudan.

The Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC), he said would also be expected to open up branches in all the Counties so that farmers can easily access credit facilities to boost production.

The Kenya Seed Company which is the principal multiplier of seeds in the country is also required to ensure that certified grain and vegetable seeds are available to farmers within a radius of 10 kilometres square.

Koskei has also indicated that fish ponds would be initiated in all schools across the country to boost food production and inculcate the culture of diversification in agriculture to Kenyans.