Agriculture
Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr. Andrew Karanja has expressed optimism that the implementation of the Kenya Agricultural Management and Information System (KIAMIS), a digital farmer registration will be a game changer in the sector.
He said at least 6.45 million farmers were enrolled in digital register the concept had transformed the sector for better, a scenario that had since exited other African Countries who now come into Kenya to benchmark on digital identification of farmers. He said through digital famer registration, the government can now plan on the famers needs, immediate interventions and how they can be assisted to attain sustainable modern farming to feed our population and even surplus production for export.
The CS noted that through, KIAMIS, they have been able to roll out the e-voucher registration system which is easily managed by farmers at the comfort of their mobile phones. “So these days if you want fertiliser, you get an e-voucher in your phone and for the short season rains we issued close to 1.8 million vouchers to our farmers,” he said.
The PS recognized the contribution of Food Agricultural Organisation and other development partners in developing digital identification of farmers. On his side FAO Representative Hamisi Williams during his speech emphasized on organization commitment in supporting Keamis digital farmer registration as a key towards building resilience in farmers against climate instigated challenges.
Dr. Karanja however challenged farmers to utilise grain driers which were distributed by the government last year to manage post-harvest loses. According to him, a total 16,000 agro-dealers and 7,000 stockists have been registered digitally across the country who will facilitate the achievement of the last mile target in agriculture.
The PS was pleased that through government intervention on provision of subsidized fertilizer together with sufficient rains, the country was recently exported surplus maize to neighbouring countries who are facing hunger. Further, the Ps said in the past two years the government has taken interventions which has seen great improvement in tea, coffee, dairy products, sugar areas with encouraging figures.
The CS Karanja made the remarks during the national celebrations of the World Food Day at Kaimosi Agricultural Training Centre in Nandi County. He regretted that Kenya was spending up to 4 dollars in year to food which can be produced locally.
Karanja pointed out rice and edible oils crops as the leading imports which raids our hard earned foreign currencies. “One of the tasks as a government is to reverse this trend, making sure we don’t spend our foreign currency to import food,” he said. The PS called on the residents and the leadership of Nandi County to utilize the rich soil and the plenty rains to ensure crops that does well in the region are planted maintained.
He mentioned of his ministry plan to hold agricultural intergovernmental meeting which geared towards bringing business doing harmony between National Government and the 47 counties. “I am also looking forward to work closely with private sector and development partners in bringing resources together in addressing challenges facing various agriculture areas in the country,” he added.
Nandi Governor Stephen Sang on his side challenged the young generation embrace agriculture seriously because the future of farming in this country relies on them. The function was also attended by Nandi Deputy Governor Yulita Mitei, Nandi County Commissioner Caroline Nzwili, IFAD, WFP representatives among other senior National and Nandi County Government officials.