Boost
Over 40,000 smallholder farmers in Kenya are benefiting from Boosting Sustainable Food Production Action in Kenya (“BOOST”) programme aimed at enhancing food and nutrition security in the country through various agro-ecological practices.
Principal Secretary for Agriculture Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh said the project would boost sustainable and resilience food production through promotion of agro-ecological practices and enhanced access to subsidized agricultural inputs, technologies and services, to the targeted smallholder farmers.
The ongoing project is jointly implemented by the State Department for Agriculture, through KCEP-CRAL Programme and FAO through the support of additional European Union Grant through IFAD in Bungoma, Nandi, Kakamega, Homa Bay and Migori counties.
The PS said this on Wednesday in a speech read on his behalf by Agriculture Secretary Collins Marangu at Kapsabet in Nandi County who represented him during the official launch of the Additional European Union Grant to the KCEP-CRAL Programme; “Boosting Sustainable Food Production Action in Kenya.
“Over 40,000 targeted smallholder farmers including youth and women growing maize, sorghum, beans, Irish and sweet potatoes value chains will get support over the next three years,” said Dr. Ronoh
“Out of the 40,000 targeted farmers, 15,000 will be supported in accessing and acquisition of subsidized agro-ecological inputs that will include; bio-fertilizers through the innovative mobile-telephone based “electronic-voucher” subsidy through the agro-dealers’ outlets,” he added.
He said the farmers, who would use simple handset, would access subsidized inputs through a ‘sim-card based menu’ and enable transfer of funds from their sim-card to the agro-dealer in real time, to pay for the subsidized inputs and ease the management of the transactions through Agro-ecology “e-voucher” wallet.
From L: Agriculture Secretary Collins Marangu, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang and (Right) IFAD representative and Country Director Mariatu Kamara at Kapsabet in Nandi County during the official launch of the Additional European Union Grant to the KCEP-CRAL Programme.
“The introduction of the innovation “e-voucher” by IFAD and EU played an important role in the management of agricultural subsidies in the country. The KCEP-CRAL has become a learning ground and knowledge exchange hub on the implementation of the “e-voucher,” Dr. Ronoh noted.
He said the programme would cushion the smallholder farmers from the adverse impacts of increased global crisis following the Russian-Ukraine conflict, while taking into consideration the European Green Deal that advocates for the use of sustainable environmentally friendly practices.
“In addition, the action will boost domestic food production by promoting improved agricultural production through sustainable good agricultural practices and enhance access to subsidized agricultural inputs, technologies and services by farmers,” he added.
“This project is a key pillar of the Kenya Kwanza Manifesto, the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS), and Vision 2030,” he noted.”To ensure accountability and effectiveness, the project will utilize a Sector Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and Management Information System (MIS), supported by EU funding,” he added.
The framework which was also launched aims to provide access to real-time information and data.Speaking during the event, International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) representative and Country Director Mariatu Kamara reiterated their committed to support Kenya Government in enhancing food and nutrition security
“I want to make a commitment that IFAD would be here to support farmers through the government by using bottom top approach and would like to thank European Union for the grant, Government and counties for participating in the program,” said Kamara. On his part, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang lauded the National and County government implementation partnership adding that it would ensure seamless actualization development projects successfully.