Adoption of latest technology,value addition and increasing land under irrigation are some of the key measures experts say will enhance food security in Kenya if adopted. Expert called upon the Government to devise ways of tackling effects of climate change to increase food production.
They also cited the cost of farm inputs, lack of markets and storage facilities for farm produce as other major hindrance to efforts to ensure Kenya is food secure.
Prof Mary Abukutsa, Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Research, Production and Extension at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) called on Government to increase funding to universities.
She also called on farmers to diversify the crops they grow, ‘so there is plenty for all to eat.
She called on the Government to invest in irrigation, post-harvest storage, marketing and proper harvesting methods that lessen wastage.
“Rain has become unpredictable due to climate change and so, we should find a way around it which is irrigation. We also need practical solutions on distribution so that abundant potatoes and milk in Nyandarua do not go to waste,” Abukutsa said.
Transform Kenya initiative seeks to influence new ways of doing things by giving as many Kenyans as possible an opportunity to contribute to debate on national development.
Gabriel Rugalema, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) country representative, said Kenya can feed her people if resources are availed to do value addition and facilitate access to markets. “Our data shows two million Kenyans are food insecure.
Government needs to provide cash to the elderly, urban and rural poor and the unemployed so that they can be able to buy food,” Rugalema, who was also a panelist said.
Transform Kenya- Food for All: Government has been urged to invest in value addition, irrigation and ensure farmers are not exploited so they can continue production. https://t.co/9OdpVREi1i
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He stressed the need for value addition saying it will increase farmers’ earnings while creating jobs. “Kenyans should not export raw materials such as avocados, tea, coffee and maize. Instead, let us avail resources so that these are transformed into other products. Here, a cup of coffee costs Sh50.
We export it raw and after processing, it fetches about Sh500 out there,” Rugalema said. “For coffee, washing, sorting, roasting, milling and packaging will create jobs for Kenyans, the same way producing vegetable oil, industrial starch, medicine and ethanol from maize will earn farmers more money as opposed to exporting raw maize.”
Prof Margaret Jesang Hutchison, from University of Nairobi’s College of Agriculture and Veterinary Services said farmers must be supported to produce more.