Kenya:Pilot Project Initiated to Fight Against Food Insecurity

By Staff Writer

In a bid to fight food insecurity and hunger in Kenya, the Principal Secretary in charge of agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in the country Mrs. Cecily Kariuki yesterday distributed farm inputs to over 500,000 farmers around the country donated by the government and over stakeholders.

The inputs which included 100kg of maize seeds, 14kg of bean seeds and 50kg of fertilizer for each farmer, are part of a three-phased pilot project aimed at enhancing food production in the country. “Food insecurity has to be kicked out,” said Mrs. Kariuki acknowledging that the best placed people to achieve this are farmers.

This pilot project which has kicked off in the nation has been programmed to make farming a mixed enterprise rather than one entity. “When farm products are low, you should have other means of getting food,” the Principal Secretary informed farmers in Kiambu County yesterday. She urged the farmers to embrace other types of farming that will be introduced apart from the traditional agriculture.

Mrs. Kariuki outlined the first phase as giving of seeds and fertilizers, the second giving goats and chicken while the third will be on irrigation. “One million acres have been set aside to make dry areas productive,” she said amidst applause from the farmers.

The objectives of the project were listed as enhancing food security, increasing levels of income through farm produce and creating youth employment from agriculture. “We want you to work in the farms listed in the project,” Mrs. Kariuki encouraged the youth. She cited that the proximity of the farms to major town markets will be an advantage to the farmers.

Although this project is collaboration between the national government and county governments, the Principal Secretary pointed out that the resources should be pulled together at the county level to create a greater impact. She mentioned that counties have thier own funds that should be chipped in to ensure more farmers benefit.   

Mrs. Kariuki noted that the ministry is facing a challenge as some farmers selling these inputs in what she terms ‘a strategic intervention. She called on the general public to report any government certified farm input moving in large quantities or suspected in the wrong hands so that the project bears fruit. To ensure that the exercise is monitored and carried to term, the ministry under the State Department of agriculture has appointed overseers.

Farmers who have already ploughed their farms in preparation for planting will start planting the seeds with immediate effect to test how the seeds will do in their farms. Most farmers are rented to government land to carry their activities and pay Ksh1500 per year. This agreement is affordable and benefits those of us who have no farms

The project which is worth close to Ksh150billion will continue and extend to all farmers in the Nation. It is expected to run for three years and the outcome will determine if it continues