AGRICULTURE IN KENYA – POLICY AND ROLE OF ENGINEERS

Last Updated 12 years ago by Kenya Engineer

Agriculture is defined as the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi, and other life forms for food, fiber, biofuel, drugs and other products used to sustain and enhance human life.

This definition is a good indication of the importance of Agriculture in the survival of the human race. Agriculture is also a leading employer worldwide with averagely 35% of the global population directly employed in the sector.

Employment in the agricultural sector is probably the most secure form of employment. The world population of 7 billion is expected to increase by a third and reach 9.3 billion in 2050. The implications of this increase are that: more people will need more food and supply will have to increase substantially.  As more and better farms are created, related industries will expand as well.

In developing countries like Kenya, employment growth is driven mostly by demographic changes. The majority of workers do not enter into formal wage employment, but instead are engaged in self-employment, such as in agriculture, and especially subsistence farming. Consequently, economic downturns tend to have only a limited impact on overall employment growth. Considering that the large share of the working poor are engaged in agriculture, developments in that sector have a major impact on welfare. 

Agriculture has been ascertained as the backbone of the Kenyan economy contributing approximately 25% of GDP and employing 75% of the national labor force.

Further, at least 80% of the Kenyan population make a living from agriculture. The sector is important for poverty reduction. Growth in agriculture will have a significant impact on a larger section of the population than any other sector.

According to a policy brief document jointly written by Patrick Alila and Rosemary Atieno in 2006, Agricultural policy concerns in Kenya included but were not limited to the following:

1. Increasing agricultural productivity and income.  Decline in agricultural sector productivity observed over the last two decades has far-reaching implications for employment, income inequality and food security. One reason for low productivity levels is that many farmers cannot afford readily available, modern farming technologies. Poor institutions, marketing and storage facilities reduce incentives to produce. High transport costs due to dilapidated roads, and improper handling and wastage of crops also contribute to the malaise.

2. Enhanced food security and equity. Agricultural production in Kenya is largely rain-fed and vulnerable to weather related fluctuations. Droughts and floods have often led to high crop failure and livestock deaths. Over-reliance on rain-fed agriculture is one of the major causes of food insecurity. Less than 7% of Kenya’s cropped land is irrigated, while as much as 83% of land is arid or semi-arid and classed as ‘low potential’. Increasing the irrigated area could stabilize agricultural output and reduce dependence on rain-fed systems.

3. Commercialization and intensification of production of small scale farmers. Kenya’s narrow base of agricultural products and exports makes incomes increasingly vulnerable to international market trends. Limited diversification and low value-added in agricultural exports are the main culprits. The sector is weakly vertically integrated, made worse by ineffectual institutions and support services for agricultural exports. A handful of commodities provide livelihoods for over 85% of the population, with coffee and tea alone providing 45% of wage employment in agriculture.

4. Diversification into non-traditional agricultural commodities. Kenyan agriculture would benefit from exploiting potential in agro processing, regional markets and encouraging private-sector-led development of the sector. But constraints to commercialization, diversification and investment in agriculture need to be addressed.

These include: inadequate and declining research in agriculture; ineffective extension and delivery systems for research; and lack of finance to the agricultural sector and related activities. Lack of access to credit, especially for small-scale farmers and women, limits the range of activities, types of technology and scale of operations that farmers can adopt.

Some of the challenges the Kenyan government faces in ensuring sustained agricultural production include reduced land for agricultural use due to subdivisions. In his proposed change of policy article published in the Business Daily Newspaper  in September 2013 Dr. Bitange Ndemo, A former permanent secretary, proposes change of policy on land subdivision to ensure availability of land for agriculture.

He further suggests intensification through better management and use of technology to improve production for countries, like Kenya, that face a shortage of suitable land.

The Jubilee coalition, currently in government, made enormous promises with regard to the agricultural sector in the run up to their election into office. There are indeed visible efforts to realize these dreams in an effort to improving Agricultural production. However most of the pre-election promises remain just that, promises.

They for instance promised to introduce affordable state loans to subsidize fertilizer and farm equipment as a way of ensuring food security. The government has since had a go at various attempts to cut down on fertilizer prices including leaving out private companies from the fertilizer importation process.

A 50KG bag of Diammonium Phosphate fertilizer currently costs Ksh 2,500 if purchased from the government run National Cereals and Produce Board. This is less by almost Ksh 1,000 in comparison to private traders. The government further disbursed Ksh 180 million through the youth enterprise development fund to be lend out to the youth in an effort to woo them towards Agribusiness. 

They also promised to establish a vibrant national irrigation scheme to open up more arable land. Further they promised to within five years, put a million acres of land under modern irrigation and further expand agricultural production by employing modern technology on currently cultivated land and on the 2.5 million acres presently not in use. The president did indeed launch a multi-billion shilling irrigation project at Tana River and Kilifi counties early in January.

Engineers have a crucial role to play in ensuring improved Agricultural production. Engineers are expected to help in making farming sustainable, safe, and   environmentally friendly. They are expected to analyze agricultural operations and weigh the use of new technologies and methods to increase yields, improve land use, and conserve resources like seed, water, fertilizers, pesticides and fuel. The engineer recommends strategies to protect the health, safety and security of worker’s, animals and agricultural products.

Engineers must develop methods and design equipment for land preparation, planting and harvesting. They incorporate automation, precision and smart technologies to new and existing equipment. They must find better ways to reduce crop loss from field damage, during handling, sorting, packing and processing. The warehousing of food and fiber are an important part of the agriculture industry.

In terms of policy implementation, engineers’ input will be appreciated if the government opts to consolidate land for farming purposes.  Engineers will be expected to build smarter cities with adequate supply of water, energy, broadband and food for the general population while most of the land is used for Agricultural purposes.

It thus goes without saying that Agriculture is a major contributor to the economic growth of any given country. Investment in Agriculture is a wise move, particularly at the height of the global employment crisis. While many young people will leave there rural areas and settle in the urban areas in search of ‘decent’ jobs, there is a real opportunity in agricultural business for the folk at the rural areas both at small and large scales.