• The CS has said his ministry will address challenges that face the agricultural sector in Kenya.
• Linturi also announced that donors are willing to support the agricultural sector by financing capacity building to train the youth on best practices.
Image: James Mbaka
Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has vowed to influence the youth across the country to join commercial faming.
The CS has said his ministry will address challenges that face the agricultural sector in Kenya as a way of making agriculture more attractive to the youth in rural areas and also profitable.
In an exclusive interview with the Star, Linturi promised that the Kenya Kwanza government will create a secure food environment by enabling farmers access affordable farm inputs to maximise on food production and improve food security status in the country.
“One of my major target is to drive youth to profitable farming in conjunction with the County Governments, by creating a conducive environment for the many jobless youth to seek employment in agri-business. My ministry’s top agenda is to make farming a profitable venture and enhance food production to boost our food security," he said.
Linturi also announced that donors are willing to support the agricultural sector by financing capacity building to train the youth on best practices laced with farming technology.
He promised to help farmers get well equipped with research on modern farming by availing to them all reports by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).
"The reports by KALRO on industrial crops will help farmers to know new agriculture technologies as a way of improving our food security through technology," the CS said.
According to Linturi, climate change, expensive farm inputs and use of outdated farming technology are some of the major challenges facing farmers across the country.
“The prolonged drought that has ravaged 29 counties is a result of climate change globally and that’s why we have four failed rain seasons. We are however working on mitigation measures and permanent solutions to avert such a scenario in future.
"Part of our plan to counter this is to create a secure food environment by providing use of modern technology, enabling farmers access affordable farm inputs and also end dependence on rainfed agriculture and introduce irrigation projects in order to maximize on food production,” he added.
The CS stated that majority of farmers in Kenya are still using out dated methods to carry out their agricultural activities.
He said this is due to inability to access new technology, while some lack information on new agricultural technologies, which leads to poor productivity.
He further stated that the ministry will continue to support livestock farmers affected by the prolonged drought by providing finance for the livestock off-take programme that is ongoing in the counties affected, especially among pastoral communities.
Early this month, President William Ruto ordered the National Treasury to release Sh350 million to Kenya Meat Commission to buy emaciated cattle from livestock farmers in areas affected by the prolonged drought.
The government has already declared the drought a national disaster with a drive on relief food distribution ongoing.
At least 4.2 million Kenyans from arid and semi-arid areas in 29 counties facing hunger due to the prolonged drought.