Over the past few days, Kenyans have expressed their anger due to the skyrocketing cost of living.
Mostly, this is because of the increase, especially in maize and wheat flour prices as well as cooking oil, which has given many families an uphill task of putting food on the table.
The sharp increase in food prices has further plunged many households deeper into poverty, leaving others frustrated and hopeless.
Typically, most people rely on maize flour as their staple food.
However, it sounds ironic for a country with arable land to experience a maize shortage.
We can’t blame the government or farmers for this high cost of living since if we can look at the big picture, the hardship issue has become a global crisis.
This means the problem is not only here in Kenya but is also being experienced in other parts of the world.
Despite the situation, we have an urgent need to look at what we can do to save us from a potential hunger crisis.
We have a mandate to return to the farm and ensure 100 per cent utilisation of the available land.
This will break us from the current dependency on the whims of imported goods. But this goal cannot be attained by farmers only.
The government has a primary role in achieving this.
It is worth noting that most farmers have switched from growing food crops such as maize due to escalating cost of farm inputs.
The government, therefore, must ensure farm inputs, particularly fertilisers and seeds, are available and subsidised.
It should provide agricultural officers who can provide training and give advice to farmers on matters related to crop production.
Access to agricultural credits and financing should also be made available.
All these will boost the farmers to increase food production.
Agriculture is always the backbone of the economy, meaning if it blossoms, the rest of the economy will also thrive.
Student, Maasai Mara University
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
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