• Most of our agricultural produce ends up being exported after very little value addition, denying the country higher earnings.
• We, in turn, end up importing the same products in refined form thus ending up depleting our foreign exchange reserves.
Kenya is rich agriculturally and if fully exploited, the sector can greatly contribute towards the GDP.
Unfortunately, most of our agricultural produce ends up being exported after very little value addition, denying the country higher earnings.
We, in turn, end up importing the same products in refined form thus ending up depleting our foreign exchange reserves.
Examples include our tea, coffee, fish, avocados just to mention but a few.
Why should we export raw coffee only to buy a 500g tin of the so-called imported 'high-grade' coffee at more than the price paid to a farmer for one kilo?
Our tea is exported to the UK, blended and ends up fetching top notch prices in the international market as exports from Britain.
It is, therefore, encouraging that President William Ruto is pushing for value of our agricultural produce and other natural resources so that the country gets value for money.
Value addition will lead to innovation and growth in agribusiness apart from ensuring farmers get a better take home pay.
It will also boost the country's foreign exchange and help bridge the balance of payment gap between Kenya and some of its trade partners.
Value addition increases the profit for any good or service and Kenya can not continue just offering the primary products or services.