Farmers urge EA to increase funding for agriculture
A young farmer inspects his vegetables grown under irrigation. While agriculture remains the main economic activity of the East African Community (EAC) partner states, public spending on the sector still remains very low. PHOTO | FILE |
What you need to know:
- Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) has now called on member states’ treasuries to implement the 10 per cent budget allocation for agriculture, in line with the Maputo Declaration.
While agriculture remains the main economic activity of the East African Community (EAC) partner states, public spending on the sector still remains very low.
Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) has now called on member states’ treasuries to implement the 10 per cent budget allocation for agriculture, in line with the Maputo Declaration.
Kenya is among several African states that have failed to implement the 2003 Maputo Declaration, which stipulates that countries allocate at least 10 per cent of the national budget to agriculture. None of the EAC states has consistently met the 10 per cent threshold pledged by the Heads of States.
A report by EATFF on budgetary allocation for 2014/15 period shows Kenya presented the biggest budget in the region (Sh1.77 trillion), with the priorities being food security, increased productivity, commercialisation of agriculture and irrigation. Some Sh9.5 billion was allocated for on-going irrigation projects in the country and Sh3 billion for inputs subsidy, like fertiliser. A further Sh2.7 billion was earmarked for strategic grain reserves and Sh1.0 billion for fisheries development. Some Sh0.7 billion was set aside for reviving Kenya Meat Commission.
“In EAC, agriculture constitutes a greater share of the combined GDP, but productivity in the sector has declined considerably in comparison with other regions,” said EAFF chief executive Steve Muchiri. He added that the contribution of agriculture to these economies was declining.
This comes almost five years after the signing of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme. Rwanda was the first country in East Africa to sign the CAADP in 2007. By May 2011, 26 more countries had signed the programme and incorporated the CAADP Compact into their agricultural agenda.
These include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi in the East African Community. Others include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea and Liberia.
