Food security: Munya calls for private-public alliance
What you need to know:
- He said food production had declined over the years.
- As such, he said interventions to boost food sufficiency and self-reliance must be adopted.
- Farmers in the programme will each get three 50kg bags of fertiliser for planting and top-dressing their maize.
- Yara Country Manager William Ng’eno said they will work with the Ministry of Agriculture and the county governments.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has appealed for private sector support for smallholder farmers in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The CS Tuesday urged private businesses to help boost local production of farm inputs and provision of extension and training to farmers.
He spoke in Nairobi as he flagged off 13,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser donated by Norwegian fertiliser firm, Yara East Africa, to cushion 80,000 smallholder farmers in 22 counties against the effects of the pandemic.
He said food production had declined over the years, thus interventions to boost food sufficiency and self-reliance must be adopted.
Benefits of reforms
“Over the next two years, Kenyan farmers will see the benefits of ongoing reforms, which illustrate the strides that we are making towards increased private sector participation,” the CS said.
Water and Irrigation Chief Administrative Secretary Andrew Tuimur said the initiative will guarantee food security well beyond the pandemic.
The intended beneficiaries are part of 250,000 smallholders in seven Southern and Eastern Africa countries targeted in the drive that is supported by the United Nations, the Norwegian government and other African institutions.
The aim is to triple the region’s maize production and feed more than one million people in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique for one year.
Fertiliser
Farmers in the programme will each get three 50kg bags of fertiliser for planting and top-dressing their maize crop during the short rain season of August to November.
Yara International President and CEO Svein Tore Holsether said vulnerable communities face the most devastating food crisis in decades and that, if no action is taken now, many will be pushed into poverty and hunger.
Yara Country Manager William Ng’eno said they will work with the Ministry of Agriculture and the county governments of Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Vihiga, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori, Nyamira, Narok, Bomet, Trans-Nzoia, Nandi, Machakos, Makueni, Kitui, Kiambu, Muranga, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, Meru, Taita-Taveta and Tana-River.
Deputy Head of Mission at the Norwegian Embassy Stian Christensen pledged his government’s full support for the programme to ensure the target communities achieve food security.
World Food Programme Executive Director David Beasley noted that the initiative provides a good model for private sector involvement in food security programmes, in partnership with other institutions, governments and organisations to help sustain production and food supply chains and safeguard the people at the highest risk during this pandemic.
