Editorials

Invest more in agriculture

nyoro

:Kiambu governor Dr James Nyoro. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Agriculture has been at the heart of Kenya’s economy despite years of underfunding. The sector contributes about 35 per cent to the gross domestic product as well as 40 per cent employment, highlighting its importance.

Adverse weather, locust invasions and the Covid-19 pandemic have dealt a devastating blow to the sector, leaving it in urgent need of lifeline resources and support to enhance its resilience.

Agriculture is not only crucial for food security but also a base for industrial development.

According to Kiambu governor James Nyoro, who chairs the Agriculture and Cooperatives Committee of the Council of Governors (CoG), counties are putting a paltry four to five per cent of their annual budgets in the sector. It is, therefore commendable that the CoG now wants counties to provide a timeline when they will set aside a minimum of 10 per cent of their annual budgets for agriculture. This is a step in the right direction.

Combined with funding from the Treasury and ongoing reforms by Agriculture ministry, multi-sectoral and intergovernmental approaches are needed to match resource allocation and policy actions.