This archive report was first published on 3 July 2020.
July 3, 2020 - Kenya's agriculture sector is poised for transformation, with leaders vowing to increase budgetary allocation and credit access to boost exports and job creation.
Under the umbrella of the Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET), players in the sector have pledged to ensure that agriculture attracts the recommended 10 per cent of national budgetary allocation and up to 25 per cent credit access from the current 2.5 per cent and 4 per cent respectively.
Lee Karuri, the chair of the ASNET steering committee, noted that the missing link in tapping the sector's potential has been a strong united voice that brings everyone on board to lobby for a workable framework.
“Agriculture will not be the same again. Kenya produces 40 per cent of its food and imports the balance despite ability to harvest 100 per cent. ASNET seeks to bridge this gap and transform the country into a global agriculture export hub,” Karuri said.
Dr Bimal Kantaria, the new Managing Director of Elgon Kenya Ltd, has taken over the leadership mantle of ASNET, promising to forge strong partnerships to achieve the sector's transformation.
Dr Kantaria will head a team of approximately 100 leaders picked from a cross-section of industry players who were inducted last Wednesday and would serve for three years.
