This archive report was first published on 13 November 2019.
On November 13, 2019, George Wachira wrote in Ideas & Debate about the need for Kenya to revive its agricultural sector to achieve food security.
Wachira noted that Kenya has become a net importer of food from neighboring countries, including Uganda and Tanzania, and that this trend has been ongoing for years, despite the country's potential to be a major player in the agricultural sector.
He attributed the decline of the agricultural sector to the lack of consistent and sustainable strategies, as well as the failure of governments to prioritize agriculture in their policies and budgets.
Wachira also highlighted the importance of empowering farmers, particularly the new generation of Kenyans who are steering away from agriculture due to the stresses of the system.
He emphasized the need for the government to come up with policies, strategies, and budgetary capacity to support the agricultural sector, including enabling agro-processing, strengthening farmers' co-operatives, and limiting competing agricultural imports.
Wachira, a farmer himself, stressed the importance of putting the farmer at the center of the agricultural sector, ensuring that they benefit from their sweat and are not exploited by middle-men or imports.
