This archive report was first published on 7 December 2019.
December 7, 2019, marked a significant milestone in the fight against food scarcity. In Rome, Italy, leaders came together to form the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which defines food security as access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for an active and healthy life.
Fast forward to Maputo, Mozambique, where African leaders agreed to allocate 10% of the continent's total budget to agriculture. This commitment has inspired other regions, including Kitui County in Kenya.
At a meeting on food security in Kitui County, organised by Caritas Kenya and the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, George Biruri, a governance consultant, commended the county for its significant allocation of budget funds to agriculture. 'I think Kitui is the only county in Kenya that puts aside the largest amount of its budget funds for agriculture,' he said.
Kitui County has been allocating billions of shillings to its agriculture ministry since 2013, making it a leader in the country's agricultural sector. However, Biruri noted that poor land preparation methods have negatively impacted the environment, contributing to soil erosion and reduced production.
He emphasized the importance of using methods that protect top soils and water retention, particularly in fragile lands. The availability and accessibility of water are also crucial factors in food security, with Kitui County facing challenges such as lack of water, poor rainfall, and climate change.
The consultant also highlighted the need for fair producer prices for farmers, which are often discouraged by market manipulation, lack of value addition, and high costs of seeds, fertilizers, and labour.
In urban areas like Mombasa and Kisumu, food security takes on a different perspective, with people relying on income to purchase goods and provisions. Biruri stressed the importance of information in ensuring accessibility and availability of food, citing the lack of relevant information as a significant contributor to food insecurity.
Kenya has been discussing food security since 1981, with the government making efforts to address the issue. However, more needs to be done to ensure that all Kenyans have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.
