Stakeholders in the agricultural sector are urging the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that farmers receive sufficient and timely farm inputs to guarantee adequate food production for the country. This call comes amid concerns that past efforts have been hindered by delays and the distribution of counterfeit and substandard inputs.
During a recent meeting, various agricultural stakeholders expressed their disappointment with the performance of the former Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Mithika Linturi. They cited numerous instances where farmers were supplied with counterfeit and low-quality farm inputs, which severely impacted their yields and, consequently, the country’s food security. The issue of substandard inputs has been a persistent problem, undermining farmers’ efforts and leading to poor harvests.
The CEO of the Kenya Livestock Producers Association (KLPA), Patrick Kimani, highlighted these concerns, emphasizing the importance of timely and quality inputs. “While we applaud the government for the subsidized fertilizer program, we urge the government to ensure timely delivery of the same so that farmers receive the fertilizer before the planting season,” he stated.
The stakeholders also directed their appeal to the newly appointed Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Andrew Karanja, urging him to prioritize the delivery of high-quality farm inputs. They emphasized that timely distribution is a fundamental component of ensuring that farmers can plan and execute their planting schedules effectively.
The stakeholders stressed the need for stringent quality control measures to prevent the distribution of counterfeit and substandard products. The impact of such products on the agricultural sector has been devastating, leading to poor crop performance, financial losses for farmers, and ultimately, food insecurity.
Andrew Karanja, the new Cabinet Secretary, has been urged to implement mechanisms to monitor and regulate the supply chain of agricultural inputs.
