The Ministry of Agriculture will finance state corporations to cultivate 500,000 acres of idle land with maize crops, while also leasing out further unused land to the private sector.
Agriculture PS Harsama Kello has revealed that Kenya Agriculture Livestock Research Organization, Kenya National Youth Service, Kenya Prisons, and Agriculture Development Corporation’s lands have been identified for crop production, with loans from the Agriculture Finance Corporation (AFC) providing the necessary finance. These measures aim to increase maize production and alleviate annual shortages.
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This marks the first time that the Kenyan government has revealed its intention to use state corporations to grow food on idle land. Previously, former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government had passed a Cabinet resolution to lease the land to private investors. According to Mr Kello, the funds provided to the entities will be used to buy farming implements and mechanize the farms to produce enough maize within the next two years. He added that the process to have these corporations utilize the idle land and lease the same to private investors has already started.
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Uhuru Kenyatta’s government had approved the policy on large-scale commercialization of public land held for agricultural production. The policy, which was adopted in May 2022, aims to provide a framework for the utilization of idle land owned by public institutions for large-scale commercial agricultural production.
Kenya is seeking a model where public land is leased to private investors for food and cash crop production that relies less on rain-fed agriculture in favor of irrigation. The government hopes to encourage private sector investment in agriculture to increase food production, create jobs, and improve food security.
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