Nairobi: The Government has expressed satisfaction that its initiatives geared towards improving the economy and bettering the lives of its citizens are bearing fruits. Top on these initiatives has been the Government’s investments in agriculture through improvement of the priority value chains, subsidizing production materials such as fertilizers, certified seeds, and provision of other farm inputs, which have now brought the country closer to food security.
According to Kenya News Agency, speaking in his office in Nairobi during a media briefing, the Government Spokesperson Dr. Isaac Mwaura recalled that the current administration came to power at a time when food imports to Kenya had spiraled from 10 percent to 17 percent of goods imports. This increase heightened the country’s vulnerability to global food supply shocks, prompting the government to prioritize agriculture as the number one pillar of the BETA plan to turn the situation around.
Faced with a scenario where 54 percent of household expenditure for Kenyans goes towards buying food, Dr. Mwaura noted that the government found it imperative to work out modalities for lowering food prices and instituted other measures aimed at quickly lowering the cost of living for all. He highlighted that in 2022, Kenya imported maize worth Sh10 billion, but has now achieved maize sufficiency, conserving much-needed foreign exchange. Reassuringly, as evidence of the efforts in this sector, Kenya now has adequate maize stockpiles, sufficient sugar, and the prices of basic food items have steadily decreased, with a packet of 2kg maize selling at a low of Sh120, marking a 3-year low. This progress is reflected in Kenya’s inflation rate, which is at a 17-year low.
To sustain this momentum, Dr. Mwaura revealed that the Government, in preparation for the upcoming long rains, has secured a consignment of 5.6 million bags of subsidized fertilizers, which would be available to farmers through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB). This initiative aims to make farm inputs affordable for enhanced agricultural productivity across the country, ultimately contributing to food security. Additionally, Dr. Mwaura disclosed that the government is rolling out a seed and seedlings program to support farmers in cultivating high-yielding crops.