President Mwai Kibaki has reassured Kenyans that the government has taken measures to ensure there is enough food for emergency supplies in the country.
Noting that prolonged drought has caused crop failure leading to a food deficit, President Kibaki said the government was making every effort to ensure sufficient quantities of food are distributed throughout the country.
"Periodic spells of drought are largely responsible for the perennial food shortages. To end our vulnerability to weather changes, the government has started implementing long term solutions aimed at reducing over-reliance on rain-fed food production," President Kibaki said.
The President was speaking Thursday when he officially opened the ASK Nyeri National Show at Kabiruini Showground in Nyeri Central District.
He said the government has moved to harness the country's irrigation potential, and that plans are underway to rehabilitate and expand irrigation schemes in the country.
Saying only 36,000 hectares has been irrigated in Central Province, the President said the Mwea Irrigation Scheme will be expanded by an additional 7,000 hectares.
Environmental conservation
On environment, President Kibaki said Kenyans must work tirelessly not only to conserve but also to create conducive environmental conditions that the country deserves.
"I am pleased to note that conservation of forests is now well appreciated in this province. Many people have voluntarily started cutting down eucalyptus trees as a way of conserving water. I urge other Kenyans to do the same and work with the government to plant trees that consume less water and help conserve the environment," the President said.
The President expressed satisfaction that agro-forestry is now a common practice among farmers and encouraged them to plant more environmental-friendly trees in order to achieve the required 10 per cent tree cover.
In this connection, he directed the Ministries of Agriculture and Wildlife and Forestry to redouble their efforts and ensure farmers have enough seedlings to plant during the forecasted heavy rains.
"Thereafter the two ministries should spearhead planting environmental-friendly trees throughout the years to come until we fully recover the country's rightful share of forest cover," President Kibaki directed.
In addition to environmental conservation, President Kibaki said the government has taken deliberate steps to promote the use of fertilizers and quality seeds as a means of increasing agricultural productivity.
He reassured that in the coming rainfall season, the government will provide free seeds to farmers who are currently dependent on food relief.
The President said the government will also provide free seeds and fertilizers to over 78,000 resource poor farmers throughout the country, adding that the government is implementing a comprehensive fertilizer subsidy program for most crops.
"For instance, this season, the price of 50 kg bag of D.A.P. has been reduced from Kshs 2500 to Kshs 2000. Also reduced is the price of C.A.N. from Kshs 1,750 to Kshs 1400 per 50 kg bag," the President said.
The Head of State, therefore, urged farmers to take advantage of the fertilizer subsidy to grow enough food for the country and surplus for export.
On horticultural production, the President observed that there is still an enormous unexploited potential and urged more farmers to venture into horticulture as a way of increasing their income and boost rural employment.
Increased production
President Kibaki commended coffee farmers for heeding the government's call to rehabilitate their farms leading to an increase in production from 100 million kilograms to 123 million kilograms in the last two years.
He said the government has also undertaken reforms to further assist in the recovery of coffee production including taking over the burden of farmers' debts of over Kshs 3.2 billion, setting up the Coffee Development Fund of Kshs 1.6 billion, liberalization of coffee marketing and introduction of a new direct marketing window.
"However, much more needs to be done to enhance coffee production and earnings and the Ministries of Agriculture and Cooperative Development should put more focus on this sector," the Head of State said.
The President said reforms should also be extended to the tea sector which earned farmers Kshs 5.2 billion last year, saying farmers require more incentives, better prices and selfless leadership to give a new impetus for growth of the tea industry.
On livestock industry, the President called on farmers to redouble their commitment to the improvement of the dairy industry, saying the Government on its part has provided a conducive environment through liberalization, revival of K.C.C., control of diseases and provision of inspectorate services.
President Kibaki, once again, assured farmers that the government, through the Agricultural Finance Corporation, has continued to offer affordable loans to farmers to ensure availability of credit for the purchase of agricultural inputs and payment for other farm operations.
He called on other financial institutions to develop affordable farmer-friendly credit packages to meet the existing needs.
The President pointed out that the government has also continued to strengthen the cooperative sector as a source of finance for farmers and encouraged more farmers to join the movement so as to pool resources and benefit from enhanced bargaining power and economies of scale.
Said the President: "The farmers should also demand more accountability from those who manage the co-operative societies."
Infrastructure improvement
On infrastructure, President Kibaki said the government has allocated enormous resources for tarmacking of several new roads, recarpeting of others and graveling of many more rural access roads to ensure timely delivery of agricultural inputs to farmers and efficient delivery of agricultural products to the market.
The President said the Government has also intensified rural electrification to enable farmers and rural businessmen to initiate agro-industries with a view to adding value to agricultural products.
Other speakers included Agriculture Minister William Ruto, Agricultural Society Of Kenya (ASK) National Chairman Mr. Stewart Madzayo and Nyeri National Show Chairman Mr. James Kahiro.
Present were ministers Prof. Sam Ongeri and Esther Murugi and Chief of General Staff Gen. Jeremiah Kianga.
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