Uhuru’s Sh20b shot in the arm to boost agriculture

Farmers in Kenya will now be able to access Sh51 billion to improve their farming activities after President Uhuru Kenyatta said his government had set aside Sh20 billion ($200 million) to invest in agriculture in the next five years. “Today, I commit to set aside $200 million to benefit especially 150,000 young farmers and entrepreneurs to access markets, adopt mechanisation, improve agriculture value addition and agro-processing in the country,” Uhuru told delegates at the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) at the UN Complex in Gigiri, Nairobi, Wednesday. During a high-level panel meeting attended by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Tanzania’s former President Jakaya Kikwete, former Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo and African Union Commissioner Rhoda Peace, Uhuru called on African leaders to urgently address problems afflicting agriculture to fight food insecurity and create employment. “Let African governments streamline their national plans and strategies to align them to the Malabo Declaration and have specific timelines to achieve the set goals,” Uhuru said. Mr Kagame called for the improvement of the whole agriculture value chain – from farmers and marketers to processors and consumers. “Governments and private sector should work together to make sure that the resources, priorities should be mapped out and everyone plays his part. When we get good results, everyone will be happy,” Kagame said. READ MORE Divorce party affairs from functions of State It will take more than ‘resolutions’ to save the world Africa reaping benefits of agriculture programme Kenya Commercial Bank CEO Joshua Oigara said his institution had set aside Sh31 billion ($310 million) to fund agricultural activities in Kenya. “We have realised that agriculture can’t succeed if it is not owned by youths who are energetic and innovative and technology-savvy. KCB is ready to give them loans to realise their dream of becoming employers and earning a living,” Oigara said. Agnes Kalibata, the President of Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (Agra), called on Africa to seize the moment and transform agriculture.
Source; http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000215116/uhuru-s-sh20b-shot-in-the-arm-to-boost-agriculture