Government to blame for coconut woes, Kenyan senators say

Governor Amason Kingi (left) with Senate Sessional Committee Chairman James Orengo in his office.[PHOTO/STANDARD].

Kilifi, Kenya - A Senate Sessional Committee has accused the national government of neglecting the coconut sector. The House team said despite the coconut crop fetching about Sh3.2 billion annually from the sale of its products, farmers are still languishing in poverty.

 

The committee headed by Siaya Senator James Orengo said coconut trees have the potential to generate billions of shillings and benefit the farmers, and the Government through revenue earnings.

Speaking in Kilifi on Monday, Mr Orengo expressed concerns that the desired earnings have not been achieved as the farming of the cash crop had been ignored.

The senator made the remarks when he led other committee members including nominated senator Elizabeth Ongoro to meet Governor Amason Kingi.

Ms Ongoro had moved a motion in the Senate to discuss the cash crop and its many benefits.

Senator Ongoro said research had shown that the coconut sector was capable of generating an income of Sh3.2 billion per year from the estimated 4.7 million coconut trees grown on 200,000 hectares.

NOT PRIORITISED

She, however, said that has not been attained because the national government had not given the sector the necessary financial support.

Ongoro said there was a need to consider financing coconut farming, as the Government does with tea and coffee.

She noted that the State does not regard the crop as one that could unlock the economic potential of the

Coast region.

“The coconut tree is the major cash crop for the Coast people but its farming has not been of any use because the Government has not given the sector a priority as it does with tea and coffee,” she said.

Nominated Senator Emma Mbura blamed the Government for failing to regulate the planting and general management of the coconut tree, thus allowing the cash crop to be cut down recklessly.

Ms Mbura said many coconut farmers have been cutting the trees for timber, while others have abandoned the trees altogether, as they are not getting any benefits.