By Patrick Ajwang
Most farmers are expecting a bountiful harvest, much unlike the spectre of famine that often threaten our nation.
The country has received enough rainfall since April, and elders who are knowledgeable in folklore and mythology will also readily tell you that the country has experienced relative peace among the citizenry hence the good weather.
The nexus between peaceful coexistence and good harvests may sound superstitious, but it is a principle that is well established not only in our traditional mythology but also in biblical literature.
We are expecting vats of new wine, full barns of grain, milk and new oil, thanks to the harmony that we have enjoyed since the promulgation of the new Constitution.
It is also apt to mention that the relative peace and stability we have experienced in the past two years has made it possible for other development projects and programmes initiated by the Government and other corporate bodies to realise their objectives. Projects aimed at expanding the transport infrastructure have been carried out without much acrimony by the Government.
It is important to note that transport infrastructure exists basically to link the agricultural hinterland to the markets. Similarly, electricity distributed to the rural areas will only make economic sense if there are agro-industries to consume it.
When infrastructural development is perfectly coupled with growth in agricultural production, then a real economic growth is achieved in a developing economy.
With regard to expansion of water supply to rural areas for domestic and irrigation purposes, not much has been achieved in the past two years.
Our settlement patterns of scattered homesteads and nomadic lifestyles make it difficult to design rural water supply systems.
A rethink of settlement policy, especially in the fertile arable land is necessary so that the land may be effectively utilised for food production. As many observers say, an appropriate land use plan needs to be developed and put into practice by the Government.
The land use guidelines should then be cascaded to the family level, whereby each farmer would be advised on the appropriate utilisation of the small piece of land they own.
Effective water supply for irrigation fed agriculture is so intricately linked to land settlement policy, and may necessitate consolidation of land, which is such a weighty topic.
It would be difficult to maintain our hard won harmony if land consolidation were to be carried out in every community to ensure the expansion of sustainable irrigated agriculture. Farmers must learn the best mix of crops to cultivate so as to avoid a glut in one commodity in a given locality on the one hand and scarcity of other equally important crops or animals.
Indeed, as one famous Kenyan politician once put it, the struggle for power is basically a fight to put food on the table.
Some people have also opined that the foremost reason for advancement in scientific technology was a desire to assure food and health security for increasing populations.
A peaceful countryside with good infrastructure, producing a variety of crops and animal products in large quantities, will naturally attract investors in value addition and agro-processing, creating industries, which could absorb our young graduates.
Recent reports also point to an encouraging attitude change towards farming as an occupation, thus eliminating what has been a hindrance to achieving food security in our country.
Events of the 2007 General Election have taught us a good lesson: food security and peaceful coexistence are intertwined.
Since there is enough land to produce enough food for our own needs and export, let us jealously defend the tenet of peace and stability – our new Constitution.
The writer teaches Agricultural Engineering and Project Management at JKUAT
