State merges eight agricultural regulatory bodies

Government has merged eight agricultural regulatory bodies into new departments following the operationalisation of new agriculture laws.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei said the institutions, which have been managing various agriculture sub-sectors, have been changed into departments under the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority (AFFA).

The conversion of the regulatory bodies follows a report by an interim management committee gazetted by minister in February.

The conversion of the institutions into new departments under the authority follows the operationalisation of the AFFA Act 2013 and Crops Act 2013.

Koskei made the remarks at his office yesterday while announcing commencement of the Crops Act 2013. AFFA Act 2013 operationalised early this year consolidates the law on the regulation and promotion of agriculture and makes provision for respective roles of the national and county governments in agriculture and related matters.

"Following the commencement of the Crops Act 2013, we have transformed the former regulatory bodies into new boards. This is aimed at accelerating the growth and development of agriculture in general," Koskei said in his statement.

The merged institutions include Coffee Board, Tea Board, Kenya Sugar Board, Cotton Development Authority, Horticultural Crops Development Authority, Pyrethrum Board of Kenya, Sisal Board of Kenya and Kenya Coconut Development Authority.

"We have named them directorates of each crop they were managing before and no staff of the previous institutions will lose jobs." said Koskei.