Major battle over resources looms as new agricultural authority takes off

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei.

Kenya: Full operationalisation of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority (AFFA) could prompt supremacy wars in the multi-billion shillings agriculture sector.

The tussle is likely to be witnessed between senior officers with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and the new directors of the authority as they fight over huge resources inherited from the merged units. But the Government is optimistic that the sector reforms will succeed and thus guarantee high productivity and farmers' income by improving the investment climate and efficiency of agribusiness.

"Through facilitative regulation, development and promotion services, this is anticipated to increase exports earnings from agricultural crops thereby increasing foreign exchange earnings of the country," according to Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei.

Further, wrangles could also be occasioned by senior agriculture officials questioning decisions the authority directors will be executing. A similar supremacy war is already being witnessed between the National Land Commission and Ministry of Lands over control of land in the country.

Koskei operationalised the AFFA Act on January 17, 2014 through a Kenya Gazette notice one year after it was enacted. The regulatory institutions will be replaced by new directorates, which will be manned by directors to be recruited competitively.

Some of the regulatory bodies to be converted into directorates include Tea Board of Kenya, Horticultural Crops Development Authority, Coffee Board of Kenya and Kenya Sugar Board. Others are Coconut Development Authority, Pyrethrum Board of Kenya, Cotton Development Authority and Sisal Board of Kenya.

Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (Kippra) Executive Director John Omiti stated that functions of the authority, if well implemented, could reduce the clout Agriculture ministry has been enjoying all along.

The legislation has provided a sound platform for the directors to restore change in the agriculture sector. However, tussle over the supremacy of the sector is likely to be witnessed between different factions in the ministry.

"Based on the provisions of the AFFA Act 2013, supremacy wars are likely to emerge and derail the desired reforms in the agriculture sector. Regulating the sector will require a lot of commitment both by the ministry and the authority," said Dr Omiti.

Farmers' organisations also agreed conflict could occur due to duplication of roles between the ministry and AFFA.