Restructure government subsidies to make farming more lucrative

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Agenda Four is bound to fail unless the government listens to expert advice and restructures its fertiliser subsidy programme.

This is because the production of cereals has only increased marginally despite the government spending Sh6.5 billion in fertiliser subsidies to farmers between 2009 and 2017. The restructuring programme needs caution. The importation of sub-standard goods suggests that the quality of farminputs be scrutinised afresh.

Importation of low-quality fertiliser calls for special attention because unscrupulous importers and distributors are not above compromising the country’s food security as long as they make abnormal profits.

Importation and local production of seeds and agro-chemicals calls for close scrutiny, too, to ensure that only quality inputs are released to farmers.

The cartels that hijack the inputs meant for farmers only to repackage and release the same products to the market but at an exorbitant price which often beyond the reach of most farmers should also be driven out of business.  The hope is that the government will come up with a transparent distribution system that will ensure the targeted farmers get the inputs they need.

This will not be easy because these cartels existence is based on their ability to compromise or intimidate their opponents.

But the war against corruption demonstrates that a determined law enforcement effort can be sustained even though the final victory hinges on the conduct of the judicial system.

Counties also need to employ adequate agricultural extension officers to educate farmers on the best practices. These will include soil testing and identification of the fertilisers and seeds suitable for every corner of the country.

Experience shows that proper crop-husbandry has demonstrated the country could more than double its production of cereals on the same acreage and using the same amount of resources.

The result would be a drastic fall in production costs.