State told to support rural farmers

Business

By ALLY JAMAH

Visiting President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (Ifad) has urged the Government to invest in rural areas to create jobs and boost food security.

Dr Kanayo Nwanze urged the Government and non-state actors to strengthen their support for rural smallholder farmers, saying they are the key to food security.

"We need vibrant rural economies to absorb youths living in the rural areas. They form the majority in Kenya and other developing countries. The rural space provides the biggest opportunity for our youth, not the congested cities," he said.

He also told the Government to increase investment in agriculture from 4.5 per cent to 10 per cent to meet the Maputo Declaration.

"Rural farmers don’t need handouts. All they require is that little support to catalyse what they are already doing," he said. Nwanze’s visit follows the release earlier this month of a report by the Government and international partners over decline in food security among some agricultural households.

The number of people needing food and other assistance has risen by 50 per cent in just six months, according to the study by the Kenya Food Security Steering Group.

The number of hungry people jumped from 1.6 million in August 2010 to 2.4 million in February 2011 due to drought in northern and northeastern pastoral areas and the southeastern and coastal lowlands.

Since Ifad began work in Kenya in 1987, it has invested more than Sh20 billion in projects to support rural agriculture, mainly around Mt Kenya. A massive reforestation and anti-erosion effort on Mt Kenya is also under way with Ifad support.

Three million seedlings are being planted, mainly by local residents.

The President visited projects funded by Ifad around Mt Kenya, in Central and Eastern accompanied by Planning PS Edward Sambili.

Nwanze also met Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei and Finance PS Joseph Kinyua.

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