Let’s make farming noble profession

Kenyans in general have ‘peculiar’ feeding patterns, something that extensively affects food supply. Most of us over rely on certain foods to the point that we cannot substitute them for others even when they are not readily available.

For instance, residents in Western and Nyanza provinces cannot do without ugali (a by-product of maize). This replicates to our farming practices where most farmers plant the same type of crop year in year out. The North Rift region is currently having excess supply of maize, with most farmers lacking market for their produce.

Prices have consequently declined making farmers protest. A 90kg bag of maize is currently going for less than Sh2,800, down from Sh3,000. This has not impressed farmers.

National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), which is mandated to buy maize from farmers noted that they are overwhelmed by supplies. To add insult to injury, farmers whose maize has been taken may not be paid promptly by NCPB. The institution, as always, will say it has run out of funds and has to pay through farm inputs such as fertilisers and seeds. Farmers play a pivotal role in determining market supply of harvests, however, their efforts have always been overlooked.

This is not the first time maize farmers are being frustrated by the NCPB. It has become a norm that farmers harvest their produce and NCPB declines to buy it due to oversupply. NCPB should devise means of exporting excess supplies to neighbouring countries so that farmers do not incur losses.

Throw away price

Millers are also contributing to farmers woes since some operate as cartels and the firms are run by the affluent in the society who do not understand farmer’s problems.

As NCPB officials try to justify why they cannot buy farmers’ maize, some farmers have opted to sell their products at a throw away price of Sh2400 per bag to middlemen, who are exploiting them.

One factor fanning such practices is that maize, like wheat farmers, depend on Government to buy their produce. The situation is no different for dairy farmers. Some years back, farmers were forced to dispose their produce due to milk glut. Then few months later, the country experienced milk shortage and had to import milk powder, something we could have produced locally.

These kinds of scenarios greatly disappoint farmers. That is why many have decided to quit farming crops that make them incur losses namely maize, tea coffee and pyrethrum. Gone are the days when people boasted of being farmers because returns on their crops do not offer them decent lives.

Farming is a noble profession just like the others and it should not be taken as a pastime or alternative activity.

{Richard Bonyo, Nairobi}

 

My attention has been drawn to ongoing fight for cane between West Kenya and Mumias Sugar Company. This wars point to the fact that the sugar sector is facing a crisis. If companies reach a point where they start fighting for sugarcane, it means that farmers are not producing enough. Millers are to blame for this state of affairs.

The companies are only eager to mill cane but they are not involved in comprehensive research and development, which can help farmers produce better yields.

It is time the companies recognise this fact and start to help farmers better their farming practices and crops rather than wait to reap from what they have not sown.

Area leaders, who have taken sides in the Mumias-West Kenya war have worsened the situation as they promote their political and business interests.

My plea is leaders and farmers should realise they need the two companies if the region is to develop. This is because for many years, the region has relied on sugarcane as the only cash crop, with the sector employing thousands of farmers. The entrance of other millers like West Kenya should have thus have helped to make cane farming a worthy business.

{Samson Sumba, Mumias}

 

Traffic laws good but more must be done

With road carnage having reached epidemic proportions, the Government is justified in taking stern action against the menace.

It is sad that the country has lost many of its productive people through road accidents. At the same time, many families have been robbed off their breadwinners. Some of those who have survived accidents have been paralysed for life.

In retrospect, this is due to faults by almost everyone in society.

To begin with, pedestrians are the main violaters of the Highway Code. On numerous occasions, accidents have been caused by drivers trying to avoid hitting pedestrians, majority of whom do not observe traffic rules while crossing roads. There is need to sensitise the public on the dangers of flouting traffic rules as this will not only reduce the number of accidents but also deaths and casualties.

Passengers also take the blame. Ever since the late minister John Michuki was moved from Transport Ministry, the industry has never been the same. It is not surprising that vehicles are still overloaded and passengers do not wear seat belts.

Drivers are third in the list of those to blame. Reckless driving is a major contributor to deaths witnessed on our roads. Some speed while others, in total disregard of human life, drive while drunk. The new amendments on the Traffic Act, signed into by President Kibaki, should help to reign in on these vices. From now on, reckless drivers must pay for their sins through harsh fines or time in jail. It is due to light fines and sentences meted on traffic offenders that many drivers have continued to repeat mistakes.

Also, that drivers will undergo compulsory tests after every two years to ascertain their competence is good news since this will help to polish their skills. However, paying them on monthly basis may not work since this will become expensive for investors. Stiffer penalties should also be imposed on traffic officers, who take bribes thus letting matatu operators get away with serious offences.

If this is not taken care of, all the efforts to curb road accidents will not yield much. But as much as the Government has done well in introducing stringent laws meant to restore sanity on roads, it should have listened to various stakeholders, including Matatu Welfare Association. This is because someone might go to court to seek suspension of the law curtailing efforts to ensure safety on our roads.

{Dennis Mbae, Nairobi}