CS Linturi: Embracing agriculture will help eradicate poverty and hunger
Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Mithika Linturi, has said that embracing agriculture will help the country achieve high economic growth, thus reducing poverty and hunger in the country.
During the 11th Annual Seed Trade Association of Kenya (STAK) Congress, Expo, and Mazo Forum 2023 in Nairobi, the CS said that the Kenya Kwanza government is committed to sustainable agricultural production, growth, and transformation.
“Kenyans Economy is highly dependent on the agricultural sector which contributes close to 25% directly to the Gross Domestic Products [GDP]. The sector accounts for 65%of total exports and provides employment for over 70% of our rural population. Agriculture is fundamental in achieving high economic growth reducing poverty and hunger in the country. It is for this reason that the government is committed to sustainable agricultural production, growth, and transformation.” the CS stated.
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He also noted the pivotal role of embracing agricultural innovations and technological advancements, emphasising their transformative impact on the seamless utilization of inputs across the entire seed value chain.
He stressed that this is the key to unlocking the full potential of the country’s agricultural landscape, leading to the maximization of output and the cultivation of optimal yields that will propel Kenya toward a future of agricultural excellence and sustained prosperity.
On the other hand, STAK Chairman, Mr. Wellingtone Wasike, expressed satisfaction with the progress in self-regulation implementation, citing the addition of more than 35 seed inspectors and over 15 seed analysts.
Wasike stressed the need for collaborative efforts among all stakeholders in the agricultural sector to foster emerging novel technologies, ultimately increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring food security.
“The call to action is clear: a collective and deliberate commitment is required to provide farmers with high-quality seeds at an affordable cost and precisely when needed. Overall, there is a need for concerted efforts by all stakeholders in the agricultural sector to develop emerging novel technologies in order to increase agricultural productivity as a way of increasing food security. We must be deliberate in our efforts to ensure that the seed industry makes available quality seed to farmers at an affordable cost and at the right time,” Wasike noted.