By Peter Mutua
“The German economy is far too important to be
left to a strategic plan.” German Central Bank staff member during an
international banker’s convention
Following the end of World War II in 1945, the UK faced a
serious challenge. Their national focus, industries and population had
been directed towards the war effort.
As a result, their ability to produce food was
seriously compromised, forcing the country to ration food. Goods like
sugar, flour or milk were restricted to a certain amount per person.
So serious were the shortages that those who lived
through that period can remember times when fruits were rare. Oranges,
lemons and pineapples would be savoured and eaten whole; peels and all.
Wild fruit would be consumed even before it ripened and hunger pangs
were constant companions to the majority of the population.
The government reacted by passing the Agricultural
Act of 1947 which stated in part that “the twin pillars upon which the
government’s agricultural policy rests are stability and efficiency.
The method of providing stability was through guaranteed prices and assured markets.”
Prices of main crops such as wheat, barley and
sugar beet were fixed for 18 months while those of beef cattle, milk and
eggs were fixed for the next four years.
In 1957, a new Agriculture Act mandated the
government not to reduce prices of any product by more than four per
cent in any one year, not to reduce the price of livestock/livestock
products by nine per cent in total over any consecutive three years and
not to reduce the value of guarantees by more than 2.5 per cent in any
one year.
Consequently, farm incomes grew, farmers developed
the confidence to make heavy capital investment and serious
technological advances were made in agriculture.
Crop yields improved, cereal prices increased at a
quicker rate than other commodities and labour use reduced as
mechanisation increased.
Eventually, the food rationing was brought to an
end in 1953 and even though Britain is not self-sufficient, it operates
as a food trading nation relying on both imports and export markets to
feed itself and drive economic growth.
In 2013, the UK government announced plans to ban
the consumption of khat (miraa), following a trend in Europe, the US and
Canada.
Setting a date of June 24 (last month), it was
expected that producer countries would take measures to cushion those
involved in this industry from the effects of the ban.
Kenyan players in this sector did not take the news
lying down. Taking to foreign capitals, the media and finally
Parliament, noise was made about the harsh effects of the ban on farmers
and counties which depend on the stimulant for economic sustenance.
Sadly, the government through its agents
participated in what can only be described as a fool’s errand – an
attempt to persuade another government to take actions that are
completely against its own self-interest for the sake of negligible
benefits. It was doomed from the start; a poor example of government
intervention.
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