Transforming agriculture for inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods

Posted by Nicholas Waitathu

Participants during a recent breakfast forum at a Nairobi Hotel organised by Tegemeo Institute

Researchers, government institutions, private sector players and development agencies today start a two day high conference on transforming agriculture for inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods.

Under the leadership of Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, Egerton

University, the actors meet to deliberate strategies aimed at stimulating high growth in the agriculture sector and more so ensuing adequate food production.

The conference comes a time when the agriculture sector in Kenya is grappling with many challenges such as crop infestations by fall army worms, post-harvest losses, erratic rainfall, low investments, uncoordinated policy implementation and impact of the climate change.

During the conference Tegemeo researchers will release research findings on changing agriculture for broad development and supportable incomes.

Timothy Njagi a senior researcher with Tegemeo Institute said the two day high level biennial conference discussions will largely focus on new dynamics after agricultural functions were devolved to the county governments.

“In a devolved system, and to continue playing its critical role in the economy, agriculture must be transformed to cope with the changing production, marketing and policy environments, and hence ensure broad, inclusive and sustainable growth. In addition, stakeholders need to consider agriculture’s contribution to food and nutrition security in a holistic manner,” said Dr. Njagi.

The conference will further deliberate how agriculture needs to be transformed to cope with the changing production, marketing and policy environments and thus ensure broad, inclusive and sustainable growth.

Njagi in statement observed that the sector requires new thinking so that adequate food is produced to feed the surging population.

The new information Njagi said to be released is geared towards facilitating dialogue among stakeholders on the way forward for promoting new change in the sector.

He explained that during the conference research findings and discussions will be made around the thematic areas of productivity and input use, sustainable livelihoods and inclusivity in agriculture.

Consumption and welfare as well as how we can harness technology for sustainable agriculture transformation will also form part of the discussions.

“Deliberations will be made to seek for strategies that will continue to move the agricultural sector and our country forward. The agricultural sector plays a key role in Kenya’s food security and overall economic growth,” he added.

Despite contributing about 25 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Njagi observed that the sector is still grappling with numerous challenges -low productivity, unsustainable production systems, low input use, high input costs and climate variability and change.

 The institute host participants drawn from the public sector, private sector organizations, civil society, development agencies, universities, and research institutes, among others.