Over 40,000 smallholder farmers in Kenya are benefiting from the Boosting Sustainable Food Production Action in Kenya (“BOOST”) programme aimed at enhancing food and nutrition security in the country through various agro-ecological practices.
Principal Secretary for Agriculture Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh said the project would boost sustainable and resilient food production through promotion of agro-ecological practices and enhanced access to subsidised agricultural inputs, technologies, and services for the targeted smallholder farmers.
The ongoing project is jointly implemented by the State Department for Agriculture through the KCEP-CRAL Programme and FAO with the support of additional European Union Grant through IFAD in Bungoma, Nandi, Kakamega, Homa Bay, and Migori counties.
The PS said this on Wednesday in a speech read on his behalf by Agriculture Secretary Collins Marangu at Kapsabet in Nandi County, who represented him during the official launch of the Additional European Union Grant to the KCEP-CRAL Programme, “Boosting Sustainable Food Production Action in Kenya.
“Over 40,000 targeted smallholder farmers, including youth and women growing maize, sorghum, beans, Irish, and sweet potato value chains, will get support over the next three years,” said Dr. Ronoh.
“Out of the 40,000 targeted farmers, 15,000 will be supported in accessing and acquiring subsidised agro-ecological inputs that will include bio-fertilisers through the innovative mobile-telephone-based “electronic voucher” subsidy through the agro-dealers’ outlets,” he added.
He said the farmers, who would use simple handsets, would access subsidised inputs through a ‘sim-card-based menu’ and enable the transfer of funds from their sim-card to the agro-dealer in real time to pay for the subsidised inputs and ease the management of the transactions through the agro-ecology “e-voucher” wallet.
“The introduction of the innovation “e-voucher” by IFAD and EU played an important role in the management of agricultural subsidies in the country. The KCEP-CRAL has become a learning ground and knowledge exchange hub on the implementation of the “e-voucher,” Dr. Ronoh noted.
He said the programme would cushion the smallholder farmers from the adverse impacts of the increased global crisis following the Russian-Ukraine conflict, while taking into consideration the European Green Deal that advocates for the use of sustainable, environmentally friendly practices.
“In addition, the action will boost domestic food production by promoting improved agricultural production through sustainable good agricultural practices and enhance access to subsidised agricultural inputs, technologies, and services by farmers,” he added.
“This project is a key pillar of the Kenya Kwanza Manifesto, the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS), and Vision 2030,” he noted.
“To ensure accountability and effectiveness, the project will utilise a Sector Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and Management Information System (MIS), supported by EU funding,” he added.
The framework which was also launched aims to provide access to real-time information and data.
Speaking during the event, International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) representative and Country Director Mariatu Kamara reiterated their commitment to support Kenya Government in enhancing food and nutrition security.
“I want to make a commitment that IFAD would be here to support farmers through the government by using a bottom-up approach and would like to thank the European Union for the grant, the government, and counties for participating in the program,” said Kamara.
On his part, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang lauded the National and County government implementation partnership, adding that it would ensure seamless actualisation of development projects successfully.
By Ronald Cheruiyot
