Various stakeholders in the agriculture sector have welcomed a move by the government to establish a national agroecology strategy.
Stakeholders observed that the National Agroecology Strategy for Food System Transformation 2024-2033, will promote a sustainable transformation of the food systems in Kenya to ensure food security and nutrition, climate resilient livelihoods and social inclusion for all.
Led by the Inter-Sectoral Forum on Agrobiodiversity and Agroecology (ISFAA), they said the government has recognized the important role agroecological practices and approaches can play in transforming agriculture and food systems in the county.
ISFAA Steering Committee Chairman Eng. Laban Kiplagat, speaking during the launch of the Strategy in Nairobi, said agroecology presents a pathway to address many of the challenges facing our food systems in a manner that is eco-friendly and climate change resilient.
“The current food production and consumption practices not only exacerbate climate change impacts but also lead to loss of biodiversity,” said Kiplagat adding that there is need to transform the current systems to become more sustainable and resilient.
Kiplagat noted the strategy seeks to foster a transition to resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems through agroecological approaches and practices and promote sustainable consumption of healthy foods.
“With this strategy, we are going to standardize processes, practices and rebuild synergizes to promote increased resilience to climate change, improved economic viability of agricultural value chains and biodiversity conservation,” he said.
He said the conceptualization and development of the strategy, was a stakeholder- driven, participatory, and collaborative process made up of representatives from the national and county governments, civil society, private sector, research and academia, and farmer organizations
The stakeholders were drawn from GIZ, PELUM Kenya, Biovision Foundation, Murang’a County, Vihiga County, ICRAF, Action Aid, WWF, CGIAR, University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture (JKUAT), Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN), Hand in Hand EA, Heinrich Boell Foundation, BIBA Kenya among other partners.
“We seek to promote the agroecological transition where local communities, small scale farmers and producers and other actors promote application of agroecological practices including use of organic inputs such as organic fertilizers and bio-pesticides.” he added.
He further appealed to all interested stakeholders and players to join in realizing the vision of a resilient and sustainable food system by supporting the implementation of the strategy.
“We are grateful to the Ministry of Agriculture in providing unwavering support and conducive environment for the development of the Strategy” he said while urging all stakeholders to join hands in ensuring the intended objectives are realized.
Kiplagat said that the strategy will support the mainstreaming of agroecology and other innovative sustainable practices into existing national and county plans and strategies to enable their adoption.
He divulged that at county level, some counties have developed or are in the process of developing agroecology policies or strategies. They include Murang’a, Vihiga, Busia, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kakamega, Bomet, Laikipia and West Pokot.
“ISFAA has been at the forefront in supporting counties to domestic their agroecology strategy,” said Kiplagat adding that they will continue to do so with support from partners since the next critical phase, which is the implementation of the strategy, will require all hands on deck
Nakuru County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Agriculture, Leonard Bor said the county is on course in developing an agroecology policy and expressed confidence that the implementation of this strategy will position the country on a path toward sustainable agricultural production.
“The establishment of the National Agroecology Strategy is a milestone for the counties and what is left is for us to domestic the strategy” said Bor adding that counties are the agents of implementation of the strategy.
He expressed appreciation to all the stakeholders who came on board to support the course and said the government is looking forward to working with stakeholders to realize the greater potential agroecology has for farmers and for our health.
Eugene Ndwiga, a farmer from Kikuyu practicing agroecology, said that he has come together with over 300 farmers from his area and they have adopted agroecology in growing vegetables and other crops.
Ndwiga called on all actors to come together in the implementation of the National Agroecology Strategy for Food System Transformation, 2024-2033 which will boost the economic status of farmers.
“Farmers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)who are the drivers of food transformation systems need the support of all actors to realize the objectives and purpose of this strategy” he said.
By Anita Omwenga
