Kenyan farmers will benefit from a five-year USD50 million (Sh7.6billion) United States Agency for International Development (USAID) project aimed at supporting local food production.
Under a project dubbed the Local Food Systems (LFS), USAID plans to support schemes with a view to increasing food production in the country by 2027 to feed the increasing population.
The project to be undertaken in 17 counties will involve farmers, growers’ organizations, markets, transporters, counties and the national Government among other value chain stakeholders.
USAID, outgoing Chief of Party (CoP) Robert Mwadime said the agency seeks to supplement Government and other value chain players’ efforts to boost local food production.
Mwadime supervised the implementation of a six-year project -Kenya Crops and Dairy Marketing Systems (KCDMS) that had a strong focus on dairy and horticulture value chains and thus touching the lives of over 300,000 farmers under three pillars –competitiveness, inclusivity and resilience.
“We are hopeful that the new project will kick off in the first quarter of 2024 and seeks to strengthen food production systems by involving all the value chain players from farm to the markets,” said Dr. Mwadime recently during a close out ceremony of the KCDMS project at a Kiambu hotel.
He said the LFS project is at the proposal submission and reviewing stage before the successful bidders or administering agents are announced.
“The successful bidders will work with farmer organizations under a food business aggregation model to minimize losses and support the growers to enjoy economies of scale,” Mwandime said.
“The other component of the project includes working with markets to tame barriers hindering supply of the commodities in the markets. Transporters will be recognized and supported to guarantee lifting of the food from the farm to the markets in good time and in good condition,” he added.
Under the market component, Mwadime explained the focus would be to ensure the structures are well built, clean and have modern stores to guarantee longevity of the food commodities.
He noted that the project fits well in the aspirations of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) of the Kenya Kwanza Government.
The project, Mwadime stressed, recognizes the current Kenya Government role to provide subsidized fertilizers and other inputs to promote production.
Under the project, farmers will be assisted under an aggregation model to shield them against exploitation by middlemen and rogue traders.
KCDMS was implemented under the premise of catalyzing sustainable development and fostering resilience within the nation’s agricultural market systems and was implemented in 12 counties, where it engaged over 200 agribusinesses and reached over 300,000 farmers.
Also speaking during the close out session of the KCDMS programme that lasted for six years, Dina Esposito, Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Resilience, Environment and Food security (REFs) based in Washington DC said that USAID is committed to continued investment in Kenya
“USAID has over USD 125 million in new activities and agriculture resilience and irrigation sectors as we anticipate launching over the next 12 months,” she said adding that the new activities would focus on reducing poverty, improving household food security and increasing access to essential services for over 1.5 million Kenyans.
This, Esposito noted, is an invitation to the government of Kenya to continue on this journey together with USAID to explore new opportunities and partnerships and collaborate on future initiatives that will further their shared course.
During the close out that showcased KCDMS successes and lessons learnt, Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Paul Rono hailed the project for its pivotal role in transforming the lives of the farmers and shaping the future of the agriculture sector.
“As we reflect on KCDMS journey, we acknowledge the invaluable support of USAID and the unwavering dedication of all partners involved. Together, we have witnessed remarkable strides in enhancing crop and dairy market dynamics, creating opportunities for smallholder farmers, and promoting economic growth,” Dr. Rono said.
The just ended Kenya (KCDMS-USAID programme was designed to increase agricultural production and reduce poverty and malnutrition in Kenya by spurring competitive, inclusive, and resilient market systems in the horticulture and dairy sectors.
Some of the beneficiary counties included-Kitui, Makueni, Taita Taveta, Busia, Bungoma, Homa Bay, Kisii and Kisumu.
By Wangari Ndirangu
