6.45m farmers enrolled in Kenya’s new digital system for sustainable agriculture
GEOFFREY SATIA AND IDA CHERUTO-KNA
The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Dr. Andrew Karanja, has expressed optimism that the implementation of the Kenya Agricultural Management and Information System (KIAMIS), a digital farmer registration system, will be a transformative step for the sector.
He noted that at least 6.45 million farmers are now enrolled in digital registries, adding that this approach has positively reshaped the sector. This progress has drawn attention from other African countries, which are now visiting Kenya to learn from its digital farmer identification efforts.
Dr. Karanja explained that through digital farmer registration, the government can now better plan for farmers’ needs, respond with timely interventions, and support efforts toward sustainable, modern farming practices aimed at achieving both food security and surplus production for export.
The CS also highlighted that through KIAMIS, the government has rolled out an e-voucher registration system, accessible and manageable by farmers through their mobile phones.
“Nowadays, if you need fertilizer, you receive an e-voucher on your phone. For the short rains season, we have issued close to 1.8 million vouchers to our farmers,” he said.
The Principal Secretary recognized the contributions of the Food and Agriculture Organization and other development partners in advancing digital farmer identification.
On his side FAO Representative Hamisi Williams, during his speech, emphasized organization commitment in supporting KIAMIS digital farmer registration as a key towards building resilience in farmers against climate-instigated challenges.
Dr. Karanja, however, challenged farmers to utilize grain driers which were distributed by the government last year to manage post-harvest losses. According to him, a total of 16,000 agro-dealers and 7,000 stockists have been registered digitally across the country.
These will facilitate the achievement of the last mile target in agriculture. The PS was pleased that through government intervention on provision of subsidized fertilizer together with sufficient rains, the country recently exported surplus maize to neighbouring countries who are facing hunger.
Further, the PS said in the past two years the government has taken interventions which have seen great improvement in tea, coffee, dairy products, and sugar areas with encouraging figures.
CS Karanja made the remarks during the national celebrations of the World Food Day at Kaimosi Agricultural Training Centre in Nandi County.
He regretted that Kenya was spending up to four dollars a year on food which can be produced locally.
Karanja pointed out rice and edible oil crops as the leading imports which raid Kenya’s hard-earned foreign currencies. “One of the tasks as a government is to reverse this trend, making sure we don’t spend our foreign currency to import food,” he said.
The PS called on the residents and the leadership of Nandi County to utilize the rich soil and the plenty of rain to ensure crops that do well in the region are planted and maintained.
He mentioned his ministry’s plan to hold agricultural intergovernmental meetings geared towards bringing business harmony between the national government and the 47 counties.
“I am also looking forward to working closely with private sector and development partners in bringing resources together in addressing challenges facing various agriculture areas in the country,” he added.
Nandi Governor Stephen Sang on his side challenged the young generation to embrace agriculture seriously because the future of farming in this country relies on them. The function was also attended by Nandi Deputy Governor Yulita Mitei, Nandi County Commissioner Caroline Nzwili.