Hasten coffee, tea reforms; DP Gachagua urges agricultural sector state agencies

BY JOSEPH WANGUI (DPCS)

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has asked State agencies in the Ministries of Agriculture and Cooperatives to hasten reforms in the agricultural sector especially on tea, coffee and dairy.

Urging the agencies to ensure the reforms are farmer-centric and focused on increasing income, the Deputy President also assured Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya and Dr. Andrew Karanja of his support and commitment in reforming the cooperatives movement and agricultural sector.

Speaking at an inter-ministerial meeting that brought together the two Cabinet Secretaries  who are in charge of the Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMES) Development) and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, respectively, and various agencies concerned with agriculture, Mr Gachagua said he will work closely with them to ensure the Government achieves its goals in the agricultural sector.

He hosted the meeting at his Official Karen Residence, Nairobi to deliberate on the status update for tea and coffee reforms.

He pledged to support the two Ministers as they implement Government's plan to increase the country's food production and farmers' income. He emphasized that the ongoing reforms must be beneficial to farmers, not to their detriment.

At the consultative meeting the Deputy President also called on the two ministers to involve farmers in the reforms agenda.

He said the Government is focused on policy changes, sustainable practices and marketing of the crops.

"Food security is one of the pillars of Kenya Kwanza and I encourage you that we support the government in achieving. Let us build a strong economy for a stronger country. If the two ministries work together the situation will change with ease. I will support you and availability of the Presidency to help you where you want," he said.

"I asked for this meeting so that we can have a seating with the two new Cabinet Secretaries and take them through the reforms exercise. We have responsibility to support the CSs so that they can succeed in their mandates," he added.

On tea, the Deputy President called on the newly elected directors of the Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) to maintain good leadership and lower the cost of production at the factories.

He also appealed on the KTDA leadership to facilitate farmer-centered reforms in the sector while also urging them to be mindful of the farmers welfare through preventing pilferage of resources.

"We are spending too much money on production to the detriment of the farmer. We must agree on production cost, which has been aggravated by directors.  The directors must stop being extravagant. As government, we are willing to support you to bring stability in the KTDA. The new board must be reformist to the benefit of the farmers," he told KTDA Board Chairman Enos Njeru, who was present at the meeting.

He also asked KTDA to work on increasing production of orthodox tea, which he said has higher price.

On coffee sub-sector, the DP urged CS Karanja to ensure farmers have access to the Government's subsidized fertilizer. He said the Government plans to increase production of the crop.

He said coffee production has dropped drastically over the years due to frustrations of farmers, discouraging payments and mismanagement of cooperative societies.

"Coffee has had perennial problems for almost two decades arising from various factors. After the private sector took over the sector, exploitation of farmers went underway. When farmers did not get returns commensurate with their efforts they neglected the crop and production went down to 50,000 tonnes. We are working on increased production, improved pricing and motivate farmers back to the farming practice," he said.

"Some cooperative societies have been protesting because despite good prices, farmers got little since the officials of the Saccos had borrowed money from banks without authority of farmers and were deducted," he added.

The DP further reiterated the Kenya Kwanza administration’s commitment to leading Kenya into becoming a food secure country.

He also appealed to legislators to enact laws that will aid the Government agenda on agriculture reforms.

Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Kamau Murango (who is also Kirinyaga Senator) and Borabu MP Patrick Osero (Member National Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Livestock) together with Principal Secretaries Patrick Kilemi (State Department for Co-
operatives), Teresiah Mbaika (Devolution) and Idris Dakota (Cabinet Affairs) were also present at the meeting.

Through an Executive Order issued by President William Ruto last year, DP Gachagua was tasked to oversee reforms in key agricultural sub-sectors particularly coffee, tea and dairy.

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