Chapter Four

Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries

Food security is a serious concern for Kenya which is further undermined by high population growth, rampant poverty, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, poor markets for farm produce and the threat of competition from regional markets.

FORD-KENYA shall strive to transform this sector and build long-term stocks of quality food reserves on regional basis to deal with threats of famine. Our food and cash crop production strategy will also address food scarcity in the region and elsewhere.

We will put in place more informed, well balanced policies that ensure the sustainability of farm enterprises and emergence of transparent and more predictable markets that are competitive enough for all the players in the sectors.

We shall transform systems of quality and quantity production in Agriculture, livestock and Fisheries through:

1. Specialized means based on scientific classification of soils to re-determine crop suitability

2. Use of certified quality seed and other farm inputs

3. Widespread use of professional extension services

4. Fair market systems

5. Incentives for commercial productions

6. Dispersed and serviceable storage facilities for cash and subsistence produce

7. Improved transport and communications networks

8. Transformation of all agri-based firms into support/conveying systems for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries industries

9. Electrification of the rural areas to attract investment

10. Survey of export markets for sectoral produce to earn foreign exchange

11. Streamlining of the land distribution policy to balance settlements and natural habitats

12. Research in organic large-scale production systems

13. Amelioration of negative impacts of regional cooperation on the sector

14. The transformation of the Agricultural, Livestock and Fisheries policies into a major poverty alleviation strategy in the country