The new year and a new decade 2020 could mean luck for farmers if the government remains true to its promises. The Agricultural Sector having faced numerous threats in the past years, 2020 could mean a remembrance for somehow forgotten farmers.
In the past, helpless farmers have had to grapple with failed rains, pests, failed crops, livestock deaths and even crumbled sugar farming for Western Kenya farmers, not forgetting a collapse for fertilizers subsidy programme owing to corrupt officials.
However, despite all that, the sector is likely to face revival following several factors which have already been put in place. The small scale farmers are set to benefit from a crop insurance programme set to be rolled out starting this year.
This is intended to cover farmers who own between 0.25 to 20 acres. Addressing the Nation, Agricultural Research Principal Secretary Mr. Hamadi Boga revealed how the government had come up with a plan of a crop insurance programme. This one covered a number of crop enterprises beginning with main food crops like maize.
Mr. Boga said that the government would cover up to half the premiums for every farmer who would take the cover, with them having to pay the remaining half.
Farmers are also to acquire electronic vouchers for cheap fertilizers. Government has already put aside at least Sh2billion to help farmers get fertilizers by use of e-vouchers from agro vets in an attempt to ward off corruption cases. The e-voucher is also expected to discourage the selling of subsidized fertilizers to non-farmers by officials from National Cereal and Production Board (NCPB).
Farmers will also be able to grow Genetically Modified Cotton which can resist bollworm and yield thrice compared to the normal cotton. This will be a welcome to textile industries which have been struggling with scarcity for the raw material commodity.
The cotton seeds can also serve as animal feeds ingredient, some good news to livestock feed sector.
Dr. Margaret Kembu, Director for International Service for Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications told Nation that demonstrations were ongoing with selected farmers who had huge land tracts.
"The demonstration farms will also serve as training grounds for small scale farmers," said Ms Kembu.
Although, Ms Kembu warned that the crop should only be planted in within the cotton-growing areas, despite the excitement by farmers.
The government also plans to breath life to ailing Mumias Sugar Company, after it ran into insolvency causing Kenya Commercial bank (KCB) to take over November last year. The giant miller's resurrection will not only be a relief to western sugar farmers but also bring back a smile to many livelihoods for the locals who solely depended on the miller.