NASA principals. [Photo: Courtesy]
Principals of the National Super Alliance (Nasa) launched the Kenya Integrated Food Security Plan (KEINFOSE).The launch took place in Makueni county, Saturday, as the alliance held a public rally in Wote, after touring Mtito Andei, Kambu and Kibwezi areas.According to the team, KEINFOSE is a pledge to Kenyans which they intend to roll out throughout the country, should they win the general elections in August 8 elections."The KEINFOSE plan will ensure sustainable food security for all and make hunger history in Kenya. The plan will address key actors that have led to food insecurity in the country through taking deliberate strategic choices at national and county levels," read a communication from the alliance, in part.
Below are ten pillars of KEINFOSE plan, released by NASA Light.
"1. Education and LiteracyNASA recognises the role of education in improving farm efficiency and technology adoption. As agriculture transforms from subsistence to commercial level, farmers seek information on a wide range of issues to acquire knowledge or upgrade their skills and entrepreneurial ability. Literacy emerges as an important source of growth in adoption of technology, and use of modern inputs like fertilizers and machines.
An educated workforce makes it easier to train and acquire new skills and technologies required for productivity growth. Thus, contribution of literacy will be substantial on yield growth and domestic supply of food. For this reason, NASA places premium on attracting the young and educated into agricultural production and the entire agricultural value chain. 2. Crop DiversificationFood availability is a necessary condition for food security. However, NASA notes that it is not enough to have access to food, but it must be in the right quantities and quality and in a sustainable manner. Due to changes in consumption patterns, demand for fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, poultry, and fishery products-especially in Mt. Kenya region has been increasing. There is a need to increase crop diversification and improve allied activities to produce such crops. 3. Tackling Climate ChangeWe can achieve food security and sustain it in Kenya if we pay keen attention to issues such as climate change as a result of global warming among other factors, including the promotion of climate-smart agricultural production systems and land use policies at a scale to help adapt and mitigate ill effects of climate change. 4. Integrated Water Management Kenya needs to produce more crop per unit of land and water resources. Alarming rates of groundwater depletion and increasing environmental and social problems pose acute threats to mankind. Improved management of irrigation water is essential in enhancing production and productivity, food security and poverty alleviation. As we grow and develop our agriculture, its potential to be the biggest user of water will grow and account for larger percentages of water withdrawals.
Counties in water stressed areas (ASALs) must be supported to have strategic water reserves per capita/animal for an average of 2-3 years. Similarly, Strategic animal feed reserves supported through irrigation in ASALs will be an integral part of this plan. Of course, needs of other sectors for water cannot be ignored. As a result, it is necessary that an integrated water use policy is formulated and judiciously implemented. Modern methods of irrigation like sprinkler, drip irrigation, fertilisation, among other water efficient tools need to be adopted on larger scale. 5. Integrated Soil Nutrient ManagementAttention needs to be given to balanced use of nutrients. Phosphorus deficiency is the most wide spread soil fertility problem in both irrigated and non-irrigated rain-fed areas in countries that have gone this route. To improve the efficiency of fertilizer-use, what really is needed is enhanced location-specific research on efficient fertilizer practices, improvement in soil testing services, development of improved fertilizer supply and distribution systems and development of physical and institutional infrastructure. 6. Improved Varieties and Focus on Traditional FoodsIn many grain growing areas, farmers are not able to get information about the availability of new and improved varieties and some are not having access to quality seeds of these varieties, resulting in lesser and poor yields.
This situation has to be corrected by developing a national-level network to monitor and coordinate the activities with the various State government functionaries working in the will have a greater focus on traditional grain and food products that are resilient to climatic changes and are nutritious. 7. Improved Technology AdoptionAdoption of technologies like integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management and integrated weed management need to be made available for adoption to ensure higher production and sustainability of production base. 8. Awareness On Population GrowthThe awareness of the pressures of increasing population growth and consumption patterns on ecosystem functioning should be created to sensitize farmers on adoption of sustainable crop cultivation and management practices. This is especially important given the propensity of our famers to subdivide their farmlands into unviable units. 9. Focus On Small FarmersIncrease in food production in the country does not necessarily ensure food security, if the poor do not have the buying power. Therefore, participation of small farmers in food production is essential to achieve food security. Most of them being illiterate and having failed earlier either in adopting new technologies or repaying the loan provided under various development schemes, they need support not only to procure inputs but also to gain confidence, add value and access markets.
The strategy to enhance the food production should address the problems of such small landholding farmers, who a large percentage of farmers in the country. They own less than two hectare of land per family, mostly non-irrigated. They have been practicing low-external input farming and the crop yields have been substantially low. However, their contribution to the national food production is considerable and meets a significant part of their food needs. 10. Agricultural And Livestock Research EducationThe agricultural education has to identify its role in equipping the human resources for enhanced agricultural productivity and sustainable use of natural resources. Agricultural colleges and universities initially assigned to research, produce and disseminate scientific knowledge and skills to the farming community and to train them to use such skills for better output have deviated due to pressure to make money to other fields that aren’t their original aims.
To remedy this, NASA will refocus agricultural research on pursuit of scientific knowledge to suit realities of rural societies and the emerging challenges in the ecosystem. An Kenya Integrated Food Security Plan (Keinfose Plan) effectively formulated and designed and efficiently implement will remove the impediments to food security that Kenyans have suffered under the Jubilee Administration. Keinfose Plan will be designed so as to be in perfect harmony and synergy with the Pastoralist Livelihoods Protection Marshall Plan (PALIPMAP).