Agriculture Sector Gets Huge Share of 2016 Budget

As the Treasury Cabinet Secretary read the much anticipated National Budget, he made sure that one of the key sectors, the agricultural sector, was well-catered for.

The Cabinet Secretary allocated 20.8 billion shillings for irrigation projects around the country including the Galana-Kulalu Irigation Project. With this amount, the Cabinet Secretary hoped to improve and uplift such irrigation programs and schemes as Mwea Irrigation Project as well as National Expanded Irrigation Program.

4.9 billion shillings was allocated to the subsidized fertilizer as well as seeds. The government begun this program a few years ago where farmers, instead of buying fertilizer and seed at high prices from unscrupulous retailers, were to buy it at strategic points at a subsidized fertilizer and seeds. The project has, however, been faced with various challenges as some officials within the agricultural docket as well as at delivery points are accused of repackaging the same fertilizer and seeds and then selling it to farmers at high prices.

Read: Financial Inclusion, Value Chain Innovation Critical to Agricultural Productivity in Kenya

1.6 billion shillings were allocated for Strategic Food Reserves. 8.4 billion shillings allocated for the acquisition of the Offshore Patrol Vessel for the fisheries sub sector; the modernization of the ailing Kenya Meat Commission, the revival of the pyrethrum sector, Livestock and Crop Insurance Scheme, Livestock value chain support and the mechanization of the agriculture in general.

One billion shillings has been set aside for Crop Diversification Program in the Meru region for the Miraa farmers and 2.4 billion shillings for Coffee Debt Waiver & STABEX. It goes without saying that the government has good plans for the agricultural sector. However, there are concerns from the public on some issues:

• Is the Galana-Kulalu project profitable and necessary?
• What has the government put in place to make sure that the subsidized fertilizer and seeds benefits the farmers?
• Will the money be used as planned?