Kenyan Agricultural Sector Posts 5.5 Percent

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector posted a growth of 5.5 percent in the second quarter of 2016 compared to a revised growth of 4.0 percent realized in a similar period in 2015 according to the data released by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.

According to the data, the period under review was characterized by adequate and well distributed rainfall that greatly enhanced agricultural production in Kenya giving good returns to farmers as well as those who indirectly depend on the sector for both food and economic purposes.

Notably, the quantity of coffee and tea grew by 16.3 and 49.6 percent, respectively, in the second quarter of 2016. The value of exports of horticultural crops on the other hand grew significantly 47.1 percent in the quarter under review from 17.7 billion shillings in the second quarter of 2015 to 26.0 billion shillings in the quarter of 2016. This growth was on account of considerable increases in the value of exported cut flowers and vegetables especially in the month of June where the revenue earned more than doubled.

The quantity of cane delivered to millers rallied from a decline of 1.6 percent in the second quarter of 2015 to grow by 4.4 percent in the quarter of 2016. The quantity of milk intake in the formal sector recorded a growth of 9.2 percent, from 139.6 Million liters in the second quarter of 2015 to 152.4 Million liters in the quarter of 2016.

The construction sector on the other hand recorded a slowed growth of 8.2 percent in the period under review compared to 11.2 percent growth rate realized in the second quarter of 2015. The slower growth is also explained by a reduction in the consumption of cement from 8.0 percent in the second quarter of 2015 to 5.4 percent in the quarter under review.

The decelerated growth is partly attributable to reduced activities in the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) as its completion draws nearer.