Favorable Weather Conditions in 2018 Key to Growth in Agriculture

Growth in Agriculture Value Added at constant prices increased to 6.6 percent to 953.6 billion shillings in 2018 from 1.8 percent recorded in 2017 which stood at 894.9 billion shillings as reported by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics in their recently released 2019 Economic Survey.

The survey has attributed the improved performance to favorable weather conditions for both crops and livestock production, occasioned by the long rains in 2018.

Agricultural output at current prices increased by 7.8 percent to 3,346.3 billion shillings while agricultural input at current prices increased by 13.5 percent to 461.1 billion shillings in 2018. Consequently, agriculture value added at current prices increased by 6.9 percent from 2,699.1 billion shillings in 2017 to 2,885.2 billion shillings in 2018.

The value of marketed production has been increasing over the last four years and increased further by 11.4 percent to 497.9 billion shillings in 2018. The share of crops to the marketed production rose from 69.7 percent in 2017 to 70.5 percent in 2018.

Maize production increased by 26.0 percent from 35.4 million bags in 2017 to 44.6 million bags in 2018. Similarly, production of tea, coffee and sugarcane increased by 12.1 percent, 7.0 percent, and 10.4 percent, respectively in 2018.

According to the survey, the quantity of horticulture produces exported increased by 6.1 percent to 322.6 thousand tonnes while the volume of marketed milk increased by 18.4 percent to 634.3 million liters in 2018.

The value of marketed agricultural production has been increasing over the last four years and increased further by 11.4 percent to 497.9 billion in 2018.

The value of horticulture exports, on the other hand, increased from by 33.3 percent to 153.7 billion shillings in 2018 on account of higher production and improved international prices. The value of marketed livestock and livestock products increased by 8.3 percent to 146.8 billion shillings in 2018.

However, earnings from tea and coffee decreased by 5.3 percent and 7.5 percent to127.7 billion shillings and 14.8 billion shillings, respectively, in 2018, despite increased production volumes.