Lower input costs to raise farmer returns, Kindiki says at Agriculture Summit

Kenya's agricultural sector is experiencing notable growth at the farm level due to government efforts to lower input costs and improve productivity. At the Agriculture and Food Security Transformation Summit, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki emphasized that reducing input costs has been a key focus of the government's agricultural agenda.

Kindiki highlighted several measures, including reduced prices for fertilizers, certified maize seed, and livestock semen, which have made production more affordable and encouraged farmers to increase output. These interventions have already yielded results, with maize and milk production rising, and milk prices reaching levels of KSh50 per litre.

Coffee farmers have also seen an increase in earnings, receiving between KSh120 and KSh150 per kilogram. However, Kindiki acknowledged that certain sectors, such as rice and wheat, still face challenges and require further improvement. The government remains committed to supporting domestic production and lowering input costs, including livestock feed, while boosting productivity across agricultural value chains.

The overarching goal is to establish a resilient, competitive, and productive agricultural economy that benefits farmers, Kenyan families, and industries, ultimately enhancing the nation's export earnings. Kindiki concluded by stating that the success of the transformation agenda hinges on the simple principle of lowering production costs, increasing productivity, and ensuring that a higher proportion of value generated reaches the farmers.