Kenya To Register Farmers In Order To Develop Strong Agricultural Policies

By Samuel Ouma [caption id="attachment_103431" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi[/caption] The Kenyan government will soon begin a nationwide drive to register farmers with the objective of streamlining the provision of subsidized fertilizer and providing crucial information for developing vital agricultural policy. According to Mithika Linturi, cabinet secretary for agriculture, the information gathered will allow the government to map out the farmer's needs to reduce resource waste. CS Linturi spoke on Wednesday during the opening of a Training of Trainers (ToT) at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi. The trainers, made up of 188 Assistant County Commissioners, are supposed to train Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs to facilitate the process and ensure that the subsidized fertilizers are used before the start of the long rains season in 2023. He added that the registry will also enhance traceability, accountability, and transparency in the fertilizer subsidy programs' operation. It will also assist the government in adequately planning for Kenyan farmers to improve food output. "Previously, the government fertilizer subsidy programs saw malpractices such as non-beneficiaries infiltrating and unscrupulous dealers accessing and reselling subsidized fertilizers at higher costs," stated CS Linturi. This follows President William Ruto's recent directive to create a national digital register to weed out imposters and rogue traders exploiting farmers.