How Agriculture will remain the backbone of Kenya's economy

  

Date Posted: 4/28/2012 4:08:15 AM

Posted By: bony maurice  Membership Level: Silver  Total Points: 214

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Kenya is a nation endowed by a good climate that favors agriculture. The rains, soils and temperature just favor the growth of a wide variety of crops. Stretching from North Rift, Western, Nyanza, Central, South Rift, Eastern up to coastal regions; all favors the growth of a wide variety of cops. Towns like Kitale, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu and Mumias have developed because of agriculture.
We depend on foods from farms more than those from the shops and supermarkets. This is the reason as to why at times of famine many people die of hunger. It is the basis upon which our lives depend on. We shall discuss below the contributions of agriculture to the economy of Kenya.

1. EMPLOYMENT
Majority of Kenyans are employed in agricultural fields. They are employed as field workers, transporters, harvesters, personnel and field officers. Some are even employed indirectly as sellers, agricultural educators, farm accountants, marketers among others. Agricultural firms like Mumias sugar company and other sugar mills, tea factories, flowers firms, coffee and pyrethrum have employed very many Kenyans. It is estimated that the highest employment avenue is agriculture. From this the people get their daily revenue and solve their financial problems.

2. SOURCE OF FOOD
Agriculture is the main source from which Kenya feeds its people. Majority of foods filling the markets are from agriculture. We depend on sugar, maize, coffee, tea, beans etc. for survival. The stores and granaries are filled with farm produces. It is agriculture that keeps Kenya into a healthy and growing nation.

3. SOURCE OF INCOME
Agriculture earns income to the people of a nation. The farmers gain money directly by selling agricultural produces. Those employed earn through salary and incentives. The business people also depend on agriculture in order to sell the farm inputs to the farmers. By selling seeds, fertilizer, farm tools and equipment, they develop

their businesses more.

4. REVENUE TO THE NATION
Agriculture is one of the sources from which the nation gains its revenue. Through paying of tax on farm produces and inputs, the government is able to raise cash to run its national developments. The nation benefits when such produces are also exported to outside countries. Tea, coffee, sugar, pyrethrum and flowers are such commodities bringing Kenya huge amounts of money.

5. DEVELOPMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE
Agriculture is a means through which main transport and communications channels have been developed in Kenya. Efforts are usually put in place to develop roads, railway lines, and air travel to facilitate proper transport of agricultural produces. Some goods like vegetables and flowers are perishable and therefore need efficient transport network to deliver them to the market faster. Communication is mandatory in running agricultural activities. A result of these developments is to the entire nation where the other citizens can use the same.
Had it not been for agriculture, Kenya would still be lagging behind in poverty. There is great need for the government to invest more on agriculture regarding the role it is playing to this nation.

I recommend the following for the benefit of agriculture to this country.

i. The nation should invest in more teaching about agriculture in institutions. The citizens should be taught skills in agriculture and encourages applying them. It should be stressed to them that agriculture is a source of employment which is even better than the white collar jobs.

ii. There should be more sensitization about agriculture. More advertisements should be done about agriculture, its benefits and produces.

iii. The government should invest more on agriculture by disbursing more money in it from the treasury. More seeds, fertilizer, and other necessities should be made available to these farmers. The pastures should be developed for pastoralists.

iv. The market should be opened wider by setting up factories to receive the agricultural outputs. Setting up more sugar mills, meat commissions, tea and coffee factories etc. will be of benefit to farmers.

v. The infrastructure should be developed for efficient transport of farm goods. Roads should be tarmacked and made accessible to the farms of farmers.

vi. The government should also open more market abroad by sensitizing of the goods in Kenya. Other nations should be encouraged to buy from Kenya.

vii. The farmers on the other hand should put in more efforts and hard work in their farming. They should always yearn to make produces of high quality and quantity. The young farmers must forget their dreams of seeking white collar jobs and concentrate on developing their farms.

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