The Ministry of Agriculture has started the development of a food security master plan as the country seeks to increase output and cut on wastage amid periodic dearth.
Livestock Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai said the master plan will help the country to enhance food security as it will address key issues that have made it difficult for Kenya to be self-sufficient.
Mr Kimtai said key interventions that are included in the 10-year Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy, which forms a blueprint for making Kenya food secure, will be incorporated in the drafting of the proposed master plan.
“The government’s decision to develop the first-ever food production master plan is prompted by cases of perennial food shortages every year. The plan will largely focus on irrigated agriculture and other modern farming techniques that are key to withstand the effects of climate change,” said Mr Kimtai.
Speaking on the sidelines of the first Kenya Agriculture Livestock and Research Organisation (KALRO) Scientific Conference on Friday, Mr Kimtai said county governments will also be involved in the developing of the master plan given that agriculture is a devolved function.
The PS said the master plan will have a clear strategy for curbing wastage occasioned by post-harvest losses, which has over the years had a negative impact on available food.
“Due to poor storage systems the country incurs post-harvest losses of up to 40 percent annually of the entire food that we produce thus contributing to the reduction of available stocks for consumption,” said the PS.
Stephen Mwikya, Blue Economy Resources Secretary at the office of the President said the country requires a sustainable food production master plan in order to address the challenges of food shortages.
Dr Mwikya said the biggest food security threats currently in the country are getting worse progressively in the wake of climate change, a growing population and increased cases of land sub-division.
