Browsing: Agriculture in Kenya

The new administration under President William Ruto, is striving to set the economy in the right tempo having inherited a heavily indebted government.

Through debt restructuring among other key economic reforms, Ruto’s administration is committed to quell inflation and create a thriving economy for all Kenyans.

The recently published East Africa Economic Outlook report, indicates that Kenya is among the countries in the region that could face rising risks of debt distress, thus widening fiscal and current account deficits, largely due to structural weaknesses exacerbated by the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

According to the 2022 African Economic Outlook (AEO), by AfDB inflation is projected to edge up to 7 per cent, close to the upper end of the target band at 7.5 per cent, caused by greater energy and food inflation. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), reported that the country’s inflation rate as of October 2022 stood …

Agriculture center launched in Kenya:

• Elgon Kenya and the University of Nairobi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding paving the way for constructing the Agricultural Technology and Innovation Centre (ATIC)
• The ATIC will nurture and strengthen innovations in agriculture and entrepreneurship, to foster the adoption of cutting edge innovations leading to job creation and product development
• Elgon Kenya Managing Director Dr Bimal Kantaria lauded the partnership, terming it the missing link between research and industry

The agriculture sector in Kenya has received a significant boost following a partnership between two leading institutions to set up a technology and innovation centre, the first of its kind in East Africa.

Elgon Kenya and the University of Nairobi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding paving the way for constructing the Agricultural Technology and Innovation Centre (ATIC) at the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Services, Upper Kabete Campus in the capital city.

The ATIC …

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) released the Economic Survey 2021, indicating that the economy contracted by 0.3% in 2020, from the restated 5.0% growth recorded in 2019.

The contraction is mainly attributable to the slowdown in economic activities due to emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in sharp declines in demand and supply of goods and services.

The contraction was spread across all sectors of the economy but the sectors that were hard hit included the accommodation and food serving activities, education, and professional and administrative services.

Kenya’s unemployment rate doubles -KNBS

Here are some of the report’s observations:

The agriculture, forestry and fishing activities grew at a faster rate of 4.6% compared to the 2.3% growth recorded in 2019. This was despite a contraction in global demand in 2020 due to the prevailing economic situation brought about by the pandemic.

Growth in the manufacturing sector was …

Kenya’s Ministry of Devolution together with the Food and Agriculture Organization say the country requires at least US$87 million to ensure food security in all the 23 Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Counties, between August and December 2021.

In a statement, FAO says several interventions need to be done, at a time when the East African nation has been facing a myriad of challenges in the recent past including two desert locust invasions, the COVID-19 pandemic and poor rains that have resulted in food scarcity.

If sourced, the funding will be used for several interventions and cover various areas, among them provision of feed and supplements and livestock off-take and animal health services.

Additionally, FAO plans to provide drought-resistant seeds to farmers in the counties, as well as milling of staple commodities.

Other interventions include water trucking, rehabilitation and maintenance of water facilities, fuel subsidies for motorized boreholes and water …