KENYA: A PERSPECTIVE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

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KENYA A PERSPECTIVE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT

• Paul Gamba and Betty Kibaara
• Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and
  Development
• Egerton University
• Ruralstruc Launching Workshop
• 11-13th April, 2006 Senegal

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OUTLINE

• Background on Kenya
• Basic Facts on Agriculture and Rural Development
• Evolution of Agricultural and Rural Policies
• Major challenges facing Agriculture and rural
  Development
• Vision of the future

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Background on Kenya

• Located on the equator in Eastern Africa,
• Land Size582,650 sq km
• Increasing Population
• 1979 15million
• 1989 21 million
• 1999 28 million
• 2006-est. 32 million
• Pop. Below poverty 56
• GDP 16.25 billion (2005 est.)
• agriculture 16.3 industry 18.8 services
  65.1 (2004 est.)
• GDP Growth rate 4.3 (2004)

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Background on Kenya Cont..

• varied Agro-ecological Zones
• Rainfall Ranges from 400mm to more than 2000mm
• Some areas experience two rainy seasons
• Temperature range 100C to more than 300C

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Basic Facts on Agriculture and Rural Development

• Agricultural Land classified into High, Medium
  and Low potential based on Rainfall
• Dual Agricultural Sector
• Subsistence and Commercial
• Large Scale and Smallholders
• Smallholders account for 70 of gross marketed
  production

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Basic Facts on Agriculture and Rural Development
Cont

• Major Agricultural Commodities
• Cereals and legumes maize, wheat, barley, rice,
  beans
• Industrial Sugar cane, Tobacco, Pyrethrum
• Horticultural Tropical fruits, vegetables and
  flowers
• Perennial Crops Tea, coffee, coconuts, cashew
  nuts

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Basic Facts on Agriculture and Rural Development
Cont

• Major Export Crops
• Tea, Horticultural crops (Flowers, fruits and
  vegetables), Coffee, pyrethrum
• Declining productivity
• Increasing food imports

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Trends in Maize Production and Productivity
Production has been on an upward trend but the
increases are marginal and cannot cope with
population growth
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Maize Production versus Consumption
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GDP and Agricultural GDP Growth Trends
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Evolution of Agricultural and Rural Policies

• Colonial period (Before 1954)
• Scheduled areas and scheduled crops
• Restricted Marketing
• Government assistance directed toward settler
  farmers

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Evolution of Agricultural and Rural Policies

• The Swynnerton Plan Period (1955 1962)
• Opening up of commercial farming
• Land tenure issues addressed through
  Consolidation and registration
• Opening up of agricultural produce marketing

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Evolution of Agricultural and Rural Policies

• Early Independence Period (1963 1982)
• Land sub-division and emergence of smallholders
• Heavy government involvement (input supply,
  marketing boards)
• Rapid growth of the agricultural and rural
  sectors

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Evolution of Agricultural and Rural Policies

• Liberalization Era (1983 2002)
• Government withdrawal from service provision
• Outdated legislation, institutions and
  inappropriate regulatory structures
• Increased private sector involvement
• Decline in productivity and loss of
  competitiveness
• Increased poverty levels
• Emergence of off-farm income and remittances
• Development of Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
  (PRSP)

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Evolution of Agricultural and Rural Policies

• Recovery Era (2003 and after)
• Development of Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS)
  and Strategy of Revitalizing Agriculture (SRA)
• Increased democratization
• Slow Legal, regulatory and institutional reforms
• Emergence of strong stakeholder lobby and
  advocacy
• Policy reversals for example KCC, KMC

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Major Challenges Facing Agriculture

• Improving productivity and competitiveness
  (regional and global)
• Attraction and maintenance of private resources
  into agriculture
• Restoring government support in the provision of
  public goods (infrastructure, epizootic livestock
  diseases )

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Thank You(Ahsante)