Farmers will benefit from the German government's funding aimed at transforming the agricultural sector to boost food and nutrition security.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi said the German government has committed to funding Kenya's Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS).
Speaking in Berlin Germany where he’s leading the Kenyan delegation in the ongoing 2023 Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), Mr Linturi expressed optimism that the fund targeting small-scale farmers will be a game changer.
The CS said the government strategy prioritises three anchors to drive the ten-year transformation which includes; increasing small-scale farmer, pastoralist and fisher folk incomes, increasing agricultural output and value addition and boosting household food resilience.
‘‘The broad objective of these programmes is to enhance food security and drought resilience, increase incomes, employment creation as well as women and youth empowerment,’’ said Linturi.He has also hailed Kenya’s relations with Germany especially aid from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) which he said has led to a positive impact in the agricultural sector.
“Over the years, the programmes and projects under GIZ have continued to play a key role in contributing towards the actualisation of achieving food and nutrition security and improved livelihoods in Kenya,’’ he said.
He said the partnership will accelerate the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from a local perspective.
“There has been a smooth implementation of the GIZ programmes and we highly appreciate the cordial diplomatic relations and close partnership between Kenya and Germany over the years.
We appreciate the good gesture and we’ll also seek for support to implement the National Agricultural Soil Management policy in order to manage our soil,” Linturi requested.
The 2023 GFFA will build on the UN Food Systems Summit to ensure the 2030 SDGs are realised.
