Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua yesterday assured Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya and Dr Andrew Karanja of his support and commitment in reforming the cooperatives movement and agricultural sector as they implement Government’s plan to increase the country’s food production and farmers’ income.

At the same time, Gachagua has said the ongoing reforms in tea and coffee sub-sectors must be focused on benefiting farmers, not to their detriment.

Gachagua told the two CSs, in charge of the Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMES) Development) and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, respectively, that he would work closely with them to ensure the Government achieves its goals in the agricultural sector.

Speaking at a consultative inter-ministerial meeting he hosted for the two Ministers and other stakeholders at the Official Residence in Karen, Nairobi, on the status update for tea and coffee reforms, the DP called on the ministers to involve farmers in the reforms agenda. He said the Government is focused on policy changes, sustainable practices and marketing of the crops.

“Food security is one of the pillars of Kenya Kwanza and I encourage you that we support the government in achieving. Let us build a strong economy for a stronger country. If the two ministries work together the situation will change with ease. I will support you and availability of the Presidency to help you where you want,” he said.

“I asked for this meeting so that we can have a seating with the two new Cabinet Secretaries and take them through the reforms exercise. We have responsibility to support the CSs so that they can succeed in their mandates,” he added.

On tea, the DP called on the newly elected directors of the Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) to maintain good leadership and lower the cost of production at the factories. He also appealed on the KTDA leadership to facilitate farmer-centered reforms in the sector while also urging them to be mindful of the farmers welfare through preventing pilferage of resources.

“We are spending too much money on production to the detriment of the farmer. We must agree on production cost, which has been aggravated by directors.  The directors must stop being extravagant.