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The Council of Governors (COG) Agriculture Committee has called on the national government to strengthen support for agriculture as a devolved function.

During a consultative meeting between national and county government representatives, the COG outlined the need for a comprehensive transfer of agricultural resources to county governments.

This, they said, would empower counties to implement support programs more effectively and prevent resource duplication. Governor Kenneth Lusaka, chair of the committee, emphasized the urgency of legal reforms in agriculture, noting that streamlined value chains would help address unethical practices within the sector. He also urged Parliament to refrain from getting involved in county-level agricultural initiatives like milk cooler procurement, underscoring that agriculture is a devolved responsibility.

Intensify collaboration

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja reiterated the national government’s commitment to collaboration, acknowledging that counties play an essential role in agricultural productivity.

“We have a number of issues which have come up and I want to emphasize that we are intensifying our collaboration with the national and county governments so that we can work together to improve the lives of Kenyans,” said the CS.

He encouraged county governments to prioritize reliable agro-dealers and adopt innovative practices such as the “agri-preneur” model, which incorporates youth and technology to provide advisory support to farmers. In the 2023/24 fiscal year, the national government allocated Sh49.9 billion to agriculture, though significant budget cuts in key areas like fertilizer subsidies placed additional strain on small-scale farmers, impacting their productivity and economic well-being.

To address these issues, COG has called for a larger allocation in the upcoming budget and a clear commitment to ensuring that counties receive critical resources to support Kenya’s agricultural sector, which is central to the economy.