Analysis of The Impact of Agricultural Policies on Food Security in Kenya

Year 2021, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 66 - 83, 22.12.2021

Hasan Yılmaz , Benson Njora

Abstract

Agricultural policies consist of laws and regulations set by the government to control both domestic and foreign agricultural activities and the trade of agricultural and related products. The policies set by the government have both direct and indirect effects on the agricultural sector which affects the food security state. Kenya has been on the frontline in fighting food insecurity but it is far from becoming a food secure country. To help improve the agricultural sector towards fighting food insecurity, there has been an establishment of various key policies over time. Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS), Agriculture Sector Development Strategy (ASDS), Strategy for Revitalizing Agriculture (SRA), Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), and Vision 2030 are some of the key policies put in motion to help fight against food insecurity. Despite the effort put in place by government and private organizations, Kenya is still facing a lot of challenges in the agricultural sector such as land pressure due to increasing population, the inadequacy of agricultural research and agricultural extension services, climate change, insufficient stewardship of fishing grounds, pests and diseases, public expenditure, and infrastructure leading to high rate of food insecurity. The study uses secondary data to analyze the effects of various agricultural policies implemented over time on Kenya’s food security. Also, the paper provides key recommendations that can help fight against food insecurity in Kenya.

Keywords

Kenya, Agricultural policies, Food security, and Trade and consumption

References

• AGRA 2019. Potato regulations: A new dawn for farmers | AGRA news center. (2019, August 1). Retrieved from https://agra.org/news/2019-potato-regulations-a-new-dawn-for-farmers/ Alila P. & Atieno R. 2006. Agricultural Policy in Kenya: Issues and Processes.
• Among R. (n.d.). Food Price Crisis and Food Insecurity in Kenya. Virtual Library on Capacity Development. https://elibrary.acbfpact.org/acbf/collect/acbf/index/assoc/HASH01b5/cd96f147/6ca2937f/79e1.dir/Food%20crisis%20and%20food%20insecurity%20in%20Kenya.pdf.
• Atera E., Onyancha F. & Majiwa E. 2018. Production and marketing of rice in Kenya: challenges and opportunities. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics, 10(3), 64-70.
• Atieno R. & K. Kanyinga 2008. The Revitalisation of Kenya Cooperative Creameries: The Politics of Policy Reforms in the Dairy Sector in Kenya. Report for Future Agricultures Consortium, Institute of Development Studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi.
• Bazeley P. 2005. Kenya: Strategy for Revitalizing Agriculture; October 2005 Visit Report & Further Issues and Options, Peter Bazeley Development Consulting, Dorset, UK.
• Beintema N., Mose L., Kibet T., Emongor R., Murithi F., Kimani I., Ndungu V. & Mwangi P. 2018. Kenya: Agricultural R&D Indicators Factsheet Update. Washington, D.C.: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO).
• Budget. (n.d.). The National Treasury. https://www.treasury.go.ke/budget.html
• Charlotte S. & Mazhar M. 2018. From Maputo to Malabo: Public Agricultural Spending and Food Security in Africa. hal-01844094.
• Daniel W. 2020. Kenya’s top 10 exports. (2020, June 14). World's Top Exports. https://www.worldstopexports.com/kenyas-top-10-exports/
• Faling M. 2020. Framing agriculture and climate in Kenyan policies: a longitudinal perspective. Environmental Science & Policy, 106, 228-239.
• FAO 2020. Food loss and waste must be reduced for greater food security and environmental sustainability. (n.d.).Home |Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. https://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/1310271/icode/.
• FAO. 2011. Dairy development in Kenya, by H.G. Muriuki. Rome.
• FAO. 2019. The future of livestock in Kenya. Opportunities and challenges in the face of uncertainty. Rome. 56 pp. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
• Fao, Eca And Auc. 2020. Africa Regional Overview of Food Security And Nutrition 2019. Accra. Https://Doi.Org/10.4060/Ca7343en.
• FEWS.NET. 2020. Kenya - Food security outlook: Wed, 2020-06-10 to sun, 2021-01-10 | Famine early warning systems network. Famine Early Warning Systems Network. https://fews.net/east-africa/kenya/food-security-outlook/june-2020.
• Food and Agricultural Organization of the United States. (2020). Fast. Home | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#country/114. Government of Kenya 2010. Agricultural Sector Development Strategy 2010–2020, Nairobi
• Government of Kenya. 2011. National Food and Nutrition Security Policy. Available at: https://extranet.who.int/nutrition/gina/en/node/11501 http://www.teaboard.or.ke/opencms/export/sites/tbk/about/reports/TEA_BOARD_MAG_FINAL_BITMAP.pdf
• International Coffee Organization, (2019). Retrieved Online From: http://www.ico.org/documents/cy2018-19/icc-124-7e-profile-kenya.pdf.
• Kamwaga J., Macharia G., Boyd L., Chiurugwi T., Midgley I., Canales C., Marcheselli M. & Maina I. 2016. Kenya Wheat Production Handbook. Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Nairobi, Kenya.
• Kenya Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation. (2018). Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy 2019–2029 (ASTGS), abridged version. Kenya: Government of Kenya. Pg 3.
• Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. 2019. Enhanced Food Balance Sheets for Kenya. African Development Bank-Building today, a better Africa tomorrow. https://www.afdb.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/food_balance_sheets_kenya_full_report.pdf.
• Kiprotich et al. 2019. Influence of Organic Enriched Manure and Inorganic Fertilizers on Plant Physiological Processes of Kenyan Tea Clone. Asian Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 5(3): 1-7, 2019; Article no. AJSSPN.52680 ISSN: 2456-9682.
• Kiptanui T. 2019. Maize Crisis: A Position Paper on Strategies for Addressing Challenges Facing Maize Farming In Kenya. East African Scholars Journal of Education, Humanities and Literature, 2(3), 149-158.
• Kirui K. 2014. Socio-Economic Effects of Liberalization of Small Scale Tea Sector in Kenya: Evidence from Tea Farmers in Konoin District. Research Journal of Finance and Accounting 5(24),148-160
• Kuguru N. 2016. Effects of Government Policies on Performance of Coffee Industry in Kenya. IOSR Journal of Business and Management, 18(6),53-60.
• Makoye K. 2020. Tanzania draws up plans to quell malnutrition. Anadolu Ajansı. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/tanzania-draws-up-plans-to-quell-malnutrition/2041130
• Ministry of Livestock Development. 2008. Sessional paper no. 2 of 2008 on national livestock policy. Nairobi: Republic of Kenya, Ministry of Livestock Development
• Mutua J. 2019. Foods that Kenyans eat the most. Business Daily. https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/data-hub/foods-that-kenyans-eat-the-most-2249422
• Muatha I.T., Otieno D.J. & Nyikal R.A. 2017. Determinants of smallholder farmers’ awareness of agricultural extension devolution in Kenya, African Journal of Agricultural Research(AJAR), 12 (51), pp 3549-3555, 21 December, ISSN 1991-637X
• Ochieng J., Kirimi L. & Mathenge M. 2016. Effects of climate variability and change on agricultural production: the case of small scale farmers in Kenya. NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 77, 71-78.
• Olwande J., Smale M., Mathenge M. K., Place F. & Mithöfer D. 2015. Agricultural marketing by smallholders in Kenya: A comparison of maize, kale and dairy. Food Policy, 52, 22-32.
• Onono P.A., Wawire N.W.H. & Ombuki C. 2013, The response of maize production in Kenya to economic incentives, International Journal of Development and Sustainability, Vol. 2 No. 2 (in Press).
• Owiye O., Naibei K. & Momanyi G. 2016. Effect of Trade Liberalization on Performance of Sugar Firms in Kenya: The Case of Government Owned Firms. European Scientific Journal, 12(13), 306-320.
• Phoebe S. 2020. Food security declines in East Africa following economic, climate and conflict shocks. (2020, October 8). Future Directions International. https://www.futuredirections.org.au/publication/food-security-declines-in-east-africa-following-economic-climate-and-conflict-shocks/
• Rapsomanikis G. 2015. The economic lives of smallholder farmers. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available at: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5251e.pdf
• Rapsomanikis G. 2015. The economic lives of smallholder farmers.
• Research Institute (IFPRI), I. F. 2013. Complying with the Maputo declaration target. https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896298415
• Ridolfi C. Hoffman V. & Siddhartha B. 2018. Post-Harvest Losses in Fruits and Vegetables. Institute of Food Policy Research Institute, 1-. http://ebrary.ifpri.org/utils/getfile/collection/p15738coll2/id/132325/filename/132536.pdf
• Susan MacMillan 2019. Kenyan livestock sector to grow ‘exponentially’—Kenya national bureau of statistics. Retrieved from https://www.ilri.org/news/kenyan-livestock-sector-grow-%E2%80%98exponentially%E2%80%99%E2%80%94kenya-national-bureau-statistics
• TBK 2011. Annual Report and Accounts 2010/2011. U.S. Agency for International Development. (2020, May 15). Agriculture and food security. https://www.usaid.gov/kenya/agriculture-and-food-security
• Unicef 2018.UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/uganda/media/3886/file/KNP%20launch %20Booklet.pdf
• Wang’ombe J. 2008. The potato value chain in Kenya and Uganda. Maastricht School of Management,Netherlands.http://www.roundtableafrica.net/media/uploads/File/oseph%20 Gichuru%20WangombeThe%20Potato%20Value%20Chain%20in%20 Kenya% 20and%20Uganda.pdf
• World Bank Group 2018. Kenya Economic Update, April 2018, No. 17: Policy options to advance the Big 4. World Bank, Nairobi. Retrieved from: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/29676
• World Bank 2019. Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/country/KE
• World Bank. 2019. Kenya economic update: Transforming agricultural productivity to achieve food security for all. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/kenya/publication/kenya-economic-update-transforming-agricultural-productivity-to-achieve-food-security-for-all.
• World Food Programme. 2019. East Africa regional food security & nutrition update (November 2019) - Ethiopia. ReliefWeb. https://reliefweb.int/report/ethiopia/east-africa-regional-food-security-nutrition-update-november-2019.