NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 28 – The Ministry of Agriculture and Council of Governors have formed a seven member joint committee whose task is to come up with ways on how to address food insecurity in the country.
Addressing the media after convening their first meeting, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi on Monday said the committee will be co- chaired by Principal Secretary Harry Kimutai and CoG Chief Executive Officer Mary Mwiti.
CS Linturi said the government is committed to ensuring that all Kenyans are food secure, and asked the team to come up with a clear strategy/framework on how this can be achieved.
The seven- member team has also been tasked with reviewing legal issues between the Ministry and CoG which are holding back agriculture reforms.
“There is no way we can achieve food security without the county government and that’s why we are going to work closely to change the hunger situation facing our people, ” CS Linturi stated.
The CS said they are doing a lot of things behind the scenes to put an end to the shame of hunger, and asked Kenyans to give him time to streamline the sector.
He further said that the government is working extra hard to bring down the cost of maize to at least retail between sh 4,000 and 5,000 per 90kg bag, and this includes exploring other ways of availing the much-needed grain like importation.
“We are working day and night to ensure that we bring the prices down, and this does not only apply to maize. I want to promise you that within a year things will be different,” he added.
CS Linturi however pointed out subsidizing fertilizer and seeds by the government are the best long interventions, since they will lower the cost of production and eventually bring down food prices.
He also commented on government plans on irrigation and construction of dams, saying when implemented this will ensure that food is produced on a continuous basis.
Governors present in the meeting including Muthomi Njuki of Tharaka Nithi and Moses Badilisha of Nyandarua committed to work with the Ministry so as to change the situation on the ground.
“The biggest issue has been legal disputes between CoG and the Ministry of Agriculture, and we hope that will come to an end,” stated Governor Njuki.
Adding on the same, Governor Badilisha said “We have agreed to work together especially on where there are legal issues dragging us behind we iron them out,”
