President William Ruto now says Kenya should be exporting rather than importing food.
Speaking on Thursday, February 23, at State House in Nairobi during a consultative meeting with Governors and Development Partners, Ruto said it was time bold, ambitious, and progressive policy decisions were pursued to make the country produce more.
“We must turn agriculture into a commercial economic activity,” the President stated.
The Head of State explained that the Government was consolidating the main trading blocs in Africa “so that we can give value to our farmers”.
“We should allow our farmers to earn more from their sweat by exploiting new and lucrative markets for them,” he noted.
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The meeting focussed on the promotion of trade, strengthening of market linkages, and the establishment of aggregation centres and industrial parks in counties.
“We have agreed to work together to promote investment and trade so as to stimulate our country’s economic growth," Ruto said.
The President insisted that Kenya’s products are premium and much sought-after in the world.
He added that land in regions such as Turkana, Mandera, Wajir, among other arid areas should not be lying idle.
“Commercial irrigation will turn these regions into our food baskets. Water harvesting will, therefore, form the main part of our country’s transformation plans."
