Written By Vanessa Makali ||
The Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, met with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers today and stressed the need for a long-term solution to the nation’s food issue.
900,000 children, 120,000 expecting women, and breastfeeding moms who need immediate nutritional care are among the estimated 4. 3 million Kenyans who lack access to food, according to Gachagua.
He argued that bringing additional cultivable area under irrigation, as they proposed in their agenda, is one approach to address the situation.
“We must no longer rely on rain fed agriculture.” Said the deputy president.
Gachagua told the audience that they had a clear plan based on their manifesto for revolutionizing and modernizing agriculture, even in the face of the ongoing effects of climate change and other catastrophes like the invasion of locusts.
“As a government we saw a lot of potential in smart agricuture, there is no reason the manufacturers cannot invest in this sector.” Said Rigathi
He added, “In deed the next billionaires in Kenya will be from the agricultural sector.”
The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, HON. Mithika Linturi, would have the aforementioned agenda as one of her first tasks, he claimed.
The Deputy President stated that in order to lower the minimum importation for consumption and lessen reliance on foreign markets, they would also increase industrial and agricultural output.
“In addition we are keen to enhance agricultural produce this is also in line with our commitment of tapping Into manufacturing to reduce the minimum importation for consumption. This could reduce dependence on foreign markets which are subject to manipulation and other erratic geopolitical Situations, like the war in Ukraine, For the benefit of our people.” Said Rigathi.
