NAIROBI, Kenya – Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has issued a clarion call to state agencies within the Ministries of Agriculture and Cooperatives, urging them to expedite reforms in the agricultural sector, especially on tea, coffee, and dairy.
Emphasizing the need for farmer-centric policies, Gachagua stressed that these reforms should be tailored to enhance farmers’ income and overall welfare.
Speaking at an inter-ministerial meeting held Monday at his Official Karen Residence in Nairobi, Gachagua assured Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya and Andrew Karanja of his unwavering support and commitment to transforming the cooperatives movement and the agricultural sector.
The meeting, which brought together the heads of the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMES) Development and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, centered on the progress of the ongoing reforms, especially those targeting tea and coffee.
“Our goal is to boost food production and increase farmers’ income. These reforms are not about bureaucracy; they are about the people who till our land. We must ensure that any changes made are for the benefit of the farmers,” Gachagua asserted.
The Deputy President underscored the importance of involving farmers in the reform agenda, advocating for policy changes that promote sustainable farming practices and better marketing strategies for agricultural produce.
He highlighted food security as a central pillar of the Kenya Kwanza administration, calling on both ministries to work collaboratively to achieve these objectives.
“I convened this meeting to engage with the new Cabinet Secretaries and guide them through the reform process. It is our responsibility to back them fully so that they can deliver on their mandates,” Gachagua stated.
Addressing the newly elected directors of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), Gachagua called for prudent leadership to reduce production costs and curb resource pilferage.
He urged the KTDA leadership to prioritize farmer-centered reforms and explore the potential of producing more orthodox tea, known for its higher market value.
“We are spending too much on production, harming the farmers’ profitability. The KTDA must adopt a more frugal approach to benefit the farmers. The new board must be committed to reform for the greater good of the sector,” Gachagua remarked.
Turning his attention to the coffee sub-sector, the Deputy President tasked CS Karanja with ensuring that farmers have access to government-subsidized fertilizers.
Gachagua lamented the decline in coffee yields, attributing it to mismanagement, exploitation by the private sector, and discouraging payment structures.
He reiterated the government’s plan to boost coffee production and improve pricing to attract farmers back to the sector.
“Coffee production has plummeted due to years of neglect and mismanagement. We are committed to reversing this trend by supporting our farmers and ensuring they receive fair returns for their hard work,” he said.
Gachagua’s call for legislative support resonated with those present at the meeting, including Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Kamau Murango and Borabu MP Patrick Osero, both of whom pledged to champion laws that would aid the government’s agricultural reform agenda.
The meeting also featured key government officials, including Principal Secretaries Patrick Kilemi, Teresiah Mbaika, and Idris Dakota.
Through a directive from President William Ruto, issued in 2023, Deputy President Gachagua has been charged with overseeing crucial reforms in the coffee, tea, and dairy sub-sectors.
Emphasizing the need for farmer-centric policies, Gachagua stressed that these reforms should be tailored to enhance farmers’ income and overall welfare.
Speaking at an inter-ministerial meeting held Monday at his Official Karen Residence in Nairobi, Gachagua assured Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya and Andrew Karanja of his unwavering support and commitment to transforming the cooperatives movement and the agricultural sector.
The meeting, which brought together the heads of the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMES) Development and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, centered on the progress of the ongoing reforms, especially those targeting tea and coffee.
“Our goal is to boost food production and increase farmers’ income. These reforms are not about bureaucracy; they are about the people who till our land. We must ensure that any changes made are for the benefit of the farmers,” Gachagua asserted.
The Deputy President underscored the importance of involving farmers in the reform agenda, advocating for policy changes that promote sustainable farming practices and better marketing strategies for agricultural produce.
He highlighted food security as a central pillar of the Kenya Kwanza administration, calling on both ministries to work collaboratively to achieve these objectives.
“I convened this meeting to engage with the new Cabinet Secretaries and guide them through the reform process. It is our responsibility to back them fully so that they can deliver on their mandates,” Gachagua stated.
Addressing the newly elected directors of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), Gachagua called for prudent leadership to reduce production costs and curb resource pilferage.
He urged the KTDA leadership to prioritize farmer-centered reforms and explore the potential of producing more orthodox tea, known for its higher market value.
“We are spending too much on production, harming the farmers’ profitability. The KTDA must adopt a more frugal approach to benefit the farmers. The new board must be committed to reform for the greater good of the sector,” Gachagua remarked.
Turning his attention to the coffee sub-sector, the Deputy President tasked CS Karanja with ensuring that farmers have access to government-subsidized fertilizers.
Gachagua lamented the decline in coffee yields, attributing it to mismanagement, exploitation by the private sector, and discouraging payment structures.
He reiterated the government’s plan to boost coffee production and improve pricing to attract farmers back to the sector.
“Coffee production has plummeted due to years of neglect and mismanagement. We are committed to reversing this trend by supporting our farmers and ensuring they receive fair returns for their hard work,” he said.
Gachagua’s call for legislative support resonated with those present at the meeting, including Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Kamau Murango and Borabu MP Patrick Osero, both of whom pledged to champion laws that would aid the government’s agricultural reform agenda.
The meeting also featured key government officials, including Principal Secretaries Patrick Kilemi, Teresiah Mbaika, and Idris Dakota.
Through a directive from President William Ruto, issued in 2023, Deputy President Gachagua has been charged with overseeing crucial reforms in the coffee, tea, and dairy sub-sectors.
