Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has directed State agencies in the Ministries of Agriculture and Cooperatives to expedite reforms in the agricultural sector.
Emphasizing the importance of farmer-centric reforms to boost income, Gachagua expressed his commitment to supporting Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya and Andrew Karanja in revitalizing the cooperative movement and the broader agricultural sector.
During an inter-ministerial meeting held at his Official Karen Residence in Nairobi on Monday, Gachagua underscored the government's commitment to achieving its agricultural goals.
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The meeting, which brought together the two Ministers responsible for the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, served as a platform for discussing the status of tea and coffee reforms.
Gachagua assured the two Cabinet Secretaries of his support as they worked to implement the government's plan to enhance food production and increase farmers' incomes. He stressed that the ongoing reforms must prioritize the welfare of farmers and urged the ministers to involve farmers in the reform process.
The Deputy President called on the newly elected directors of the Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) to exercise responsible leadership and reduce production costs in tea factories. He urged the KTDA leadership to implement farmer-focused reforms and ensure the protection of resources to benefit farmers.
Regarding the coffee sub-sector, Gachagua encouraged CS Karanja to ensure farmers have access to the government's subsidized fertilizer to increase coffee production, which has significantly declined.
Gachagua reiterated the Kenya Kwanza administration’s dedication to making Kenya a food-secure nation and urged legislators to enact laws that support the government's agricultural reform agenda.
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