As farmers and stakeholders in the agriculture sector brace for the summit incoming from 21st to 24 th march where there will be up to 700 delegates from the global stage. Farmers and agricultural sector players in Kenya are embarking on upholding climate-friendly food production measures.
Following the concerns from the global sector faced with food insecurity majorly, these implications have been painted on climate change and the global food inflation rates.
All these factors have highly impacted food pricing globally affecting the costs of essential commodities making it the worst predicament ever faced.
A revelation by the players in sustainable farming systems; Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA), pointed out a need for reduction or selection based on eligibility in terms of artificial farming inputs used. Explaining further that the use of these inputs has also factored in the pace at which climate change is ongoing as it also hinders the regeneration of soils for agricultural purposes.
Biovision Africa Trust executive director, David Amudavi, said: “Both the public and private sectors in the agriculture sector need to be cognizant of the negative effects artificial practices have on our production that of today, is not sufficient for the populations occasioning perpetual food and nutrition insecurities.”
Emphasizing the urgency of involvement from both public and private sectors in addressing the farmers’ problems at a societal level, engaging dialogue on how to invest in solutions more that can mitigate the food insufficiency calamity.
During the launch of the first Eastern Africa agroecology conference in Nairobi, Biovision Africa Trust executive director, David Amudavi, decried the dire cases of starvation facing millions of Kenyans on the back of large untapped agricultural resources.
“It is a crushing disappointment that we have people sleeping hungry in the country and only less than a quarter of our land being put under underproductive use,” Amudavi said.
A representative of the Ministry of Agriculture Grace Mugo also hit out on the prominence of the food security issue, urging for the essence of transitioning towards more environmentally friendly solutions with long-term vision and planning.
“The Ministry is very much involved in the drive towards ensuring food security in the country, we, therefore, urge all players in the sector to consolidate efforts to ensure interventions towards food sustainability are adopted and put into practice,” Mugo said.
Further stating that it’s important to scale up and ensure the sustainability of farming systems based on technological advancement as the farmers take part in the fourth Industrial revolution takes its toll. That is the plan should entail environmentally friendly technologies and methodologies.