Challenges of farming; prospective farmers should seek advice
It was the founding father of this nation, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, who coined the popular phrase “Turudi Mashambani”. His successors couldn’t say fairer, in both word and deed, chanted the hackneyed slogan. His son - the incumbent - together with Uganda’s President Museveni recited the same in a recent Agricultural show in Mombasa. Many NGO’s have also followed suit.
The “agri-hype” has also not spared business magnate Chris Kirubi who on his Facebook page passionately urged the youth to consider agribusiness as an alternative to the ever elusive white collar occupations. More so, the media is awash with success stories from “digital farmers” who have turned noveau riche overnight.
However, all these high powered groups, individuals, influential mainstream media and often sensational social media have not plausibly convinced our youths to roll up their sleeves, soil their hands and get pay dirt. Why?
The “agri-hype” has also not spared business magnate Chris Kirubi who on his Facebook page passionately urged the youth to consider agribusiness as an alternative to the ever elusive white collar occupations. More so, the media is awash with success stories from “digital farmers” who have turned noveau riche overnight.
However, all these high powered groups, individuals, influential mainstream media and often sensational social media have not plausibly convinced our youths to roll up their sleeves, soil their hands and get pay dirt. Why?
Truth be told, farming is not a bed of roses. Prospective farmers (like I did) get down to business without fully comprehending the avalanche of challenges therein. They also lack the wherewithal. In addition, critical farm inputs are highly priced, runaway pests and diseases abound and transportation and marketing systems are perched on by bloodthirsty cartels.
For rainfed farmers, rainfall patterns are sporadic and unpredictable. For those within irrigation schemes must contend with the evergreen parasitic weeds. Mr. Mwanda, C.O. Ministry of Agriculture concurs. He says, "Weed control requires many hours of labor. Uncontrolled weed-growth reduces crop yields by as much as 60 percent. Herbicides, on the other side, are too expensive for most smallholders. Yet, efforts to develop completely resistant plants, have not seen the light of day".
For rainfed farmers, rainfall patterns are sporadic and unpredictable. For those within irrigation schemes must contend with the evergreen parasitic weeds. Mr. Mwanda, C.O. Ministry of Agriculture concurs. He says, "Weed control requires many hours of labor. Uncontrolled weed-growth reduces crop yields by as much as 60 percent. Herbicides, on the other side, are too expensive for most smallholders. Yet, efforts to develop completely resistant plants, have not seen the light of day".
Despite these hurdles, agriculture still remains the largest contributor to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Further, farming remains the most important economic sector in Kenya, wherein, production of tea, coffee, cabbages, onions, mangoes, potatoes, bananas, beans and peas, are at all time high with the national food security situation remaining stable as portrayed by the Ministry of Agriculture.
But the future looks gloomy. Reports say that secondary school students are increasingly rejecting Agriculture as their choice subject while their seniors in colleges and universities openly shun Agriculture related courses. The red flag is raised. Something, urgently, needs to be done to make farming more palatable especially to the youth if food security and economic empowerment are on top of our development agenda.
Prospective farmers must, therefore, make informed choices before they throw spanners into the works. Only then will we have a thriving agricultural sector. Remember, Agriculture, so far, is still the backbone of our country.
Prospective farmers must, therefore, make informed choices before they throw spanners into the works. Only then will we have a thriving agricultural sector. Remember, Agriculture, so far, is still the backbone of our country.
