Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-14 21:00:00
Ensuring food security for all citizens is a fundamental responsibility of any government. A country that cannot provide enough food for its people has no moral authority to justify its existence. In Kenya, access to food is a basic right that must be guaranteed for all citizens. Unfortunately, many Kenyans go without food, and some even starve to death, particularly in the remote arid and semi-arid regions.
However, there is hope on the horizon. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi recently announced a plan to invest Sh100 billion in projects aimed at boosting food security in several counties. This is a significant and commendable step towards achieving food and nutrition sufficiency in the country.
The fact that the funding for these projects is coming from the World Bank means that there is no reason for delays in implementing this initiative. The projects have the potential to reduce the need for food imports, thereby saving valuable resources and boosting the country’s self-sufficiency.
The initiatives include the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project, which covers 24 counties, as well as the Emergency Locust Response Program in 15 counties, and the Food System Resilience Project that was launched last month. These projects are crucial in addressing the challenges of food insecurity that have plagued the country, particularly in the face of severe drought that left about 5.4 million people without adequate access to food and water between March and June last year.
The effects of these severe droughts are not limited to human lives; they also have devastating consequences for livestock, which are a key source of livelihood for many communities. As a result, both people and animals are left in dire need of humanitarian aid. While international and local relief agencies have provided essential support, their interventions do not offer permanent solutions to the endemic problems of food insecurity and drought in the country.
To truly address these issues, it is necessary to adopt more innovative approaches and to secure support from both the national and county governments. The funds allocated to these projects must be closely monitored to ensure that they are not siphoned off by corrupt individuals and cartels. Instead, the money must be channeled into the right places to effectively boost food and cash crop production, ultimately ensuring food security for all Kenyans.
In conclusion, the announcement of the Sh100 billion investment in projects aimed at boosting food security in Kenya is a welcome development. However, it is essential that these projects are swiftly and effectively implemented to address the root causes of food insecurity in the country. With the right approach and support, Kenya has the potential to guarantee access to food for all its citizens and to mitigate the devastating effects of drought in the arid and semi-arid regions.
Read the original article on Daily Nation
