China and Kenya relations
are at an all time high. The two countries have established mutually beneficial
relationships in various sectors of the economy. However, as a matter of
priority, the focus must now shift to the agriculture sector as a step to the
next level of developmental cooperation.
Agriculture is the
backbone of Kenya’s economy and central to the country’s development strategy.
Although the country seeks to diversify its economy, agriculture continues to
dominate and play a major role in Kenya’s development.
It is estimated that the
agricultural sector employs more than 75 percent of the workforce and accounts
for approximately 51 percent of Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Kenya is a leading global
producer of high quality tea, coffee and fresh produce. However, with a
population increase of approximately one million per year, combined with
diminishing agricultural productivity and diminishing arable land, the country
faces critical challenges in terms of food security.
China, despite having a huge population and also
being affected by the impacts of Climate change, seem to be stable in food
security. More than 95 percent of the grains consumed in China are produced
domestically. Its hybrid rice technology is a world leader. Kenya would want to
learn from China through capacity building and technology and information
transfer.
China being Kenya’s
important development partner, can contribute some of its experience in
agricultural development. Although various steps have been made in the
Sino-Kenya agricultural cooperation, there is a lot of potential in this sector
for both countries.
During the China-Africa
Agricultural Forum held in Beijing, China in 2010, Former vice-president
Kalonzo Musyoka said there was need for Chinese firms to invest in setting up
of farm machinery manufacturing plants in Kenya and called for technology
transfer in irrigation farming, seed technology, and mechanization of agriculture
as well as agro-processing for value addition.
However, the problem not
only lies in growing technologies, farming machineries, seeds or fertilizer
usage, but the fact that Kenya does not have incentive policies to encourage
farmers to grow grains. In this regard, China has set a good example.
China implemented favorable
and protective policies for its farmers to produce more. The government
subsidized some state owned companies to purchase the domestic grown produce at
higher and more stable prices than the market prices.
It is worth noting that
the Chinese government has already turned to take more efficient
and sustainable actions to strengthen the ties with Kenya in agricultural
field. Training programs and technology
transfer can play an important role in China-Kenya agricultural cooperation.
Probably the best agricultural technologies for transfer from China to Africa
are water and soil related technologies.
China offers solutions especially for small-scale
farmers, including water saving and augmenting techniques, tillage and planting
methods, soil enhancing methods such as mulching, and the maximization of
fertilizer usage by soil testing and application techniques. Research on
mechanization techniques, and techniques including rural energy sources, and a
more thorough investigation of Chinese aquaculture, also could provide valuable
lessons for Africa.
Last year, a
group of dryland agricultural scientists from Lanzhou University paid a series
of visits to Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya Agricultural Research
Institute and the University of Nairobi to find ways of working together to
enhance food security in Kenya.
The role of government and the incentives given to
farmers to undertake the soil and water conservation activities was discussed
at length. The delegation noted that the rainfall conditions were similar and
the technologies would undergo testing and demonstration before up scaling to
farmers.
With the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa
cooperation (FOCAC), agricultural cooperation between China and Africa has been
intensified and Kenya needs to take advantage and learn as much as it can from
the Chinese experience.
Kenya and China already have a good foundation in
Agricultural cooperation that only needs to be enhanced. The establishment of the third Confucius
institute in Kenya that will focus on training locals in agriculture is a good
start.
Apart from technology and skills transfer, the
government should consider ways of motivating and encouraging farmers and other
key stakeholders in the agricultural sector in a bid to boost productivity and
effectively manage the industry to boost the country’s overall Gross Domestic
Product (GDP).
