Sino-Kenya relations should now focus on Agriculture as a Priority

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).