President William Ruto has said the government is accelerating both growth and resilience in the agriculture sector through strategic investment.
The president who was speaking during Madaraka Day celebrations said fertiliser subsidies have boosted food production by 50 percent.
There have been also reforms in the coffee and sugar sectors have revived local industries, enhanced farmer incomes, created jobs, and reinvigorated rural economies.
The head of state said milk farmers are now earning Ksh50 per litre, up from Ksh35. Coffee farmers are now earning up to Ksh150 per kilo, a remarkable increase from an average of Ksh65. Tea earnings rose from Ksh138 billion in 2022 to Ksh215 billion in 2024.
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The President also added that sugar production also surged from 490,000 metric tonnes in 2023 to 815,000 metric tonnes in 2024, enabling the country to reduce sugar imports by 70% , while increasing farmers’ earnings from Ksh50 billion to Ksh90 billion
“We have intervened with consistency and focus to ensure sugarcane growers receive fair returns for their deliveries and that they get paid in full and on time,” Ruto said.
Efficient mills are now more profitable and offer farmers optimal returns. “ Conversely, outdated mills, some of which run on plants that are over 50 years old, recover only one tonne of sugar from nearly 20 tonnes of cane, shortchanging growers and robbing them of their sweat,” the president said.
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He said the government leased four state-owned factories Nzoia, Chemelil, Sony, and Muhoroni which he said is another strategic step to inject efficiency, restore profitability, and safeguard farmers’ livelihoods.
The govt’s goal is to modernise the mills, ensure prompt payment to farmers, workers’ salaries and wages, and transform these once-struggling factories into productive and sustainable enterprises.
By Obegi Malack
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