By Mutuvi Janet
Nominated Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary, Franklin Mithika Linturi has said that he will re-engineer how agriculture is done in Kenya once he secures the position to provide endless job opportunities for the youth and farmers in the Agriculture sector.
“Since Agriculture is the backbone of Kenya and with the highest employment potential, I will come up with ways of ensuring that it is profitable to all Kenyans,” he said.
Speaking during a parliamentary vetting session chaired by the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula on October. 21, Linturi said that he will ensure provision of relief food as they wait for their crop to grow during spells of dry seasons.
“Over decades people have been experiencing food shortage due to the fluctuation of climate patterns. For this issue to be handled I will ensure that food relief is issued to all Kenyans to cater for them as they wait for their crops to grow,” he said.
He noted that Kenyans have being complaining of increase in the prices of flour while maize millers have run out of stock. To curb the issue, he said that he will invite stakeholders and work on a formula to subsidize the prices of flour so every citizen is able to access flour without difficulties.
“I will construct warehouses in different places countrywide where farmers will be taking their produce. I shall liaise with County Governments to find out strategic locations and work on the logistics,” he stated.
He further noted that use of enhanced technology would be a huge plus to the sector by creating a farmers’ database to enable easier allocation of subsidized fertilizers and seeds to the farmers in different counties.
Linturi said that it will also provide a platform for farmers to exchange ideas and get information concerning how to use fertilizers on different soil PH and also how to test soils among other advantages.
He further stated that Agriculture Extension Officers were important towards helping the growth of the Agriculture sector.
“Farmers need to be educated on Agriculture. From the officers, farmers will acquire new skills on how to do Agriculture. Through this Agriculture will nourish,” he concluded.
