The Kenya Kwanza BETA agenda has agriculture as one of the most important agenda. In just under one year, the Ministry of Agriculture following the leadership of the Deputy President has been relentlessly working on reforming the agriculture sector and its sub-sectors such as dairy sector, the tea sector and the coffee sub-sector while also working to revive the collapsed cash crops such as pyrethrum.

H.E President Ruto has on numerous occasions stated that reforming the agriculture sector is giving the Kenyan farmer their dignity back. Understandably, no one knows the importance of farming better than the President himself. Seen recently visiting his dairy farm, President Ruto is first and foremost a Kenyan farmer.

A maize farmer himself, ensuring farmers in the country receive the subsidized fertilizers has been from his knowledge of the importance of the right inputs in maize farming. This year, farmers all over the country will be experiencing an increase in yields as over 2Million farmers received the fertilizers during the last long rains. More than 44 Million bags are expected from this harvest, an increase from last year’s about 32 Million bags. The President and the CS for Agriculture, Hon. Mithika, have over the last week urged more Kenyan farmers to register with their local chiefs so as to qualify them to receive the next batch of fertilizers and input.

Speaking at Kiambu last week, the President told dairy farmers of the government’s plan to have milk coolers at ward level to ensure their produce does not spoil before reaching the processors. This is a partnership with the Polish government. The President also recently visited the commissioning of the KICC Plant in Kiganjo, a plant that will see an increase in processed milk from 5.2 Billion to about 10 Billion liters a year. Dairy farmers will now be selling more than raw milk, with value addition being a priority for the President. H.E in the last weekend visited his dairy farm in Narok, showing he is a truly a Kenyan farmer.

H.E President Ruto has also in the past told Kenyans of his humble beginnings as farmer of chicken. He understands the challenges farmers in this sector also experience. As a dairy farmer, he understands the need to improve infrastructure in the processing plants, as well as improving roads in areas that dominate dairy farming. The President knows on a personal level the importance of facilitation value addition on dairy farming. As seen planting maize in April this year, the President understands that inputs and modern farming practices are a key factor in improving the harvests. This year, the country is expecting the biggest harvest yet.

The agricultural reforms are the President’s personal wishes for the Kenyan farmers. He hopes to improve their farming experiences and increasing their yields and income as he knows farming is an important activity that can not only grow the economy but also greatly elevate many Kenyans’ lives. The president cares for the Kenyan farmers’ welfare deeply and wholeheartedly, as a dedicated farmer himself and as the country’s leaders.