Thursday, 15 May, 2025
Agriculture Committee engages CS Kagwe, PS Rono on ministry's policy direction for sector
Bunge Towers, Parliament Buildings,Tuesday, May 13, 2025
The Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock chaired by Hon. John Mutunga (Tigania West) today held a meeting with the Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe where he outlined the Ministry’s policy direction for the agriculture sector.
CS Kagwe stated that the Ministry not only targets to increase the quantity and quality of food production in the country but also to increase the income of farmers in the country.
This will be done by reducing the cost of farm inputs in the country through improved legal frameworks, reduction of taxes and levies in the industry among others.
The Committee then held a meeting with the State Department for Agriculture where the PS, Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh, formally presented the State Department’s Annual Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the Financial Year 2025/26.
He observed that there was an increment of Kshs. 3.061 billion in the Estimates of the State Department from Kshs. 45.19 billion in FY 2024/25 to Kshs. 48.25 billion in FY 2025/26.
He requested for additional funding to cater for a number of critical underfunded areas including; the National Strategic Food Reserve, Food Security and Crop Diversification, Equipping of the Tea Research and Development Factory, Seed Subsidy and Crop Post-Harvest Management.
Members of the Committee raised concern on the continued low funding of the agriculture sector which was at 3.2% in FY 2024/25 yet it’s a critical sector capable of changing the financial situation in Kenya through employment, increased foreign exchange in the country through reduced food imports and increased exports among others. The lack of extension services in the country was highlighted as a hindrance to the growth of agriculture sector in the country, the PS informed the Committee that the State Department was unable to employ extension workers as it is a devolved function.
The Committee will hold a meeting with the State Department for Livestock Development on Thursday before writing its report on the FY 2025/26 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.