Republic of Kenya: Speech by the Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Hon. George Khaniri

27th Session of the Governing Council - IFAD
Rome, 18-19 February 2004

Your Excellency the President of IFAD,
The Director General of FAO,
The Executive Director of the World Food Programme,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of my delegation I would like to express my sincere gratitude for having been given the opportunity to address this forum.

As members of this organization we gather here to map out the way forward in improving the welfare of the people of the world, particularly the vulnerable communities.

We, in Africa, happen to experience the biggest challenges when it comes to vulnerability and food insecurity.

Available statistics indicate that the Horn of Africa, which has a combined population of 160 million, is the most food insecure region of the world. Of this number, close to 14 million people depend on famine relief on a regular basis. In my country, the number of people who depend on famine relief range from 200 000 to 2 000 000. During extreme cases of drought, the figure can rise up to 4 million.

The root causes of these challenges include the following:

(i) Large chunks of land masses lie in the fragile ecological zones with scanty rains which cannot support crop production or adequate grazing for livestock.
(ii) Disasters of colossal magnitude such as droughts which in recent years have become frequent, severe and long lasting.

(iii) Occasional floods which result mainly from erosion due to destruction of forests as farmers utilize land for agricultural production.
(iv) The challenge of trans-boundary pests and diseases as well as high poverty levels which lead to a vicious cycle such that farmers cannot re-invest in productive farming, among others.

Mr President,

We note with a lot of appreciation that since inauguration in 1977, the IFAD mandate has been to focus on “the poorest of the poor”. This is very much in line with our current strategies of poverty reduction. A lot has been achieved in many nations including my country.

IFAD assistance to Kenya to date amounts to USD 117 million in loans and USD 14 million in grants. Since over 75% of my country lies in the arid and semi arid regions, IFAD funds are directed to the following areas:

• Providing irrigation and water to boost crop production;
• Promotion of traditional food crops which happen to be drought escaping;
• Environment protection and conservation to ensure sustainable production;
• Support local of community based groups (empowerment).

The IFAD supported projects in the country are expected to contribute immensely to increased food security through exploitation of marginal areas as well as reaching vulnerable groups.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

While we appreciate the commendable job being done by IFAD, the challenges of meeting the millennium development goals set for the 2015 are still mammoth.

It is for this reason that in my country we are combing all available avenues at our disposal. These include:

• Implementation of special programme for food security through FAO and Government of Kenya support.
• Implementation of comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme through the NEPAD strategy.
• Enhancing regional co operation such as East African Community, IGADD and COMESA.

Harmonization of sanitary and phytosanitary issues, control of trans boundary pests and diseases, removal of tariff barriers in regional trade, are some of the strategies which will lead to enhanced food security.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have a strategic vision and mission, but resources to achieve this are limiting. It is for this reason that we would like to appeal to our development partners to support us to achieve these noble objectives.

On our part, and as far as fund replenishment is concerned, I would like to confirm that my country has already paid the USD 60 000 pledged during the last Governing Council Session.

In conclusion, I would like to once again thank you, Mr Chairman, for giving me this opportunity to address this forum.

Thank you, Your Excellencies, and may God bless you all.