Challenges facing Kenya’s agricultural sector
The following are challenges facing Kenya’s agricultural sector. The 1984 drought and famine in various parts of the country occasioning supply of relief food to the affected regions. Rapid increase in population which is not at pace with the rate of increase in agricultural production. From the late 1970s, the world market prices of agricultural commodities fell drastically yet the inputs remained expensive. Corruption and mismanagement of the cooperatives leading to meager earnings for key cash crops in Kenya. Grabbing of research land by corrupt government officials has affected the operations of the research institutes. The problem of poor infrastructure in the country sometimes discourages farmers especially during the rainy season. Ethnic clashes in Molo in 1991-1992, Likoni in 1997 and Mahi Mahiu in 2005 plus the post election violence in 2008 discouraged farmers from intense farming due to insecurity. Poor technology hassled to low yields. People in Kenya still rely...