The Kenyan government is taking steps to digitize farmers’ records in an effort to improve the country’s agricultural sector and increase the productivity and profitability of small-scale farming. Speaking at the opening of a training workshop for the digitization process, the Principal Secretary of Crops Development, Kello Harsama, emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating that it will enable the government to monitor and evaluate the impact of its projects and programs in the sector. The digitization process will also provide guidance for the distribution of fertilizers and other subsidies, leading to increased reliability and productivity in the agricultural industry.
The main goal of the exercise is to create a credible national database for all farmers, which will include their profile, location, crop acreage, and fertilizer requirements. This information will be used to assist the government in providing necessary interventions to improve productivity, increase profitability, and reduce risks. In addition, the process aims to support the sector in achieving its primary objectives of increasing small-scale farming in various parts of the country.
To ensure the success of the digitization process, the State Department for Crops Development is committed to providing technical support. Harsama also emphasized the importance of involving various government departments and county governments in the mass registration of farmers, stating that it will facilitate access to affordable fertilizers throughout the country.
To implement the registration process, the Kenyan government is training over 200 National Government Administration Officers from all 47 counties. These administrators will then train grassroots administrators to carry out the anticipated registration exercise. The training was officially launched by the Agriculture and Livestock Development CS, Mithika Linturi.
Summery: the Kenyan government’s efforts to digitize farmers’ records are an important step towards improving the country’s agricultural sector and increasing the productivity and profitability of small-scale farming. By creating a national database and providing necessary interventions, the government aims to support the sector in achieving its primary objectives and improving the livelihoods of farmers throughout the country.