Research Paper Research

The Role and Performance of Ministry of Agriculture in South District

Booker Owuor, Beatrice Wambui, Gem Argwings-Kodhek and Colin Poulton December 2009

Research Paper 018 | June 2010 www.future-agricultures.org Table of Contents 1. Introduction individual farmers, 4 farm input stockists, 3 1. Introduction...... 1 Agriculture is the backbone of ’s economy credit institutions and 5 out-put buyers were 2. Agricultural Activities in the District...... 1 with many urban, and most rural folk deriving also interviewed. Non-governmental organiza- 3. Agricultural opportunities in the district...... 3 4. Agricultural challenges in the district...... 3 their livelihoods directly or indirectly from agri- tions (NGOs) were targeted for the survey, but 4.1 Other stakeholders views on farmers challenges...... 6 culture. The performance of the sector is there- surprisingly there are hardly any NGOs active 5. Roles of Ministry of Agriculture within the District...... 7 fore refl ected in the performance of the whole within the agriculture sector in the district. One 5.1 The Ministry’s Own View...... 8 economy. Growth in the agricultural sector exception is Africa Harvest, which is slowly 5.2 Other stakeholders’ and farmers’ views...... 8 translates directly to the improvement in living making an entrance in to Nyeri South district 6. Performance of Ministry of Agriculture Over Time...... 10 6.1 Ministry of Agriculture’s Interface with other stakeholders...... 11 standards of many farm families. Nyeri South with the introduction of tissue culture bananas. 6.2 District Agricultural Committee and District Agricultural Stakeholders forum...... 16 District has a vibrant agricultural sector that A list of persons and institutions interviewed is 6.3 Limitations of Ministry of Agriculture...... 17 provides the main source of livelihood for over in the Appendix. The fi ndings of the work were 7. Infrastructure...... 19 82% of its residents1. Three commodities with presented back to local stakeholders for valida- 8. Fragmentations of Ministry of Agriculture...... 20 varied histories - tea, coff ee and dairy - are the tion and additional discussion at a workshop 9. Budget preparation...... 21 main agricultural enterprises. Eff ective realiza- held in the CDF Hall in on 05/20/2010. 10. Conclusions and Policy recommendations...... 21 tion of the agricultural sector’s goals in the This paper is organized as follows; chapter 2 List of tables district depends on reviving these commodities presents the agricultural activities and oppor- Table 1: Acreage allocation of diff erent sub-sectors to agro-ecological zones...... 2 in a sustainable manner. For this to be achieved tunities in the district. Section 3 describes the Table 2: Agricultural challenges facing farmers in Nyeri district...... 4 however, the structure, capacity and coordina- opportunities for agriculture in Nyeri South Table 3: History of Agricultural activities in Nyeri South district...... 12 tion capabilities of the agricultural sector minis- district while section 4 describes the agricultural Table 4: Interface of Ministry of Agriculture with other stakeholders...... 15 tries must be up to the task. challenges. Section 5 describes roles/duties of List of fi gures This study focuses on the roles, performance, MoA at the district level. It also gives challenges Figure 1: Organisational structure of Ministry of Agriculture in Nyeri South district...... 18 financial and human capacity of Ministry of experienced by farmers as perceived by diff erent Figure 2: Time allocation of a FEW in Chinga South Location...... 19 Agriculture (MoA) in Nyeri South District of stakeholders. In section 6, the study looks at how Kenya’s . Particular attention is the ministry has performed over time and at the given to how the ministry interacts with other performance of the sector over the same periods agricultural stakeholders in the district. The and also discusses MoA’s interface with other objectives of this study are to generate evidence stakeholders in the district. It also highlights on patterns and trends in the scope and leverage limitations of MoA. Section 7 discusses infra- of MoA at the district level and to draw implica- structure in the district while section 8 talks tions for its capacity to play a coordination role about the fragmentations of Ministry of agri- in the sector in the district, and to be demand- culture. Section 9 briefl y highlights the budget driven and responsive to the needs of process and fi nally section 10 gives conclusions stakeholders. from the study and draws policy implications. The study was conducted during November and December 2009. Qualitative methods were 2. Agricultural Activities in the used in data collection mainly through inter- District views guided by an interview checklist. Offi cials Nyeri South covers a total area of 184.2 km2 with of agricultural sector ministries were inter- 98.9 km2 being arable and 85.3 km2 categorised viewed, including the Ministry of Agriculture, as non-arable. As such, it is a very small district: and the Livestock Production and Veterinary the furthest person who wants to access services Production departments of the Ministry of at the district headquarters travels only 14 Livestock Development. 4 farmer groups, 8 km.

Research Paper 018 | June 2010 ii 1 www.future-agricultures.org Prior to the recent creation of additional one willing to sell land anymore. On the very delivered to Othaya Dairy Cooperative society Rabbits are also an upcoming source of food districts in Kenya, Nyeri South was a division of rare occasions that one would be selling, the that acts as a link between farmers and milk in the district and those that have tasted the 3 the larger Nyeri district, that also included price drives away many prospective buyers . processors like New Kenya Cooperative meat attest to its palatable taste. While we were Othaya, Tetu, Mukuruweini, Kieni East, Kieni The tea sub-sector in the district has an Creameries (New KCC) and Brookside among conducting the study, there was a field day West and Municipality divisions (all also given organised and stable market – unlike coff ee. Tea others. Othaya Dairy Cooperative society buys organised by Ministry of Livestock on rabbit the administrative status of district in August cooperative societies are well managed and leaf milk at Ksh.27 per litre and sells at an average meat eating. Attendance was good and everyone 2009). At the time of the 1999 census, Nyeri collection centres are well distributed within the of Ksh.29.50 with the margin used in running had a chance to taste the rabbit meat. The South division had a total of 88,291 inhabitants, proximity of farmers. Payments are timely and the society. The society is making profi ts and is of whom 42,170 were males and 46,121 females. transparent. The key disadvantage farmers give number of rabbit keeping farmers in the district also able to fi nance their farm input department Assuming 2.5% p.a. population growth since with this crop is that it cannot be intercropped is growing and will continue even more as the which gives farmers inputs on the basis of the 1999, the population in 2009 would be around with other crops especially where land fragmen- market is already growing faster than amount of milk supplied. Othaya Dairy discour- 113,000 and the population density over 600 tation is very extreme. production. persons per km2. Coff ee on the other hand has been in decline ages farmers from selling their produce direct Agriculture is the mainstay of people in Nyeri for some time. Farmers cite political interfer- to Brookside, New KCC or any other brokers 4. Agricultural challenges in the South. In terms of livestock, the dairy sector ences and marketing problems as the major because of the past history of mismanagement district leads with nearly every homestead having at hindrance to the crop’s advancement. A coff ee and fraud cases that led to the closure of KCC Agriculture in Nyeri South experiences a number least one or two exotic dairy cattle. A few farmers farmer from Gatugu location stated that; “The in the 1990s and the resulting loss of farmers’ of challenges. Different stakeholders noted cash. The negative history of KCC has helped keep poultry and rabbits. Coff ee and tea are the problem with coff ee and its management is that somewhat similar problems but in different Othaya Dairy earn confi dence among farmers major cash crops in the district. The Lower most of the members of the coff ee cooperative priorities. Table 2 below shows the problems as 4 who now feel that the society is their own. There Highland agro-ecological zone consists of societies are politicians and not real farmers” . they were articulated by diff erent farmer groups. 52.4km2 and is mainly for tea and dairy sub- Coffee marketing is never transparent and is almost 100% allegiance to the society. Karima and Gaturuturu groups were recom- sectors. Upper Midland 1, which is approximately coff ee is collected from farmers without advance mended for interview by MoA staff while the 22.8km2, grows both tea and coff ee, while Upper knowledge of the returns it will generate. Even 3. Agricultural opportunities in the other two were independently sourced by the Midland 2 of approximately 12.3km2 is the main when the beans are sold at the auction, the district. researchers. Karima group is a mixed farming coff ee zone (Table 1). However, recent poor cooperatives do not send a representative to Dairy goats, piggery, rabbits, horticulture and group, Kiaguthu is mainly tea and coff ee while performance of the coffee subsector has witness the proceedings. Farmers are, therefore, green houses are the new emerging agricultural Othaya dairy is purely dairy, Gaturuturu is largely prompted farmers to try horticultural farming left to collect whatever amount the societies opportunities in the district. Land fragmentation in this area. give them. The major advantage of coffee has conditioned people of Nyeri South to restrict dairy but with horticulture as well. Land in the district has been fragmented into production is that it can be intercropped with their extensive farming and concentrate on Its evident from the table that farmers face very small units due to high population pressure. other crops. Many farmers have intercropped highly productive and intensive farming similar problems all across the district. Some On average, each household owns about 0.64 coff ee with horticultural crops. methods to put minimum land to maximum problems are mentioned across the board and ha2. Mr Kibui, a farmer in the district, reported Nyeri South has a very vibrant dairy subsector use. need special attention. Unlike other districts that land is a highly priced factor of production with every homestead owning a dairy cow(s). Dairy goats are becoming more common, but studied so far, Nyeri South district does not have in the district, but that this is not the main Milk marketing infrastructure is well developed keeping goats for milk is still a fairly new activity. many problems related to diseases that were constraint to accessing more. Rather, there is no with a high percentage of morning milk The agricultural offi cers still have to do a lot of only mentioned by one group. The cold weather sensitization to bring more farmers on board in the district provides an uncondusive environ- Table 1: Major agro-ecological zones in Nyeri South and also to create a market for the product. ment for disease pathogens to multiply. In a Agro-ecological Zone Area Major Crops Grown Piggery is slowly catching up, according to Mr district where disease outbreak especially in Lower Highland 52.4 km2 Tea & Dairy Maina, the deputy District Livestock Production livestock are almost unheard of, you might Offi cer5. Farmers have learnt how to manage expect the government Veterinary Department Upper Midland 1 22.8 km2 Tea & Coff ee pigs and the market is readily available within to be very lean. Nyeri South displays the reverse Upper Midland 2 12.3 km2 Main coff ee zone the locality and from sausage manufacturing with the Veterinary Department outweighing Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Nyeri South District companies in . all others in terms of personnel numbers.

Research Paper 018 | June 2010 2 3 www.future-agricultures.org Table 2: Agricultural challenges facing farmers in Nyeri district fi gures could be used against them or for the ones. This in the long run means that the avail- benefi ts of their competitors. ability of farm yard manure will be very scarce. Karima Group Kiaguthu group Othaya Dairy Gaturuturu Dairy Mr Gichuki says that they are yet to collect data Farmer group Land fragmentation and soil fertility on the decreasing number of cows but applica- Lack of capital Negative attitude of Un-enlightened Lack of capital Land is a big problem not only for Nyeri South, tion for re-stocking has gone down even as their youth towards agriculture farmers but for the entire Central province. Land has milk fi gures steadily surges10. Low soil fertility Over-reliance on rain-fed Pressure on land/ Diseases and pests been fragmented into very small portions. agriculture fragmentations Houses occupy the largest percentage of these Youth and Agriculture Poor governance in the Lack of capital Poor services from the Reliance on rain-fed portions of land, leaving very little space for Youth all over Kenya have shown the tendency coff ee subsector breeders agriculture agricultural activities. On average a household of shying away from agriculture. Central Bureau High costs of inputs Poor marketing infra- Poor extension services Poor extension in the district owns 0.64 hectares of land. The of Statistics (CBS) have shown that the average structure esp for coff ee from the government services from the DAO Mr Mwangi said that time is long gone government age of the farming fraternity is 58. Youths of when the larger Nyeri was known as a high Nyeri South shun agriculture and indulge in Poor extension services/ Weak cooperative High costs of credit High costs of inputs potential area. “What we are left with is rain, but other activities. To maintain their high standard coverage societies 8 land and soil fertility is gone” he says . of living - i.e. nice dressing, good diet and alcohol Youths negative attitude Land fragmentations/ Exhausted soils Heavy soil erosions Farmers are so frustrated with the seriously drinking - they are accused of engaging in towards agriculture exhausted soils declining fertility that cases of tea or coff ee fertil- robbery and other unlawful ways of acquiring Over-reliance on rain-fed Poor feeder roads Low soil fertility izers used in maize fi elds are rampant. Closely money. A farmer under anonymity said: “At my agriculture related to declining soil fertility is the shrinking age of 56, I work hard in the farm to feed my farm sizes. Small farm size with very low fertility three sons, who, ironically, have never set a foot Lack of/high cost of capital this rate is very low. (Indeed, it is subsidised). means facing potential food insecurity. “The into this farm to assist me in farm work. My sons Lack of capital was noted by all the groups inter- However, as has been observed in other districts, case of land fragmentation is already out of do not want anything to do with agriculture, be viewed as a constraint in agriculture. All farming some farmers feel that even these rates are high. hand, what we can do is to conserve our little it crops or livestock; however, they will always enterprises require some capital, for example They are of the opinion that the rates should be soils that remains”, says Mr Kingori, the Crops complain whenever there is no food. All they to start dairy farming one needs to have money reduced to about 10%. The lenders’ response is officer9. The government through MoA and want are white collar jobs and we all know that to buy the cow(s), land for keeping and probably that this is not possible because they will not Ministry of Forestry had ordered the immediate 11 growing feeds etc. There are a number of savings make reasonable profi ts. cutting of eucalyptus trees that are known to these jobs are not there” . and credit cooperative organizations (SACCOs) Other respondents argue that the problem seep a lot of water and deplete land fertility. The The government recently launched “Kazi Kwa in the district that are lending to farmers. Unlike is not so much the interest rate as the conditions district heeded the government call and agri- Vijana” program but this did not do well in this in much of Sub-Saharan Africa (and indeed that are attached to loans that make access to cultural offi cers are optimistic that the district district as most of the youths do not want to many parts of Kenya), banks are also actively capital diffi cult. Thus, to borrow from Equity you is in the right direction in conserving soil engage themselves in diffi cult manual labour. seeking to do business with the farming frater- need to have an existing account: you cannot fertility. Delayed payment by the government led to nity. Equity Bank, Othaya branch, has a number turn up for the fi rst time and obtain a loan on The government through the NAAIP withdrawal of the youth that had joined the of packages for farmers in the district including that day. Moreover, even though the Farm Input programme has also distributed free CAN fertil- programme. Some even demonstrated with diff erent unsecured loans for tea, coff ee, horti- Loan product allows balloon repayment of prin- placards reading, “kazi kwa vijana, pesa kwa culture and dairy farmers (see Box 1 for cipal, regular repayments of interest begin as izers to the residents of the district. Farm yard wazee”, (work opportunities to the youth, money details). soon as the loan is taken, which some farmers manure is inadequate as most families keep very to the old men). Youth attitudes towards agri- Nevertheless, Table 2 shows that farmers still fi nd diffi cult7. few but high producing livestock. The quantity see access to capital as a problem6. For some Meanwhile, Taifa SACCO, Wananchi, Equity of milk is increasing but the number of cows is culture is a big issue in the district but some respondents the problem is not access to credit and other institutions report good levels of busi- decreasing. The reason, according to Mr Samuel parents say that they are part of the problem. but the high costs of obtaining credit. As shown ness even with existing interest rates and loan Gichuki, the secretary manager Othaya Dairy They educate their children to focus on offi ce in Box 1 Equity Bank charges interest of 15% or conditions. Attempts to get the clients fi gures FCS is that most families are selling out their low jobs and not to toil and die poor like their less on loans to smallholders and argues that were thwarted as each outfi t feels that these milk producing cows for high milk producing parents.

Research Paper 018 | June 2010 4 5 www.future-agricultures.org and enjoy collective bargaining. The recent Farm output buyers have the problem of Box 1. Equity Bank, Othaya Branch past has witnessed the collapse of many one product flooding the market in one Equity bank in Nyeri South district off ers short, medium and long term loan to farmers of tea, coff ee, farmer support organizations including season and becoming unavailable during dairy and horticulture. cooperative societies and Nyeri South is no other times. This is the nature of agricultural such exception. Being a district that is active produce. Better and secure storage facilities 1 month, temporary over-draft agriculturally, the springing up of these soci- are part of the problem. The cost of transport Off ers crop advance of between Kshs 200 to 5,000 and charges 10% eties would be seen as helpful but diff erent they say is becoming prohibitive for them Farm input loan stakeholders dissented in the way these to trade in other produce that involves trans- Up to 12 months societies have been managed. Financial porting from wide apart surplus to defi cit Amount up to Kshs 100,000 embezzlement, misappropriation, political areas. Maize for example is produced mainly Unsecured loan, fl exible payments to suit product cycle interference and a weak Cooperative Act has in North Rift and requires transport to Nyeri Interest @ 15% ensured that farmers fi ght for their woes South. With the small profit margins of individually as opposed to collective actions maize, they say the whole aff air becomes Commercial agriculture unprofitable until such time as maize Up to 36 months through a cooperative. Stakeholders inter- becomes available from . Secured loan, title deeds, shares, vehicle logbooks etc viewed feel that the government should Amount over Kshs 100,000 move with speed and review the Cooperative • Output buyers in the district have been Interest 18% on reducing balance Act so that those that are acting in the nega- totally neglected by the MoA in respect to meetings and stakeholder fora. Output tive interest of farmers in a cooperative buyers claim that none of their number has society be brought to book. As it is now, an 4.1. Other stakeholders views on farmers Stakeholders are feeling that the costs of been invited by any agricultural sector official in the cooperative can embezzle challenges inputs have gone up quite steeply. They ministries to attend a meeting. money and get away with it. Other stakeholders interviewed also had a take point out the case of acaricide. The govern- • Lack of information on drugs and on what they know or feel aff ects farmers and ment has provided cattle dips, but it is the 5.Roles of Ministry of Agriculture chemicals farming activities in the district. While some of role of farmers to sustain them with acari- within the District. Farm input stockists feel that the govern- their problems correspond with what the cide. A dip requires acaricide worth Ksh The Ministry of Agriculture has specifi c duties ment extension agents should do more in farmers themselves mentioned, some are a bit 30,000 (US$400) to be adequately charged to perform at the district level. This section there- terms of training farmers on new/emerging diff erent and need mentioning and detailing. and forty cattle charged at Ksh 15 to be fore looks at the duties and roles of the Ministry technologies and drugs. Many farmers come of Agriculture in Nyeri South. A district level These problems include; sustainable. These conditions are diffi cult to to buy inputs like drugs and still insist on • Farmers ignorance and low technology meet and Dr Ngugi of the Veterinary study is the best place to get insights into how products that have been withdrawn from the ministry interacts and cooperates with other uptake Department says that these government the market. Convincing them to buy some- “Information is power”, these were the words dips will largely remain idle13. Other costs stakeholders at fi eld level. thing new and effi cient becomes a problem Nyeri South operates according to both the of Mr Mwangi, the DAO12. Farmers in the include labour which is aggravated by the as they come with fi xed mind since “that is national and district service charters for MoA, district are accused of not attending train- fact that the youths are not interested in what the agriculture personnel the latter drawing its contents mostly from the ings whenever they are called. Ironically, agriculture. High input costs for chemicals recommend”. former. Diff erent offi cers interviewed noted that they would rather turn up in large numbers together with low returns have also driven • Delayed supply of inputs the roles being performed by MoA at the district during political rallies rather than agricul- farmers away from coff ee productions. Farm input stockists also experience the level are in line with the policy objectives of the tural gatherings. Stakeholders also feel that • Cooperative mismanagements problem of delayed delivery of products sector, which is to raise household incomes, the few farmers who attend these training The strength of farmers anywhere in the from their suppliers. “It hurts our business create employment and ensure food and nutri- have very low capacity to absorb and uptake world lies in pulling resources together and when we turn down our customers due to tional security. From interviews held with MoA technology. This has been attributed to the working in an organized manner. Cooperative product unavailability because the supplier offi cers, we learnt that district activities are set fact that the larger percentages of those societies off er such outfi ts where farmers is not prompt with deliveries”, says an according to predetermined documents (the involved in agriculture are very old. can bulk purchase inputs for the benefi ts of agrovet14. Strategic Plan). However, this would limit the • High costs of inputs large discounts and can sell their produce • Seasonality of agricultural produce ministry’s flexibility to respond to problems

Research Paper 018 | June 2010 6 7 www.future-agricultures.org expressed by farmers on the ground if at all these improvement approaches. Stakeholders to individual. Meanwhile, the move to the advice to follow. For eff ective dispensa- objectives were to be the only issues attended believe that this has not been done demand-led fi eld visits has yet to gain wide- tion of the ministries roles in the district, to by the ministry’s personnel. adequately and is an important reason why spread acceptance. there is need for some of these ministries to On the ground the ministry personnel admit the district produces below its potential. The following are some points from farmers be merged - or at least better coordinated 15 that they perform much more than what is in Almost all stakeholders interviewed lament worth noting; - since the farmer is their ultimate client . their objectives and performance contracts. A the discrepancies between the roles as written • Farmers learn well from fellow farmers. As • Provision of extension in terms of informa- the agriculture personnel are very lean, look at the performance contract of Mr Jackson in the service charter and the real duties tion alone does not help much. “Our youth farmers feel that some of them should be may want to try their hand in agriculture M Mwangi, the locational extension offi cer of performed by the Ministry of Agriculture on the picked, off ered short training and be used but because capital acquisition is a problem, Chinga South location reveals that he performed ground. Farmers said it is through their own hard to teach others. This they believe will sort they may seem to be uninterested. The above the mark. He attributes this to the fl exi- and honest work that they raise their household out the alarming staff :farmer ratio. This is an government should give much more priority bility that they have to adapt on the ground as income, ensure food and nutritional security and idea which MoA needs to work on and to farmer support structures like AFC so that farmers come in with diff erent problems and through farming create employment. The adopt. The horticulture subsector is partly our youths, after realizing there is no other issues ministry offi cials are on the other hand doing growing in the district due to this farmer to way out, can borrow from the institution and negligible roles. Some farmers said that they farmer training. start something in agriculture”, says Mzee 5.1. The Ministry’s Own View could be better off with private service providers. • Farmers have realized that the Veterinary John Muge of Kiaguthu sub-location16. The district service charter contains the core The private service providers only exists in the Department of the Ministry of Livestock has responsibilities being undertaken by Ministry livestock fraternity and serving mainly the dairy more staff than other ministries, yet they Adulterated/fake inputs of Agriculture in Nyeri South district. According sector. These agents are hard to come by as they have not witnessed any disease outbreak Adulterated agricultural inputs was a very to the district offi cials, the services stipulated in serve a wide geographical area but farmers who or any situation that warrants such a large thorny issue in the focus group discussions. the document are largely drawn from the have dealt with them have their cell phone number of staff , who, they feel, should be Stakeholders feel that it is the duty of MoA to national service charter and as such represent numbers and call whenever they so need their re-distributed. protect them from the sub-standard inputs. the aspirations of the national charter. A number services. • Fragmentation of agricultural sector minis- Cases were pointed out of fake fertilizers, live- of interesting observations can be made tries has not enhanced provision of exten- stock drugs, pesticides – and even fake money. regarding the district service charter. 5.2. Other stakeholders’ and farmers’ sion services; instead it has brought mixed The case of fake money affects the general • Extension services dominate the MoA’s views messages that have sometimes been public as once the money is released into the perception of its day-to-day activities. Most Other stakeholders had their own views on what confusing to the farmers. An example market it goes to national circulation. The of the services mentioned in the charter (12 they see MoA do and what they feel should be occurred when the district was part of larger government was criticised for privatising out of 23) are extension-based. By contrast, their role on the ground. These stakeholders Nyeri and the Ministry of Cooperatives breeding services, as farmers claim that there farmers wanted to see the Ministry perform included the fi nancial/credit institutions like urged farmers to form groups for the are more fake private breeders than good ones. purposes of collective bargaining in selling a wider set of functions than simply provi- Equity and Taifa SACCO, the input stockists, “Our milk and calf production may be low not their merchandise like milk, coff ee and tea. because we are incompetent, but because the sion of information. For example, regulation output buyers and farmers. At the focus group Ministry of Agriculture was reported to have government have decided for us to be so, for of input quality is an important issue (see discussions, farmers argued that the eff ective- told the farmers to sell individually until the how can the government allow such malprac- below). They would also want the Ministry ness with which MoA delivers its services is still mess in cooperative set-ups are adequately tices to thrive in the full glare of their offi cials?”, to play a central role in the output market low and needs to be enhanced. They appreciate attended to. A statement from Mr. Patrick asks a farmer17. To help the sector thrive, stake- that the current extension approach of demon- as cases of farmers defrauded of their of Kanyangi Horticultural group holders want the government to rein in with outputs keep arising, especially in the milk strations, fi eld days and barazas allows MoA to can attest to this. He says MoA teaches how full force and regulate the sector. Without this market. meet many people with few resources. However, to grow coff ee, tea, napier grass etc and yet regulatory aspect from the government, the • One of the biggest problems mentioned by they believe that individual attention on farm distances itself from the collective marketing sector shall continue to suff er heavily from the diff erent agricultural stakeholders is that of is much better. Focus group respondents argued woes. Meetings are called by diff erent minis- fake/substandard inputs, consequently lowering low soil fertility. In the service charter, it is that, during the pre and post colonial era, the tries and the same issues regarding the same the farmers’ living standards, negating the pros- the duty of the district agricultural personnel agricultural sector used to perform better crop are discussed resulting in different pects of job creation and contributing to food to provide information on appropriate land because the visits were farm to farm, individual angles. At the end a farmer does not know insecurity.

Research Paper 018 | June 2010 8 9 www.future-agricultures.org Coffee marketing messes 6. Performance of Ministry of is also the era that coffee was introduced and to perform. The dairy sector was liberalised and Coffee is one of the major cash crops of Nyeri Agriculture Over Time. land demarcation started. With land given titles, breeding privatised, posing hurdles to farmers South. Statistics to show how much it earns for It is important to understand how the agricul- people started moving slowly to their respective in getting timely services. The 1990s marked the the district were not available but, according to tural sector has evolved over time. The following pieces and the sector started its march to serious worst interval in the agricultural transformation the DAO, the amount is high and would have section looks at past performance of Ministry agriculture. The pre-independence era, however, in the district. Most farmer support structures been much higher had the crop been given the of Agriculture in Nyeri South to relate it to the came with insecurity issues arising from the suffered political interference that ensured their attention it deserves. sector’s performance from the pre-indepen- Mau-Mau uprising, to which the colonialists collapse. Farmers were no longer allowed to Coffee production and marketing in the dence era to the present day. The information responded by forcing people into concentration elect their leaders; instead the government district suffers from a number of problems. reported in this section was provided by farmers camps in order to contain the rebellion. started appointing them. Extension services Coffee management, as the farmers say, is not and other stakeholders like retired chiefs, Nevertheless, they were allowed to work on their were crippled as there were retirements without carried out in a transparent manner. Coffee agrovets and senior citizens with a long history farms by day and the agricultural sector still replacements. marketing is an exercise done in secrecy such of agricultural practices in the district. For performed well. Food was available but growing The period from 2000 to the present is marked of cash crops was still restricted and only politi- with a sigh of relief to most farmers, save for that the farmers themselves have no idea what farmers’ views, focus group discussions were cally correct Africans were allowed to grow those growing coffee. The revival of vital farmer their coffee delivered in the factories will eventu- employed. The focus groups consisted of 5 to 7 them. Extension services were available. There support structures like Kenya Cooperative ally fetch. When the beans are being auctioned, respondents of varying ages with at least two were specialised extension agents for coffee, tea Creameries (New KCC), Agricultural Finance not even one farmer or one member of the in every focus group being older people with clear memories of how the agricultural sector and livestock. The pre independence era also Corporation (AFC), Kenya Farmers’ Association factory is present. Farmers wait for whatever has transformed over time. The discussions were marked the emergence of Farmers Training (KFA) and others have not only helped farmers money the broker brings back. More often than interesting, with farmers deliberating amongst Centres and the 4K clubs19. but also restored hope in the sector. The emer- not farmers get their advance payment ahead themselves before taking common stands on The post independence era was marked with gence of credit institutions as well as strong of the January school fee paying period and this opinions that were then expressed and major agricultural upheavals. Immediately after farmer organizations have also helped and as a only amounts to half the total amount. The recorded. independence, calm returned to the district and result the agricultural sector is booming in the bonus payments take between three to eight Participants were asked to differentiate agricultural development continued. The agri- district. But on the sad side, coffee is still inun- months or at times a full year. This long duration periods in the recent history of agriculture in cultural sector was “liberalised”, in the sense that dated in huge production and marketing woes before payments, not so transparent way of Nyeri South, according to how agriculture in the anybody could now grow anything, but some made worse by political interference. “One of coffee marketing, and increasing costs of district was faring and the roles played by the conditions were still in place. For example, you the major challenges in the coffee subsector is production has led many farmers to uproot or Ministry of Agriculture in supporting this. The could grow coffee on condition that you did not that its organization is full of politicians rather neglect their coffee trees. Some farmers now periods quoted were dependent on how far intercrop it with any other crop. The natives were than farmers”, one of the coffee farmers told us20. wish that the government, rather than coopera- back respondents could remember. Every group not allowed to own pure exotic dairy cows, but The elections in coffee societies are almost tives, would come in and sell coffee on their therefore came up with the earliest time they to continually cross breed their indigenous cows always marred with violence and disenfran- behalf. “The issue of chancing with the farmers’ could remember, but time intervals were agreed to a pedigree level. The instructions from the chisement of the voters. The politicians in the hard earned produce and waiting for almost a upon before starting discussions. It was agreed extension officers were still law and anybody subsector are resource endowed and are able year to be given uncertain amount must be before the discussions that the time intervals going to the contrary was penalised. The district to mount a dirty campaign and win. “Until these history if the coffee industry is to thrive. Let the be roughly 10 years. Table 3 below indicates the still enjoyed the benefits of extension officers malpractices and politics are divorced from the government come in and sell coffee on our periods and subsequent responses given. as they still used to visit and train but land avail- subsector, coffee will gradually extinct itself behalf”, says a farmer from Kiaguthu Coffee From the focus group discussions, it is evident ability started dwindling. President Kenyatta from the district”, one farmer lamented21. Factory18. The perception is that the government that the agricultural sector has evolved over called on people to buy land as nothing comes has no hand in the coffee messes. These farmers time. The pre-independence era was marked for free. There was a hot scramble for land in the 6.1. Ministry of Agriculture’s Interface with think that the messes are the responsibility of with abundant availability of land and anyone Rift Valley. other stakeholders the cooperative management, but it is clear it was entitled to any piece at any time. The popu- The 1980s marked the start of the sector’s In order for the Ministry to achieve its goal, espe- goes beyond that and filters into the govern- lation was still very low, soil fertility quite high downfall. The reducing numbers of extension cially with its lean personnel, the need to collab- ment system. and the climatic conditions were favourable. It personnel was felt as well as their lack of morale orate well and effectively with other players in

Research Paper 018 | June 2010 10 11 www.future-agricultures.org Table 3: History of Agricultural activities in Nyeri South district 1971– Land became hot Various centres sprung Extension was ok. Land fragmentations 1980 cake when Kenyatta up, education of black Agricultural food started, but agric produce Periods Githunguri group Kiaguthu group Chinga group Gatugi Group said “get what you extensionists started. production was still very good. Population can”. Fragmentation Moi took over power good and popula- grew alarmingly due to 1943- Colonial government Farms were very big, There was draught all over of land ensued. and marked the start tion grew sharply. much availability of food. 1953 threw blacks in livestock kept under the country in 1943, it was Extension services of the regions woes. Cash crops were Land buying companies concentration camps free range and people called njaa ya mihogo.Sugar ok with instructors One very good specie doing quite well. sprung up when Kenyatta to contain during ploughed farms came in 1944. There were no visiting farms and of irish potatoes intro- said that nothing is for free. mau mau, this alternately. There ploughing, just straight ordering what to be duced- it does well and Tea/coffee and dairy contin- hampered proper was no need for planting and weeding there- done. Moi regime people liked it,(name ued doing well, wonderful growth of agric sector. manure use as lands after. Plenty of rainfall, no started and some could not be recalled) extension Farms were large and were very fertile. seeing the sun in months of few sectors started fertile. With no june & july. Small population ailing demarcation, farms plenty of land. Plenty of agri- were used at will. cultural products 1981- Extension person- Harambee spirit Era marked the Extension personnel started Serious drought that 1990 nel’s number engulfed the era. start of bad gover- dwindling, retirements brought hunger in reduced. There was Coffee did very well in n a n ce. M o s t without replacements, 1944/45 laxity of services as terms of production farmer institutions production went down and white officers figures. Food was not started ailing. corruption started. Things 1954- Land demarcation Restricted farming, Introduction of Emergency period, concen- started diminish- a problem. Agricultural Extension person- were not good but not very 1962 started, land still land demarcation FTC’s, and 4 K’s tration camps. Demarcation ing. Agric sector sector was vibrant. nel started reduc- bad fertile but instructors and seriousness of club. Extension of land started, title deeds was stagnating Dairy sector liberalised ing. Signs of bad advised on fertilizer farming began. workers present came. Fertilizer use after mau instead of an causing many farmers thing to come use. Extension was Insecurity height- and active. mau. People moved from upward trend. to encounter difficul- could be seen. exemplary with regu- ened because of Extension work- centres to allocated lands and Coffee subsector ties in acquiring vital Dairy sector liber- lar farm visits. maumau. Extension ers specialised, serious farming started. did well. Maize for inputs alised, and public Agriculture for subsis- services were very i.e for tea is differ- Coffee introduced, only farm- subsistence was breeding was tence use only. Cash good – white manag- ent for coffee ers in the good books of colo- grown. Milk produc- privatised c r o p g r o w i n g ers and black nial gov’t were allowed to tion dwindled restricted to whites instructors. grow it. Grade cows and tea because of troubles and some few politi- introduced too but under at KCC cally correct blacks similar conditions as coffee. Introduction of agricultural 1991- Political interfer- Coffee payments went Coffee did well but Agricultural sector went officers, both black and white. 2000 ences marred to its peak, production Moi refused to pay really down, 19 million kgs The whole sector did well. farmer support increased as well. 19 million kgs of of coffee were not paid and institutions. The Subsistence farming coffee. Tea was those who demonstrated 1963- Independence came Independence cele- Peace after inde- After independence, peace farmer elected slowly gave way to constantly doing were beaten. Moi never paid 1970 and detaines released. brations. Extension pendence. Coffee came. Tea, coffee allowed to bodies were substi- commercial farming. well. Milk prices for the free primary school White extension offi- very ok. All crops did and tea allowed be grown by anyone plus tuted with gov’t Pressure on land were deregulated. milk scheme and KCC went cer left divisions and well, and Kenyans to be grown by dairy. Coffee did well, we were appointments. The became a reality. Private processors under and this destabilised moved to district started a bit of cash any one willing. paid 4 times in a year. Societies start of coffee woes Extension grew weaker came in to play dairy sector badly. Farmer levels. Everyone crop farming. Milk Government of sprung up. Extension very started by the poli- both in numbers of and bought milk support structures went allowed to venture in production increased Sweden helped good. Gradual upgrading of ticians refusing to personnel and services directly from farm- down due to gross misman- to cash crop farming due to foreign influ- people to local cows to pedigree spon- pay 19 million kgs offered. The collapse of ers, this further agements and political and dairy sector. ence (Swedish upgrade their sored by swedish gov’t. of coffee. Extension farmer support struc- injured KCC. interferences. Extension very good, government) cows at Kshs 1 for Intercropping not allowed in services came to its tures marked the era. Extension services but the number of Coffee intercropping an insemination. coffee. knees. The sector Notably the collapse of grew weaker and white extension offi- was not allowed. Extension was collapsing. KCC injured the dairy the absence of c e r s s t a r t e d services very ok. subsector in the white officers were dwindling district. conspicuous.

Research Paper 018 | June 2010 12 13 www.future-agricultures.org 2001 Coffee doing Coffee subsector nose- NARC/Coalition govern- Revival of the sector Interaction with farm input stockists seems Output buyers are the most disenfranchised - present badly/demora- dived, farmers uprooted or ment doing much to the through new to be there but still very weak. Most farm input and say they have never been called for any lised farmers. neglected their coffee trees sector but failed in administration. stockists interviewed admit having met agricul- meeting with MoA. The only time they get to Dairy sector because of poor returns coffee. Few extension Dairy sector revived, tural extension officers or of being invited to meet an MoA employee is when the agri-busi- doing very well, due to poor marketing and officers and great pres- healthy competi- field days but most say they don’t get as much ness officer is collecting cereal prices for compi- revival of KCC political patronage. sure on land. Improved tion btw New KCC interaction as they would have wished. Their lation. In our interviews with them they reported being the major Horticultural farming infrastructure, roads & and Brookside. Tea main problem is that most farmers trust agri- few major problems other that at times having reason. Roads emerged as a result. communication. subsector also cultural personnel more than them, yet they feel to source their commodities from far and wide greatly Extension to its poorest. Tea Exemplary tea and dairy vibrant but coffee improved. doing well, but upscaling subsectors but the still in messes. the agriculture personnel have no up-to-date and at times the transportation costs are quite Horticultural in terms of acreage discour- opposite situation in Emerging enter- knowledge on the new drugs or technologies high. There is no harassment from Othaya sector improv- aged. Agricultural land in the coffee subsector. prises due to land in the market. It is very hard to convince a farmer County Council who have provided well built, ing. Extension near extinction as human Very little impact from fragmentations, to purchase a new and very effective drug well managed and clean stalls in the market. officers are very population exerts pressure extension officers dairy goats, fish instead of the product that the agriculture No one wants to talk about openly about few and greatly on land. New admistration (fewer numbers). ponds, poultry and personnel recommended. This, they say, can be insecurity. Traders close their stalls early enough over-whelmed. resurrected the flopped Emergence of high horticulture. eliminated with constant and sustained interac- to walk home. If one is not used to business agricultural farmer support value/fast yielding structures like New KCC, crops to compete with tion between them and the MoA personnel. closing as early as in Othaya, you are bound to AFC,KFA etc. high pressure on land. Notes: FTC = Farmer Training Centre; KCC = Kenyan Cooperative Creameries; AFC = Agricultural Finance Table 4: Interface of Ministry of Agriculture with other stakeholders Corporation; KFA = Kenya Farmers’ Association; NARC = National Rainbow Coalition Stakeholder Interface with MoA Nature of interface Ministry of the field cannot be over-emphasized. Table 4 has a vehicle but no driver while the Ministry of livestock •• Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) •• Sharing of resources like summarises the Ministry’s interaction with other Livestock has a driver and no vehicle. The two Sensitizing1 farmers about fish farming. vehicles, motorbikes and stakeholders in the district. Ministries share these two resources. One area Encouraging farmers to apply for the ESP budgeting together incase In terms of stakeholder interaction Nyeri in which the mutual interaction hasn’t worked money meant for fish farming in the of joint field days South district is lagging behind especially when well is in the sharing of water and electricity district. •• Joint budget preparation. •• NALEP The two Ministries share a comparison is done with the other districts bills. One ministry blames the other in delaying •• Joint implementation of NALEP activities in personnel and expertise in this study has been conducted in. On the other payments and they have decided to have sepa- various focal areas in the districts. the focal area hand the district can be vindicated on the rate bills on these two items. The MoA has grounds that it is still a young district and will •• Njaa Marufuku Kenya, (NMK). Train farmers •• Sharing of resources and managed to reconnect their water line but elec- establish itself with time. There is no interaction on improved ways of fighting food insecu- expertise. Vehicles, drivers, tricity has remained elusive for the last two rity. Both livestock and crop farmers benefit. workshop materials, between MoA and the Ministry of Fisheries or years. The two ministries also disburse funds to motorbikes Ministry of Cooperatives because these two Besides the limited interaction amongst the groups. Crop group Kshs 120,000 and ministries have no personnel on the ground. Ministries, there is also no interaction with the Livestock group Kshs 150,000 The Ministry of Cooperatives is said to have one employee in the district but throughout this NGO world. This is because non-governmental Ministry of Sensitizing farmers on the need to eliminate Sharing resources and jointly forestry and eucalyptus tree. The tree is said to absorb alot of planning for the workshops and study he was never there. An MoA employee organizations are scarcely present in the district. Christian Children Fund (CCF) is an NGO that Ministry of water thereby scuttling the growing of other trees field days. who has been serving in the area for the last environment or crops in the surrounding areas. two years said he has seen his cooperative coun- supports children from poor families by paying Joint tree planting sessions. their education fee, while Africa Harvest based terpart only twice. Other ministries are also yet Ministry of Joint training youths on the need and the Sharing resources like vehicles to establish themselves in the new district. in Nyeri town has an agricultural focus but oper- Gender and prospects of engaging in agriculture as a business. and sharing the budget costs MoA enjoys better interaction with the ates rather intermittently in the district. Attempts Youth for workshops and seminars. Ministry of Livestock. The Ministry of Agriculture to meet them proved futile. Notes: NALEP = National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Programme

Research Paper 018 | June 2010 14 15 www.future-agricultures.org go the night without food because even hotels The agricultural sector has many stake- these bodies been in existence, effective and Overall, out of the minimum requirement (for are closed by 7.30 – 8pm. Much of the insecurity holders but not all have a permanent place in authoritative, we would have not lost that much”, this district) of 37 personnel, the district currently problems were attributed to lack of legal gainful this committee. NGOs (if any), input and output says the farmer22. It will be very interesting to has 10 technical personnel and one support employments to the youths. stockists, input and output manufacturers can see how the DAO manages to deal with these staff. They have a vehicle but no driver. They be called from time to time whenever a relevant types of issues, particularly with the near borrow a driver from their Livestock counter- 6.2. District Agricultural Committee and topic that requires their input comes onto the absence of NGOs in the area. NGOs are observed parts who have no vehicle. The DAO is in need District Agricultural Stakeholders forum agenda. to be the major driving force behind these of 23 more technical staff and three more The District Agricultural Committee is a gazetted District Agricultural Committee is a place forums in some other districts and their absence support staff. A driver, procurement officer and policy body within the district that offers a plat- where farmers and other stakeholders articulate will be a stumbling block to the sector’s much a clerk will seal the support staff vacuum in the form to farmers to air their views concerning their issues through their representatives. DAC needed organization. district. the sector and allows the relevant government responds directly to concerns raised by different On the other hand the Ministry of Livestock’s ministries to coordinate their agricultural activi- stakeholders. In theory, more difficult issues are 6.3. Limitations of Ministry of Agriculture. Department of Veterinary Services have an over- ties within the district. This body had not been forwarded to the Provincial Agriculture Board Ministry of Agriculture in Nyeri South has a flowing staff complement in the area. This is formed 7 months after the division was elevated (PAB) and, if necessary, to the higher level where number of limitations. Officially the ministry’s despite the fact that the district is reported to to a district. The DAO admits that they are concerns raised by players in the sector are policy is that the budget is drawn up from be near disease-free with only few reports on running late and it is his intention to strengthen looked into at policy level. bottom to top, so the district officials come up mastitis and occasional vaccinations against The District Agricultural Stakeholders Forum what was there before, i.e the sub-DAC and the with their budget and forward it to the head- anthrax, lumpy skin disease and black quarter. (DASF) is a body composed of; divisional stakeholders’ forum, and elevate them quarters. In practice the headquarters cuts down According to the veterinary head in the district, •• Input stockists to district status. At the moment coordination the budgets without communication with the the work force is reduced to mere disease •• Out-put buyers district agricultural office. This messes the surveillance23. At the time of this study, some of of agricultural activities can only be felt between •• Non Governmental organisations districts projected output but since they are left the MoA locational jurisdictions were manned two ministries, that of MoA and MoLD. The DAO •• Farmers with no choice, they simply abide. Financial by animal health assistants from the Livestock having worked in different places within the •• Input and output manufacturers issues aside, the ministry charged with coordi- Ministry. This is on mutual agreement between country in the same capacity has his work •• Credit institutions nating the sector players is doing so with few the two ministries. cut-out. He knows what to do at any stage and •• Office of the President, provincial staff. Staff are also less effective in the sense that It is very interesting to see that, with only he gives us a detailed over-view on how these administration. they are demotivated due to low remuneration coffee woes in the sector, agriculture continues bodies will be run under his jurisdiction. Ministry officials will be present in these and allowances. to perform better in the district even without Discussions with him revealed that his District meeting but with no veto powers, they will Nyeri South lacks a number of personnel, the help of NGOs and with few agricultural Agricultural Committee shall be composed of attend in ex officio capacities. This body’s main although the DAO is very optimistic that their personnel. The farmers’ commitment to under- the following members; work will be to harmonise stakeholders’ activi- lobbying to get more staff will be rewarded take farming as a business and the private24 •• District Commissioner as the chairman ties within the district. Whenever there is a sooner rather than later. Figure 1 below gives extension agents must be having a hand in this. •• District Agricultural Officer as the disagreement between two industry players, an understanding of the missing gaps in terms Farmers understand that services must be secretary this body will also act as the first option for arbi- of personnel within the district. At the district demanded and paid for if at all one is to operate •• District Livestock production Officer, tration. A farmer we talked to lamented his woes level, three subject matter specialists, (SMS) are a gainful agricultural business. member on the lack of DAC and DASF in the district. He yet to be deployed. This poses serious challenge •• District Veterinary Officer, member together with some other farmers sold their milk in the district work-plans. The district has three Targets and time allocations. •• District Cooperative Officer, member to some little known company in . Since divisions, Othaya Central, Othaya North and Every officer in the district has a performance •• District Fisheries Officer, member the company was giving more money than New Othaya South. Both Othaya North and Othaya contract to sign. It is from this document that •• All the Divisional Agricultural Extension KCC and Brookside, they continued supplying South have only one frontline extension officer an officer knows his targets. From this document Officers the company in the second month. The company and lack five divisional subject matter specialists. coupled with personal interview, we sought to •• A farmer Representative from each paid the first month but disappeared at the end The Central Division has HOMEC and DADO but know how a frontline extension worker spends division of the second month with all their money. “Had misses the rest. their time.

Research Paper 018 | June 2010 16 17 www.future-agricultures.org Mr Jackson is a FEW in charge of Chinga South target is a mere 300 farmers. He meets his target • Individual visits 40% progression for deserving offi cers as chances location. Unlike his Rachuonyo25 counterparts my allocating his time as shown in Figure 2 • Information desk 15% are not pegged on an individual’s hard work or charged with a target of 741 farmers, his annual below: • Barazas 5% impressive performance but on corrupt means. • Field days 10% These diploma holders at the division are the • Demos 20% offi cers who are charged with feeding the hier- Figure 1. Organisational structure of Ministry of Agriculture in Nyeri South district • Others 10% archy with information, they assist FEWs with Mr Jackson says he not only meets his target, day to day extension and yet they are lowly paid, he surpasses it. However, four FEWs each they work under poor schemes and above all District Agricultural Officer meeting 300 farmers per year represents very get very slim or no allowances. limited coverage for a district of perhaps 20,000 An offi cer is considered for transfer after a 3 farm households. Even with the supposed full year period but this is sometimes over-looked. 3District Subject Matter Specialists complement of nine FEWs in post, these targets The DAO has the powers to reshuffl e his division � District Agribusiness Development Officer, (DADO) would leave most farmers in the district unvis- and location personnel within the district. � District Crops Officer(DCO) ited each year. Likewise, on an advice from the DAO, the PDA may transfer and offi cer within the province. � Dep, DAO/ Training Research & Liason Officer Staff morale and sector performance Missing officers Ministry officials, particularly the diploma 7. Infrastructure � Home Economics Officer holders deployed at the divisional level, are a Nyeri South district is months old and lacks some � Monitoring and evaluation officer very demoralised lot. Most of them have been of the most basic offi ce requirements. Since the � Environment and Lands Development Officer serving in the same job group for over 10 years District Agriculture offi ce lacks electricity, the without the prospects of getting promotion. use of computer cannot be sustained. We are Worse still, a number have tried in vain to apply told the office owns one computer but it is for the employer sponsored study leave. They stored somewhere since there is no power. The feel that politics have overtaken ethics and for offi ce lacks a printer, photocopiers and enough one to get these rare chances, corruption has offi ce furniture. Furthermore the district offi ce to come into play. This greatly hinders career premises are the same ones used previously for

Othaya North Othaya Central Othaya South Division Figure 2. Time allocation of a FEW in Chinga South Location Division division DAEO- Missing DAEO- Missing DAEO/HOMEC DivADO 5 subject matter 5 subject matter specialists – Missing specialists – Missing 3 subject matter specialists – Missing 1 FEW 1 FEW 2 FEW- Missing 2 FEW- Missing 2 FEW 1 FEW- Missing

1 cleaner (serving both district and central division)

Research Paper 018 | June 2010 18 19 www.future-agricultures.org divisional headquarters. The walls are good and agriculture in the sense of crops, all livestock Produce Board (NCPB) together with Agriculture Those other farmers who have no more trust in strong but the iron sheets roofs are old and including fi sh and the marketing part which Finance Corporation. His argument replicates the government have already cut back or rusted. The offi ces are not enough as they are should be understood as the present day those we gathered in Uasin Gishu. Farmers are uprooted their coff ee trees and made charcoal shared between district and central division. On cooperatives. charged more for the AFC loans because NCPB out of them. There is urgent need for MoA and the other hand, the district offi ce has a func- Meanwhile, the curriculum for extension has delayed to pay for the produce they deliv- Ministry of Cooperatives to come in and help tioning telephone land line and ever running agents is basically the same, irrespective of the ered to them. If the two are merged and well coffee farmers in the district and indeed piped water. ministry that they eventually enter, with very streamlined, farmers can be spared such nationwide. The offi ce has one motorbike for NALEP activi- little specialization. This is the reason why an agonies. At the time of the study the dairy subsector ties which means that it is shared among the extension agent from the Veterinary Department was also doing well28. This owed much to the two ministries, MoA and MoLD. The motor in the Ministry of Livestock can effectively 9. Budget preparation. strong market competition between New KCC vehicle in their possession is an old one which stand-in for an absentee agriculture Nyeri South district has not had the chance to and its private rivals. In addition, farmers are was initially used at the (former) district and later colleague. prepare a budget of their own. However, in the hard working and the climatic conditions of the relegated to the divisions. Since the district was The DAO feels that these intermittent splits coming fi nancial year, the district will have to district do not favour many diseases. There is a created some few months ago, it is yet to get a have not worked well for the farmer: “The farmer, come up with a budget for eventual funding need to redeploy the many staff at the Veterinary better vehicle and send the old one to the divi- whom all these ministries are working hard to from the relevant baskets especially from MoA Department to serve in less well staff ed parts sion. Many of the agricultural officers inter- serve, is getting more confused. He has to attend headquarters in Nairobi. The DAO talked to us of the country or to be incorporated into the viewed said that if they are given more resources various stakeholders meetings, some called on how he intends to carry out his budget prepa- MoA system as they are doing now on an they would definitely do the following in collectively, others called on individual basis”26. ration process. informal basis. order; This is the same view held by many famers. They First the divisional workforce shall call a Areas like this district should be used as pilot • Employ more technical staff feel that it is better for these ministries to be meeting of their own and discuss all that they areas to test new ideas like the demand-driven • Solve transport issues by buying a vehicle merged and made stronger. All their life they want to be in their workplan. These must be approach of extension. Because many of the and motorbikes have known extension workers as ‘watu wa agri- accompanied with how much an activity costs. farming families have good sources of money, • Increase money on capacity building culture’ (agriculture people) and the larger Once that is done and agreeable, the team shall they see no problem in demanding and paying • Reconnect electricity and purchase offi ce percentage still go to agriculture people even come to the district level for a meeting with their for services, at least where dairy is concerned. equipment with livestock issues. “If livestock people can colleagues at the district headquarters. They will MoA in the district needs to launch and The district has a very good road network; attend to us on crops problems, why split them?” present and defend their budget. From there strengthen its stakeholder forum not only to most roads are either tarmacked already or are ponders a farmer from Gatugi location27. the district personnel shall expand the budget weed out fake private purveyors of animal being tarmacked at the time of this study. Market Coffee is one of the country’s major cash to include their activities. At the end a meeting breeding services, which farmers are crying foul structures also are functioning well. The main crops. Its production is seen as the business of will again be called for all technical staff in the of, but also to help streamline, coordinate and products, tea and milk have no major problems MoA yet its marketing is under the Ministry of district for a final say before the budget is harmonize stakeholder activities in the district. in terms of marketing. The district has 18 coff ee Cooperatives. This confuses the farmer. Tea as dispatched to the headquarters for funding. This will also alleviate the problem that exists factories but as was said before, the coff ee soci- another cash crop has its own extension agents between the input stockists and the MoA eties have more politicians than growers. This from Kenya Tea Development Agency. Since the 10. Conclusions and Policy personnel, (outdated advice given to farmers has messed this subsector to date. authority does not have enough personnel, MoA recommendations by MoA personnel on inputs to buy). agents carry out extension services to tea Coffee is one of the major cash crops in the Ministry of Agriculture should encourage a 8. Fragmentations of Ministry of farmers. At times there is no proper synchronisa- district. It is marred with marketing issues which meaningful exit of demoralised coff ee farmers Agriculture tion as the two agents are seen to advise diff er- are now aff ecting its production as well. Coff ee to engage in horticulture as some farmers have In recent years the agriculture sector has ently. This further confuses the farmer and societies have more politicians than real coff ee already done. Horticulture seems to be a very witnessed repeated splitting of the ministry, lowers production in due course. growers and whenever an election is called for, big opportunity in the district. Previously horti- seemingly at will or whenever a new administra- The DAO feels that even some of the govern- they (politicians) are able to mount well-fi nanced cultural crops used to come from neighbouring tion ascends to power. Once upon a time the ment agricultural parastatals should be merged campaigns and eventually win. Stakeholders districts of Mathira and Mukurweini. sector had one very big ministry, that of to make them more eff ective and strong and know that the government is somehow involved There is very minimal interaction of MoA with Agriculture, Livestock Development and thereby to help serve the farmers eff ectively. He in this mess, but they are still asking the same the output buyers and manufacturers. There is Marketing. This ministry basically contained pointed out the case of National Cereals and government to be serious and help them out. need to incorporate these stakeholders so that

Research Paper 018 | June 2010 20 21 www.future-agricultures.org the market of agricultural produce can be 19 4K’s stands for “Kuungana, kufanya na Appendix: further enhanced and unscrupulous/fake output kusaidia Kenya”. The list of people interviewed during the buyers like those of milk from Nairobi can be 20 Group discussion, Kiaguthu group – survey December 2009 dealt with. Individual Farmer Groups Farm Input Farm Output Credit Government 21 Group discussion, Kiaguthu Group – Farmers Stockists Buyers Institutions Bodies End Notes December 2009 22 Kibui Gichigi Githunguri Joe Agencies Jaribu traders Equity Bank Ministry of 1 Group discussion, Chinga group - December Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Nyeri South Kanyangi Agriculture District (interview) 2009 23 horticultural 2 Personal interview, MoLD offi ces, Nyeri Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Nyeri South group District (interview plus charts in the district South District – December 2009 24 Eff orts to meet some of them did not bear Jackson Kiaguthu Eliziama Othaya Dairy Taifa SACCO Ministry of offi ce) Maina coff ee farmers Agrovets Livestock 3 any fruit as they are based in Nyeri town and Personal interview, Gatugu location – Association Development December 2009 are constantly on call. They give more priority 4 Personal interview, Gatugu location – to duty call than a call to be interviewed. John Muge Chinga Tea Othaya Dairy Kiaguthu Wanaichi 25 farmers farmers, farm Coff ee SACCO December 2009 It’s worth noting that Rachuonyo has since Association input factory 5 been sub-divided in to two districts, Personal Interview, MoLD offi ces, Nyeri South department District – December 2009 Rachuonyo South and North districts. The 6 This was also a major topic of discussion at larger Nyeri district out of sub-divisions Githinji Gatugi mixed Sharkvile Gaturuturu the feedback workshop in Othaya on produced four; Municipality, Tetu, Nyeri South farmers Agrovet Dairy farmer Association group 05/02/2010. and Mukurweini Districts. 26 7 Equity’s “Kilimo Biashara” product off ers full Personal interview, MoA offi ces, Nyeri South Ayub Chinga Tea balloon repayment, but is targeted towards District – December 2009 Factory 27 cereals producers, so is of limited interest to Personal Interview, Gatugi location – Samuel farmers in Nyeri South. December 2009 Mahiayu 28 8 Field work took place prior to the 2009-10 Personal interview, MoA offi ces, Nyeri South Joseph crisis in KCC. district – December 2009 Gichiama 9 Personal Interview, MoA offi ces, Nyeri South Mary Wanjeri District – December 2009 10 Personal Interview, Othaya town – December 2009 11 Personal Interview, Iriaini – December 2009 12 Personal Interview, MoA offi ces, Nyeri South District – November 2009 13 Personal Interview, MoLD offi ces, Veterinary Department Nyeri South District – December This Research Paper was written by Blessings Chinsinga of the Future Agricultures Consortium. The series editor is David 2009 Hughes. Further information about this series of Working Papers at: www. future-agricultures.org 14 Group discussions, Githunguri Kanyange society – December 2009 The Future Agricultures Consortium aims to encourage critical debate and policy dialogue on the future of agriculture in 15 Personal Interview, Githunguri Kanyange – Africa. The Consortium is a partnership between research-based organisations across Africa and in the UK. Future Agricultures Consortium Secretariat at the University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RE UK T +44 (0) 1273 915670 December 2009 E [email protected] 16 Personal interview, Kiaguthu sublocation – December 2009 Readers are encouraged to quote or reproduce material from Future Agricultures Brie ngs in their own publications. In return, the Future Agricultures 17 Group discussion, Iriani – December 2009 Consortium requests due acknowledgement and a copy of the publication. 18 Personal interview, Kiaguthu Coff ee factory FAC appreciates the support of the – December 2009 UK Department for International Development (DfID)

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