President William Ruto has announced a series of measures aimed at boosting the country’s agricultural sector and expanding economic opportunities for the youth.
Speaking at the 8th Annual Dairy Farmers Field Day in Meru, Ruto emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and increasing productivity.
“We will eliminate brokers from our agricultural value chain using our county aggregation and industrial parks,” Ruto said.
Among the initiatives outlined by the president was the removal of taxes on livestock feeds to make dairy farming more profitable. The government will also support cooperatives in producing livestock feed locally to keep prices down.
In addition, a new plant will be established at a cost of Ksh400 million to provide semen to dairy farmers at Ksh1,500, down from the current price of Ksh8,000. This is expected to double the country’s milk production and elevate Kenya into an exporter of the product.
Ruto also spoke about the government’s plans to invest in agro-processing and value addition. He stressed the importance of relying on internal resources rather than foreign debt, saying that dependence on foreign borrowing is a “slippery affair” that can lead the country into trouble.
“Being dependent on foreign borrowing is a slippery affair that can lead us into trouble,” he stated.
The president’s remarks were well-received by the more than 12,000 dairy farmers in attendance at the event. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua urged leaders to work together to confront the challenges facing the people.
The government’s focus on agriculture is part of a broader strategy to create wealth and expand job opportunities for Kenyans, particularly the youth. With these new measures in place, the hope is that the agricultural sector will become a major driver of economic growth and development in the country.
Subscribe to our newsletter to get interesting news stories everyday
