Abstract

Agricultural production is the main livelihood to a majority of the population and a lead contributor to economy in most sub-Saharan countries. In Kenya, agriculture accounts for 65% of the national exports and 70% of informal employment in rural Kenya. The study sought to establish key crops and livestock keeping in Kenya, constraints and opportunities along the value chain are critiqued and the role of institutions is discussed. In this report, a review of literature, desktop survey, was conducted. The study established that key crops grown in Kenya are maize, wheat, beans, tea, coffee and horticulture. While the main livestock kept in Kenya are cattle, sheep, goats, chicken and camels. The distribution of crops and livestock in Kenya is influenced by geography (agro-ecological zones) distance to market, and cultural diversity of the Kenyan people. In Kenya, the agricultural value chain is influenced by financial services, value chain suppliers and supporting services. However, the type of interaction in the value chain depends on the type of value chain at play. Its established that multi-national companies and government policy shape the agricultural value chain in Kenya. Agriculture and livestock keeping in Kenya is constraint by climate variability, inadequate agricultural extension and technology adoption, deterioration of land resource, poor infrastructure, limited farm-level resources and weak institutions to implement policies. The agriculture and livestock sectors can however look to improved skills in climate forecasting, devolution of the agriculture sector to county government and the growth of information communication technology in ameliorating these constraints. The Kenyan government has in the recent past re-organized the institutional framework through a variety of legislations. Financing of these institutions and implementation of polices should offer a spring board for up-scaled agricultural productivity and improved food security.

Keywords

agriculture and food security; Kenya

Published in

AgriFoSe2030 Report
2018, number: 7
eISBN: 978-91-576-9568-0
Publisher: SLU Global, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/103571