How is Agriculture in Kenya, and challenges?

Agriculture In Kenya

Modern agriculture
Modern agriculture

Agriculture is the science and art of cultivation of crops and rearing livestock. As in science, it involves experimentation and application of scientific knowledge in such areas as:

  1. Soil analysis
  2. Control of pests and diseases
  3. Farm machinery and structures
  4. Crops and livestock breeding

As an art, it involves the use of learned skills in:

  1. Tilling the land
  2. Construction
  3. Marketing
  4. Harvesting of crops
  5. Measurements
  6. Feeding and handling of livestock

How Is Agriculture In Kenya

The agricultural sector in Kenya is the backbone of the country. Kenya is one of the Countries wherein, agricultural practice prevails. The Country’s major exports from agriculture are; coffee, tea, vegetables, and flowers. Kenya is the number one leading country in the export of tea.

Kenyans, practice field crops cultivation like;

  • Maize
  • Beans
  • Cotton
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Potatoes

Livestock Farming

Livestock Farming is the branch that deals with the rearing of livestock for various products.

You further divide them into:

  • Pastoralism: This is the rearing of animals like; cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, pigs, and camels.
  • Fish farming (aquaculture): This is the rearing of fish and other aquatic organisms.
  • Poultry Keeping: This is the rearing of domestic birds like; chicken.
  • Bee Keeping: The rearing of bees in beehives.

Policies

In recent years, the government did start to implement the usage of farm inputs such as fertilizers. However, these subsidies have made local farmers compete in the market. In addition to these policies, the government is working on road infrastructure. The farmers tend to get a broader customer pool. Above all, the government is working on implementing education.

Marketing

Marketing is the service that involves moving the product from the producer to the consumer. Moreover, commerce in Kenya is likely to be by tax and government fees. However, online sales have led to the growth of many businesses. However, farmers are selling their products online. Nevertheless, the farmers after harvesting the yields, pack them and transport them to the market. In addition, some farmers in some cases including dealers sell the yields directly.

On the contrary, transport, on the other hand, is important in making the product available to where it is needed.

Therefore, effective transport is indeed crucial to efficient marketing.

Challenges

However, farmers deal with many problems like:

  • Coping with the climate change
  • Satisfy the market with the change in tastes and expectations
  • Use of outdated technology
  • High competition
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