Characteristics of a Horticultural Farmer in Kenya
Horticultural farmers in Kenya typically engage in the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants.
These farmers are often smallholders who rely on small plots of land, usually less than five acres, for their farming activities. They are known for growing crops such as tomatoes, onions, cabbages, and various fruits for both domestic consumption and local markets. The majority of these farmers earn modest incomes from their produce, with many earning below KSh 10,000 monthly.
Most horticultural farmers are older, with an average age of around 60 years, and have limited formal education.
Summary of Government Proposals and Impact on Horticultural Farming
The government’s new proposal, outlined in the KS 1758: 2016 standard, will impose stringent regulations on horticultural farmers.
These include mandatory certification, environmental impact assessments, and costly soil and water tests. Farmers will also be required to keep detailed records of their farming practices and undergo training in pesticide use.
The certification process alone is estimated to cost over KSh 250,000 per farmer, making it prohibitively expensive for most small-scale farmers.
This proposal will make horticultural farming unattractive to Kenyan farmers because the costs associated with compliance far outweigh the average income earned by smallholders. For farmers who earn less than KSh 10,000 a month, the upfront costs of certification, testing, and record-keeping will be unsustainable.
Consequently, the regulations will push out small-scale farmers, leaving the industry to large companies and corporates
How the Proposals Will Harm the Horticultural Sector
The new regulations will likely kill the horticultural sector by marginalizing smallholder farmers who contribute to a significant portion of Kenya’s domestic fruit and vegetable supply.
Since over 90% of Kenya’s fruits and vegetables come from smallholder farmers, the enforcement of these rules could drastically reduce the availability of locally produced food.
Middlemen and traders who rely on these small-scale horticultural farmers for supply will also face penalties if they purchase produce from uncertified farms. This would disrupt the entire supply chain, causing shortages, price hikes, and increased reliance on imports.
Smallholder farmers, who provide most of the nation’s fresh produce, will be forced out of business, and food security could be threatened.
Intentions and Beneficiaries of the New Proposals
The stated intention of the government is to improve food safety and traceability through stringent certification and record-keeping measures.
However, the proposals appear to disproportionately benefit large-scale agribusinesses, international certification bodies, and companies involved in the certification process, such as Bureau Veritas. These businesses stand to gain from the collapse of smallholder farmers, as they would monopolize the fruit and vegetable market.
The ultimate beneficiaries of the new proposals would be these large companies, as they would dominate the horticultural sector once smaller farmers are pushed out due to the high costs of compliance.
Our Advice to Stakeholders in the Horticultural Sector
- Smallholder Farmers: It is crucial to organize into cooperatives to share the costs of certification, soil testing, and other regulatory requirements. By forming groups, horticultural farmers can collectively access financing and training, thereby increasing their chances of compliance.
- Traders and Middlemen: These stakeholders should lobby for less stringent regulations or work with farmer groups to help them comply with the new standards. They should also diversify their sourcing strategies to avoid being penalized for purchasing from uncertified farmers.
- Government and Regulatory Bodies: The government should reconsider the blanket application of these rules and introduce a tiered certification process based on farm size and production levels. Subsidies or grants should be provided to smallholder horticultural farmers to ease the financial burden of compliance.
- Consumers: Educating consumers about the benefits of food safety is important, but consumers must also understand the consequences of losing local produce suppliers. Advocacy for more balanced and inclusive regulations could help maintain access to affordable, locally-produced fruits and vegetables.
In summary, while the intentions behind the new regulations may be to improve food safety, they pose a serious threat to the horticultural sector, particularly for smallholder farmers who cannot afford the costs of compliance.
Without modifications to the proposal, the long-term impact could be detrimental to both food security and the livelihoods of millions of Kenyan horticultural farmers.
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