- Key highlights of the policy include environmental impact.
- The policy also highlights fertiliser development.
Image: AGATHA NGOTHO
The Ministry of Agriculture has launched a new policy to address declining soil fertility.
The Soil Management Policy 2023 is a response to the lack of a comprehensive framework focusing on soil restoration and maintenance, Agriculture PS Kipronoh Ronoh said.
The document was launch during the African Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit at KICC in Nairobi.
Key highlights of the policy include environmental impact, which recognises the effects of agricultural soil management on the environment, particularly concerning emerging issues like climate change.
Another area of focus is research and technology, which emphasises the role of research in technology development, dissemination and utilisation in soil management.
The policy also highlights fertiliser development. It seeks to address the status and challenges of fertiliser development and investments in Kenya, along with other cross-cutting issues.
“It also looks at policy development process, acknowledging the long-standing need for a policy framework to manage the country's soil resources, with previous initiatives showing limited success,” Ronoh said.
This is in addition to stakeholder involvement, highlighting the collaborative efforts of stakeholders in the agricultural sector, especially institutions directly involved in natural resource management, in the development of the policy.
Other key areas include public awareness, which stresses the importance of public recognition and appreciation of the vital connection between soil health and food, water, climate, biodiversity and life.
The comprehensive policy framework underscores the critical importance of soil health in sustainable agriculture and aims to address challenges while fostering development and sustainability in Kenya's agricultural sector.
In 2001, the Soil Fertility Initiative task force was formed with technical and financial assistance from the Regional Land Management Unit (RELMA/Sida).
The major outcome of the initiative was the National Soil Fertility Draft Policy Paper, 2006.
An inter-ministerial task force was formed to formulate the Agricultural Soil Management Policy with assistance from the German Technical Cooperation (GiZ).
Ronoh said the policy document is a product of a long development process with the concerted efforts of stakeholders in the agricultural sector , particularly institutions directly dealing with natural resource management.
Richard Kanui, Agriculture Engineering Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, noted the need for the public to recognise and appreciate the important connection that soil has with food, water, climate, biodiversity and life.
He said soil constitutes the foundation of agricultural development and ecological sustainability and the basis for agricultural production.
“Further, soil is the largest store of terrestrial carbon and its preservation may contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation,” Kanui said.
He said the policy will seek to stimulate and guide the agricultural sector development through targeted technical support, intensified investment in the sector, improved research and technology, extension services and capacity building for both staff and farmer organisations to ensure development and sustainability of agricultural soils.