A multi-stakeholder platform has called for more public investments that support small-scale farming systems to enhance the food security of the country.
The Regional Platform (RP) 2, a multi-stakeholder platform of the International Land Coalition Africa (ILC) hosted by the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF), on Friday said a focus on small-scale farmers will enhance food production in the country and eradicate poverty.
ILC Acting Regional Coordinator Eva Maria said many small-scale farmers experience massive challenges that need the attention of all stakeholders.
“Agriculture is the backbone of many economies of African countries. At the centre of the agriculture are small-scale farmers who are key players in advancing food security because they are key contributors,” Maria said.
“But they face numerous challenges including insecure land tenure brought about by several factors including large-scale investment, commercial agriculture, and energy transition projects such as carbon markets. This places a strain on their land tenure security.”
Maria noted that addressing insecure land tenure will give farmers the motivation they need to invest their finances, energy and tools required to make their land products.
“It is difficult for someone to put any form of investment to a resource where they do not have security of tenure,” she said.
Maria made the remarks during a breakfast meeting, focusing on Strong Small-Scale Farming Systems, held in Nairobi on Friday.
EAFF CEO Stephen Muchiri on his part regretted that the country has registered a drop in production, a result he attributed to several factors like soil acidity and failure to address challenges facing land.
He said many small farmers are getting losses due to the acidity of the soil.
“It is sad that only 18 per cent of land in Kenya is arable and 62 per cent of this is acidic. This is a big red flag,” he said
“If we want to transform our agriculture, we must think about the issue of land productivity, land ownership and land as a capital to invest in agriculture.”
Muchiri added that the agricultural land is now under threat and if no action is taken to protect it, the same way wide life is protected, discussion on sustainable development goals will be an exercise in futility.
“If you don’t address issues surrounding land it will be difficult to talk about investments and reducing soil acidity,” he said.
Shadrack Omondi, country director of Landesa, a nonprofit organization that works with governments and local organizations to obtain legal land rights for poor families, said food security is not achievable if land issues are not streamlined.
He at the same time noted that land is key to building climate-resilient communities since climate intervention activities are based on land.
“We need land for food security. When we address land issues, we are addressing Food security,” he said.
“A proper land governance framework builds resilience to climate change. The land also helps to build the security of communities since when communities have clear access and ownership of land they feel safe and can invest on land.”
Landesa is a key partner of ILC Africa.
The Regional Platform (RP) has 8 ILC members namely; ROPPA, CPF, NO-VOX COTE D’IVOIRE, EAFF, PWC, PROPAC, CEPA and MYO.
The platform contributes to addressing the global challenges relating to climate, inequality, food systems, and democracy with a main focus on the food system and gender equality within the context of the smallholder farmer
