The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) has lauded the government’s effort in combating the spread of coronavirus by ensuring that the Agriculture sector is vibrant despite the pandemic.
KEPSA, through its chairman Dr. Bimal Kantaria, in charge of Agriculture, has requested the government to seek ways in which the ongoing rains will not go to waste but help in addressing food security in the country.
Speaking during the agriculture journalist forum, Bimal further urged companies to help mitigate the effects of job losses and layoffs by offering incentives and consumables to the affected staff.
He further noted the efforts by the Ministry of Agriculture in addressing the locust menace in the country as a food security threat in this region.
In the meantime, farmers with last year’s maize have been urged to consider selling the produce to millers.
While peaking to one of the local stations, Agriculture Principal Secretary Professor Hamadi Boga said imports are set to be in the market shelves by June.
Strategic Food Reserve Chair Noah Wekesa has urged farmers to take advantage of the current maize prices as they are favorable enough.
As a measure to protect local farmers, the imported maize will attract a 14 percent import duty.