Breakfast Meeting on the Competitiveness of Key Food Staples in Kenya: Role of Production Costs and Pricing
- Tuesday, Oct 11 2016
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Date: 10th October 2016
Venue: PanAfric Hotel
Kenya remains largely a net importer of key food staples namely maize, wheat and rice. On average, the country imports over 50% percent of its demand for rice and wheat and 7-10 percent of maize. This is despite favorable conditions for production thus implying an unexploited potential and/or lack of sufficient policy support for increased production.
In Kenya, majority of producers of maize and rice are small scale farmers who also depend on these staples for their livelihoods. In order to ensure food security and improve household incomes, it is important to continuously assess and monitor the profitability and competitiveness of these key staples in the country. This will enable identification of key challenges and opportunities for increased production and areas of policy intervention.
Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, Egerton University conducted an assessment of the costs of production for maize and rice for the 2015/16 cropping year and the current status of food situation in the country. The findings of this assessment were shared and discussed in a stakeholders’ breakfast forum to elicit feedback and way forward on feasible options that could improve on the profitability and competitiveness in production. Such interventions are necessary for ensuring lower food prices for consumers.
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Tegemeo participated at the inaugrual East Africa Evidence to Action (ICED) Conference held on 24th-25th May 2017.
Various speakers and panelists provided in-depth insight as well as practical tools that will enhance evidence based and data informed Policy and Practice in Africa.
Many topics were covered during this inaugural conference and in line with Tegemeo's mandate of disseminating its research findings to various stakeholders, we participated in various sessions. The Institute Director Dr. Mary Mathenge led a panel of other experts from the Institute comprising of:
- Dr. Mercy Kamau, MLE Director, Tegemeo Institute
- Dr. Lilian Kirimi, Research Director, Tegemeo Institute
- Dr. Timothy Njagi, M&E Specialist, Tegemeo Institute
- Dr. Miltone Ayieko, Outreach, Communication & Partnerships Coordinator, Tegemeo Institute
The panel of experts discussed keys to translating Evidence to Policy and Practice: Lessons and Experiences from Agricultural Policy Research
Besides the Tegemeo team moderating in various sessions and exhibiting part of its research products, Dr. Timothy Njagi & Dr. Mary Mathenge presented at a break out session themed Adoption of Improved Technology. Their presentation was on lessons drawn from a study on Adoption of Technology Bundles among Smallholder Maize Farmers in Kenya Evaluating Socioeconomic Impacts of Mid-altitude Maize Hybrid Varieties in Kenya. Dr. Mercy Kamau and Dr. Fred Bagamba presented at yet another break out session themed: Adoption of Improved Technology. Their presentation was onImproving food security through the introduction of new seed varieties: How effective are demonstration plots and field days in influencing farmers adoption behavior towards new maize and bean varieties?
The conference was held at Park Inn Radisson Blu, Nairobi.
Visit our twitter and flickr pages to follow on part of the proceedings
Date: 16th March, 2017
Venue: Ololulung’a Sub County Headquarters, Narok County
Pastoralism is an extensive form of livestock production that constitutes the main production system found in rangelands, providing livelihoods to an estimated of 500 million people globally. Similar to other parts of the world, the country’s public policy has not always pursued policies that are sustain pastoralism. This has been due to misconceptions about pastoralism, competition from other land uses, demographic changes and urbanisation. As such, pastoral communities in Kenya, similar to other parts of the world, are now facing immense pressure on their land.
Against this backdrop, Tegemeo Institute conducted a study that tracked how land tenure in pastoralist communities had changed. In addition, we were able to compare this evolution with what is happening to pastoral communities in other parts of the world with a view of learning from these experience and drawing lessons that will help pastoral communities sustain their productive systems. We have drawn lessons through interaction with experts from Sub Saharan Africa and Latin America. The findings from this work are now ready to be disseminated as we continue to engage in the debate for sustaining pastoralism. It is in the light of this that the Institute is organizing a workshop where key findings from this study will be presented and discussed. The workshop will brought together government bureaucrats, pastoral communities and other stakeholders working with pastoral communities.
Workshop Proceedings
Tegemeo Institute hosted a Press Conference on Thursday 25th May 2017 discussing the food situation and rising commodity prices in the country. The focus was mainly given to maize, sugar and milk and was informed by a recent rapid assessment survey conducted by the Institute.
The Institute's Outreach Communication and Partnerships Coordinator Dr. Miltone Ayieko and other Senior Researchers gave emerging evidence and recommendations from the study that are key to informing and guiding policy related to the agricultural sector.
Journalists from key media houses covered the event.
Downloads from the event
See the press release
See coverage of the event
See video coverage of the event
Tegemeo Institute participated in the inaugural Nation Media Group (NMG) Leadership Forum as part of the panelists discussing matters related to development. The forum was launched as a platform bringing together professionals, stakeholders, leaders and Kenyans to discuss issues of national importance.
Tegemeo Institute’s Director, Dr. Mary Mathenge represented the Institute, at the forum which discussed issues of food security and water access to Kenyans. Dr. Mathenge noted that there is need for a serious review of the nation’s agricultural policies and their implementation, drawing from even, the nation’s budgetary allocation to the agriculture sector of 3%. The agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett concurred that the Ag Sector has been underfunded for a long time noting that the private sector can assist to bridge this gap. On matters of food security, the Institute had in late 2016, given indication of an impending drought come year 2017 following a study conducted on the competitiveness of key food staples in Kenya: role of production costs and pricing. Issues of food availability, accessibility, and affordability were identified as key drivers to a food secure nation and at this fora, it was noted that the government’s response to emerging issues in the Ag sector though right often come in late hence the effects of drought and high food prices being experienced.
The NMG Leadership Forum platform seeks to encourage dialogue on key issues affecting the country such as economy, agriculture, health, governance and financial markets.
Invitation to afREA Conference in Uganda - 27th - 31st March 2017
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