Organic Agriculture Policy - Case Study Example

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE POLICY IN KENYA By Name Course Instructor Institution Location Date Introduction Kenya is one of the world’s developing countries which have adopted several environmental friendly policies in the agricultural sector. Talking of environmental friendly policies, these are policies that go hand in hand with environmental governance which concerns itself with the management of the existing natural resources (Republic of Kenya 2004). In this easy I will focus on one of the policies which is the Organic Agriculture Policy. Importance of the Policy Organic Agriculture policy statement focuses on: 1. Promoting diversification into non conventional agricultural practices with value addition to avoid vulnerability. 2. Increasing productivity in agriculture especially for small-scale farmers. 3. Encouraging irrigation to reduce the increased reliance on rain driven agriculture. 4. Promoting food security and reduction of hunger levels in line with realizing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). 5. Ensuring environmental sustainability. The multi functionality nature of agriculture puts it at a better position to tackle the issue of food insecurity which is common in many developing countries with Kenya being no exception. Organic Agriculture policy is a very important policy especially to a developing country like Kenya since organic agriculture presents a wide range of environmental, social, cultural as well as economic gains. Being one of the major modern methods of agriculture, research evidence reveals that yields from organic agricultural systems have an appreciating and at the same time a stable trend as compared to systems that rely on low synthetic amount inputs. According to Mathews (2009), embracing organic farming as advocated for in the policy will eventually lead to increased access to food. For a developing country constantly faced with food insecurity, this undertaking will not only lead to food security as a result of increased food quantity supply but will also have financial benefits to farmers through selling of surplus food in the local markets. Availability of fresh organic produce will go a long way in ensuring that nutrition security is also addressed. Adopting the organic agricultural policy in place of the previous conventional systems will enable various groups in communities that were earlier left out of agricultural production as result of financial and cultural constraints to be more involved (Akinyemi 2007). As opposed to the conventional intensive systems of agriculture, organic farming as stipulated in the policy aims at deliberately making good use of the available local natural resources which is in line with various policies on environmental governance. Aims and Objectives The aim of this policy is basically combating the issue of food insecurity in the country which for a long time has gone unresolved despite Kenya’s economy relying 60% on the agricultural sector. To achieve food security the policy aims at creating integrated agricultural systems which are humane, environmental conscious and still economically viable. These systems on the other hand rely greatly on locally available renewable resources or else on-farm renewable resources and management of biological and ecological resources. The policy also aims at optimizing quality in all regards of agriculture as well as the environment through respecting the natural ability of the landscape, animals and plants. Apart from producing food in sufficient quantities in order to achieve food security, the policy also lays strong emphasis on production of food high in nutritional quality. Organic Agriculture policy also focuses on interacting in constructive and life developing means with natural systems and cycles. The policy aims at encouraging and facilitating the common biological cycles in the farming system such as microorganisms as well as other plants and animals. Minimizing all kinds of pollution arising from agricultural practices is yet another objective of the policy. Lastly the policy is concerned on promoting proper and healthy use of water, water resources, and aquatic life, preserve genetic diversity and maintain plant and wildlife habitats (Otieno, Karanja & Mukhwana 2006). Implications The policy on organic agriculture has far reaching implications which are beyond the policy areas. Embracing organic farming has been seen to improve various sectors which include education, HIV/AIDS, physical capital, financial capital as well as external factors. One might wonder how organic farming can help promote education but it is very simple to illustrate how. The ability of organic agriculture to amply increase the quantity of food generated in every household means that a family can sell the excess and make an additional income which can be better used for facilitating school fees payment hence developing education. Kenya is one of the many sub Saharan countries faced by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Studies have revealed that most deaths from this ailment are among the undernourished infected people because their bodies are prone to development of full symptoms (Republic of Kenya 2004). However as stated earlier in the aims and objectives part, one of the aims of the policy is to provide nutritional security hence an advantage to the infected people as a result of embracing organic farming. Increased nutritional from organic high quality products means that the health of those infected with HIV/AIDS will be largely improved hence lowering death rates. Physical capital which is the infrastructure is another sector which is affected by the policy on organic farming. Talking of infrastructure, communications and transport are the key areas which consequently improve due to the need of market access. In light of this, many partnerships are formed to ensure that appropriate communications and transport networks are upgraded in order to facilitate the organic agriculture sector. As a matter of fact, the partnerships created are mostly between nations and these relationships go a long way in fostering more trade ventures between the country and the new partners hence promoting economic growth to Kenya in particular. In its efforts to establish food security in the country, the policy also helps curb one of the major contributors of food insecurity which is poverty, talk of killing two birds with one stone. Positive impacts of organic farming on poverty eradication as a result of farmers not anymore being required to purchase inputs as the trend was earlier which also saw farmers taking high-interest loans in order to purchase synthetic agricultural inputs has resulted to increased profit margins making farmers financially well off. Organic practices affect positively on how the land responds and moves on from stresses like erosion and flooding. Technologies in water conservation as well as heightened water holding ability of the soil confirms that systems used in organic farming are more resilient to stresses and strains of droughts. Adopting organic farming means that many communities in Kenya will abandon their traditional farming practices. This will have a lot of impact on the cultures of these communities hence the new policy will have implications on different cultural practices. Concerns have been raised on the amount of funds that have are allocated to this policy under the agricultural docket insisting that some other sectors of the national economy have been underfunded and a lot of time accorded to this policy therefore stagnating other major policies. Key Players The development, implementation and evaluation of the policy is the mandate of the National Government through the Ministry of Agriculture. In the decentralized context of the policy, the National Government in collaboration with County Governments has rolled out a major drive to ensure that the public are well sensitized and the policy is developed further and consequently fully implemented. Financing of the policy which is another critical aspect in ensuring its development and implementation and the government has taken various measures in ensuring this. Micro Finance institutions have been asked by the National Government to extend special lending facilities to organic producers. Decentralized government kitties on the other hand are harnessed to chip in some funding as in the case of Constituency Development Fund (CDF). The County Governments on the other hand through the County Agricultural Ministry sets aside some funds in its budget to help finance the organic agriculture policy. Therefore the implementation and development of the policy is the responsibility of the National Government via the concerned Ministry of Agriculture. In matters evaluation, a committee formed by the members of the National Assembly oversees the evaluation and ensures all the right procedures are followed and monitoring the use of resources allocated to the policy managers. The committee is known as Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Agriculture (Republic of Kenya 2004). Policy Awareness The public are not adequately informed on the policy and this forms one of the major hindrances to the success of the policy. The government needs to offer the right in formation as well as awareness to the general public so that they comprehend the importance of this policy in attaining food stability and consequently bettering their lives. Sensitization should mainly concentrate on the grassroots level since these are the areas which are hit hard when it comes to lack of food. Efficiency of the Policy The policy has taken off yet taking into consideration the recent famine calamity in the northern parts of the country. The reason for this can be attributed to government’s lack of support policies that would help pivot the organic agriculture before it takes off. As noted earlier, communication or policy awareness has not been conducted in the most appropriate manner. This should be followed with adequate financing plan. The most efficient way to tell whether the policy is working is of course addressing food insecurity problem. If Kenya is food secure with no instances of famine as a result of relying on rain driven farming then it will be obvious that the country has embraced organic farming and hence the policy will be in full flight. References Pretty J, Morison, J, I, L, & Hine R E, 2003, Reducing food poverty by increasing agricultural sustainability in developing countries Agric Ecosys Environ, 95(1), 217-234. Republic of Kenya, 2004, Strategy for Revitalizing Agriculture, 2004-2014, Nairobi, Government Printer. Akinyemi, O, M, 2007, Agricultural production: organic and conventional systems, Enfield, NH, Science Publishers. Mathews, G, 2009, Organic vs. Conventional Farming, International Pest Control, 51, 204. Otieno, C, Karanja, N, & Mukhwana, E, 2006, Available technologies to replenish soil fertility in East Africa, Nutrient Cycling in Agro ecosystem,76, 2-3. Read More

The policy aims at encouraging and facilitating the common biological cycles in the farming system such as microorganisms as well as other plants and animals. Minimizing all kinds of pollution arising from agricultural practices is yet another objective of the policy. Lastly the policy is concerned on promoting proper and healthy use of water, water resources, and aquatic life, preserve genetic diversity and maintain plant and wildlife habitats (Otieno, Karanja & Mukhwana 2006). Implications The policy on organic agriculture has far reaching implications which are beyond the policy areas.

Embracing organic farming has been seen to improve various sectors which include education, HIV/AIDS, physical capital, financial capital as well as external factors. One might wonder how organic farming can help promote education but it is very simple to illustrate how. The ability of organic agriculture to amply increase the quantity of food generated in every household means that a family can sell the excess and make an additional income which can be better used for facilitating school fees payment hence developing education.

Kenya is one of the many sub Saharan countries faced by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Studies have revealed that most deaths from this ailment are among the undernourished infected people because their bodies are prone to development of full symptoms (Republic of Kenya 2004). However as stated earlier in the aims and objectives part, one of the aims of the policy is to provide nutritional security hence an advantage to the infected people as a result of embracing organic farming. Increased nutritional from organic high quality products means that the health of those infected with HIV/AIDS will be largely improved hence lowering death rates.

Physical capital which is the infrastructure is another sector which is affected by the policy on organic farming. Talking of infrastructure, communications and transport are the key areas which consequently improve due to the need of market access. In light of this, many partnerships are formed to ensure that appropriate communications and transport networks are upgraded in order to facilitate the organic agriculture sector. As a matter of fact, the partnerships created are mostly between nations and these relationships go a long way in fostering more trade ventures between the country and the new partners hence promoting economic growth to Kenya in particular.

In its efforts to establish food security in the country, the policy also helps curb one of the major contributors of food insecurity which is poverty, talk of killing two birds with one stone. Positive impacts of organic farming on poverty eradication as a result of farmers not anymore being required to purchase inputs as the trend was earlier which also saw farmers taking high-interest loans in order to purchase synthetic agricultural inputs has resulted to increased profit margins making farmers financially well off.

Organic practices affect positively on how the land responds and moves on from stresses like erosion and flooding. Technologies in water conservation as well as heightened water holding ability of the soil confirms that systems used in organic farming are more resilient to stresses and strains of droughts. Adopting organic farming means that many communities in Kenya will abandon their traditional farming practices. This will have a lot of impact on the cultures of these communities hence the new policy will have implications on different cultural practices.

Concerns have been raised on the amount of funds that have are allocated to this policy under the agricultural docket insisting that some other sectors of the national economy have been underfunded and a lot of time accorded to this policy therefore stagnating other major policies. Key Players The development, implementation and evaluation of the policy is the mandate of the National Government through the Ministry of Agriculture.

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