Mutahi Kagwe calls for increased funding to sustain key agricultural programmes
Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi questioned the distribution of maize driers, urging the ministry to prioritise high maize-producing regions.
The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe has defended his ministry against proposed budget cuts, arguing that agriculture remains the backbone of Kenya's economy.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Livestock chaired by Tigania West MP John Mutunga, Kagwe explained the need for increased funding to sustain key agricultural programmes.
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Accompanied by Principal Secretaries Paul Rono (Agriculture) and Jonathan Mueke (Livestock Development), CS Kagwe on Friday detailed the financial shortfall facing the ministry.
He revealed that while the State Department of Agriculture requires Sh27.488 billion for recurrent expenditure, only Sh21.380 billion has been allocated.
Similarly, the department's development expenditure needs stand at Sh50.737 billion, yet only Sh31.690 billion has been provided.
The State Department of Livestock faces similar challenges, with a recurrent allocation of Sh4.623 billion against a required Sh6.784 billion, and a development allocation of Sh6.515 billion despite needing Sh 22.754 billion.
PS Rono told the committee that the budget cuts would significantly affect key programmes, including the fertiliser subsidy initiative.
Unutilised allocations
However, MPs questioned the ministry's ability to justify additional funding when it had failed to fully utilise previous allocations.
Mutunga challenged the ministry to explain why it had left Sh3 billion in development funds unused while also failing to transfer Sh2 billion meant for state corporations.
"When the ministry is not able to transfer money to state corporations to the tune of Sh2 billion for recurrent expenditure, what happens to these corporations? Do they stay without functioning?" Mutunga asked.
Rono defended the ministry's performance, stating that over 80 per cent of their targets had been implemented despite challenges with funding releases from the exchequer.
MPs also raised concerns about the effectiveness of agricultural policies.
Soy MP David Kiplagat pressed PS Rono on why the Agricultural Finance Authority (AFA) remained non-operational despite having a full board and a CEO.
The PS assured the committee that mechanisms were being put in place to ensure its functionality.
Maize driers
Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi questioned the distribution of maize driers, urging the ministry to prioritise high maize-producing regions.
Lawmakers criticised the timing of the distributions, arguing that the driers often arrive too late in the season to be effective.
The proposed merger of the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) and the Commodities Fund also sparked debate, with MPs warning that placing these institutions under the National Treasury could weaken support for farmers.
Meanwhile, PS Mueke warned that several projects were at risk of stalling due to a lack of funding.
He cited the leather sector as a critical area for investment but lamented that it had received no allocation in the current budget proposal.
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