Agriculture as the backbone of our economy is a common refrain that continues to shape the livelihoods of millions of small-scale farmers.
For generations, farming, which is largely subsistence, has remained anchored in combined traditions and shared knowledge passed down by our forefathers.
To date, farmers determine the resilience of their farms and the vitality of their soils by observing crop behaviour, consistent nutrient application and weather patterns.
This has for years resulted in an unending loop of scaled production volumes that never match the cost of input and labour, leading to a demoralised population of farmers.
But Agriculture is evolving; not only because of erratic weather patterns occasioned by climate change, but also in practice.
Soil acidity has severely impacted Kenya's agriculture by degrading about 63 per cent of the country's arable land, which is approximately 7.5 million hectares, driving down staple crop yields, and threatening national food security.
For optimal crop yields, farmers must improve their soil composition with vital nutrients for better water retention, natural disease resistance and long-term sustainability.
Too often, farmers apply fertiliser and other chemical nutrients based on habitual patterns, general recommendations or trial-and-error experiments.
Whilst farmers are oblivious of the non-identical nature of soils, it’s the prerogative of both national and county governments to educate them on why soil testing should be a prelude for every planting season.
Soils are unique. Your neighbour’s farm may present different levels of acidity, nutrients and organic matter quotients. Hence, blind fertiliser application without a comprehensive analysis of your soil may result in undesired outcomes.
Food security is a priority of the government and a key pillar of the Bottom-up Economic and Transformation Agenda. Therefore, through sectoral collaborations, we must help farmers rethink their decisions on what they apply in their soils and overturn these repetitive crop failure cycles characterised by declining production of both staple and commercial crops. It is also a gateway to becoming a food-sufficient nation.
The government has facilitated soil testing facilities for farmers through the refurbished and re-equipped soil chemistry laboratory at the Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research Organisation (Kalro) in Kabete.
With its state-of-the-art diagnostic capacity featuring modern analytical equipment, it will help measure soil pH, nutrients and contaminants more accurately across the agricultural counties in Kenya, helping farmers optimise crop yields and reduce fertiliser wastage.
As the ministry mandated to oversee food production and accessibility, we encourage farmers to utilise this facility to ensure maximum efficiency of their farms. Counties must also avail soil testing services to all farmers and provide a co-financing programme that does not burden the farmer.
Soil testing is a foolproof investment that has yielded impressive agricultural results for countries such as Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia.
More than eight million farmers are registered with the Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management Information System, of which five million benefit from the government’s fertiliser subsidy programme.
The essence of this programme is to cushion farmers against the rising cost of production as well as contribute to the food security agenda. The gains from this noble initiative are suppressed when the farmer in the village collects a bag of NPK or DAP fertiliser that he did not need on his farm.
However, the results we seek will not be attained by sole government initiatives. They will require synergised efforts amongst stakeholders, in the private and public sectors, starting from the sourcing to distribution of fertilisers and other inputs.
As we advocate soil testing amongst our farmers, let us ensure that we create synergy between researchers, fertiliser suppliers and farmers to transform guesswork into precision agriculture for higher yields.
We must prioritise farmer sensitisation on the existence of soil testing laboratories and facilities, educate them on what their soils contain, what they lack and what they require to efficiently support their labour and to maximise agricultural productivity.
We must also encourage sustainable soil management practices such as mulching, reduced tillage and crop rotation for improved output.
When a farmer understands the chemical characteristics of his or her soil, required soil adjustments can be made more accurately, improving farm input efficiency and contributing to better yields.
Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development
