Dr. David Amudavi, Executive Director of Biovision Africa Trust attended the inception meeting for the development of Kenya’s 2nd National Agriculture Investment Plan (NAIP II 2024-2029) for Implementation of the Agriculture Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS 2019-2029) at Mercure Hotel in Nairobi on Wednesday 22 May 2024. The NAIP II will consider several sector priorities including the Fourth Medium Term Plan of Vision 2030, The Bottom-UP Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) economic and transformation model, The UN Food Systems Transformation aspirations, the African Common Position and Kenya’s citizens’ aspirations. It will also consider the lessons learnt and challenges faced during implementation of the first NAIP (2019-2024). The NAIP I will come to an end by 31 December 2024.
The development of an effective NAIP II will involve a range of multistakeholder consultations and expert studies around varied themes to assess the delivery and performance of NAIP I; coordination, inclusivity, financing, and actual attainment of the ASTGS objectives. The process will require collaboration between the Ministry and various Development Partners among other stakeholders willing to support the process.
Making remarks at the event, Dr. Amudavi congratulated the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development for organizing the event on the side of another important three-day Regional Economic Community (RECs) led regional consultation on post-Malabo Agenda for Eastern Africa region bringing together participants from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East Africa Community (EAC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) running from May 21-23, in Nairobi, Kenya. He remarked that Kenya was the only country on track on commitment 3, Ending Hunger by 2025 in the third Biennial Review Process (2015-2021). This illustrated the commitment by the Kenyan Government to ensure everyone has food on the table. Biovision Africa Trust, hosting the Continental Secretariat for the AU Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative has been providing technical expertise to the CAADP Biennial Review Process since the 3rd Biennial Review.
Dr. Amudavi commended the Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development for aligning its policies and programmes for Agriculture Sector Transformation and Growth along the continental (CAADP) and global aspirations. He called upon the development partners to support the Government in ensuring policies are implemented with clear investment plans and programmes. He underscored the collaboration between Biovision Africa Trust and the Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development in providing extension support services in organic and ecological organic agriculture in over 12 counties.
The Ministry presented roadmap for the development of NAIP 2, progress of the ten-year Agricultural Master Plan (AMP 2024-2034) and status of preparations for Madaraka (Independence) Day celebrations with theme on food security. The Principal Secretary (PS) for State Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development, Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh Paul invited all key stakeholders who attended the inception meeting to support the Government’s efforts in ensuring Kenya is food secure. He appealed to the partners to support the three agendas – NAIP2 Development, the ten-year Agricultural Master Plan (2024-2034) and the Madaraka celebrations. The PS concurred with Dr. Amudavi’s remarks on performance of Kenya in the 3rd Biennial Review process and promised to have his ministry focus and create change in the agriculture sector.
Dr. Paul Kipronoh Ronoh, the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Agriculture, making his remarks at the meeting. Dr. Amudavi (Left) taking notes.
Prepared by Dr David Amudavi