President Uhuru Kenyatta bid on two champion bulls at the Nairobi International Trade Fair on Wednesday as a gift to National Youth Service officers.
The President made the bid when he witnessed the auctioning of the the champion and reserve champion steers at
the auction rings before touring various stands.
The
champion bull weighing 650 kg was auctioned at Ksh 670,000 while the
reserve champion bull weighing 640 kg was auctioned at Ksh 320,000.
The bulls were given as a gift to the NYS officers undertaking cleaning services at Kibera slum.
Speaking when he officially opened this year’s Nairobi International Trade Fair, Uhuru said his Government is undertaking major reforms in the agricultural sector to boost production and increase profits for farmers.
He said various agricultural institutions are being restructured with the aim of harmonizing operations so as to increase production in the sector.
Uhuru said what is remaining is the formulation of policy and legislation that will ease the work of the productive farmer.
“We have consolidated and repealed various statutes, which were obsolete, and we have established the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority (AFFA) and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Uhuru said.
He added that this financial year the government has set aside 37 billion shillings for the Ministry of Agriculture, to boost food production, and pay for the new programs and policies.
“My government will progressively raise the allocation, year by year. I trust that within the next decade, we will achieve the goal of allocating 10% of our budget to agriculture, as stipulated in the Maputo Declaration,” said the President.
He said the funds set aside will pay for key projects in irrigation; subsidise inputs; develop fisheries; and pay for the establishment of disease free zones for livestock development.
Uhuru cited a fertilizer plant which government intends to put up in partnership with Toyota Tsusho Company as one of the projects.
The President added that the government will continue reforming tea
and sugar sectors with the aim of making agriculture more rewarding for
farmers.
- the-star.co.ke
