Conference on Expanding Kenya's Agricultural Competitiveness, Market Access and Food Security: Research Findings and Policy Options

Tegemeo conference 2010

Date : 27th and 28th October 2010

Venue : Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Leadership Centre, Karen, Nairobi

The agricultural sector in Kenya will continue to play a significant role in the country's overall economic growth and development as is envisaged in the Vision 2030. With the integration of the Agricultural Sector Development Strategy (ASDS) and the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), Kenya is well positioned to make tremendous gains in transforming its agricultural sector. Nonetheless, there are challenges that must be overcome if this momentum is to be sustained. In order to transform the agricultural sector into a modern, commercially-oriented sector, issues of poverty, competitiveness and market access come to the forefront especially with the current trends in regional and global integration. The availability and access to food particularly for the urban poor is also becoming a key challenge.

These issues call for continued attention by policy makers, development agencies and all stakeholders in general. Tegemeo Institute of Egerton University has been conducting research on these issues and organized a conference to disseminate its research findings and provide a forum for feedback and discussion of alternative policy options. These findings are based on household and market survey data as well as urban consumption/expenditure survey collected by the Institute. Our results show that cereal production in Kenya is still challenged by low competitiveness compared with its trading partners. In addition, market participation among smallholder households, particularly the poor is low. On a more positive note and one that supports the ASDS's thrust towards commercialization, our results indicate that households exiting poverty register greater market participation and a higher marketable surplus. On consumption, the results point at increasing food insecurity among the poor and the need for reliability and efficiency in markets and other components of the urban food system in order to deliver affordable and nutritious food. They also support the use of more cost effective strategies in targeting vulnerable consumers.

The Conference was officially opened by Dr. Romano M. Kiome Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture Kenya.

DAY 1

1. OverView of the Conference
   Dr. Mary K. Mathenge
   Director Tegemeo Institute
2. Kenya's Maize Value Chain: Toward Strategic Interventions to Address National Policy Challenges
3. Dr. Lilian Kirimi
   Tegemeo Institute
4. View/download presentation
5. View/download paper
6. Trade and Agriculture Competitiveness for Growth , Food Security and Poverty Reduction: A Case of Wheat and Rice Production
   Raphael Gitau
   Tegemeo Institute
7. View/download presentation
8. View/download paper
9. Dairying in Kenya: An Assessment of Competitiveness and Profitability
   Stella Wambugu
   Tegemeo Institute
10. View/download presentation
11. Has Kenyan Farmers' Access to Markets and Services Improved: Panel Survey Evidence, 1997 – 2007
    Prof. T.S. Jayne
    Michigan State University
12. View/download presentation
13. Market Participation among Poor Rural Households in Kenya
    John Olwande
    Tegemeo Institute
14. View/download presentation
15. View/download paper
16. Consumption and Expenditures on Key Food Commodities and its Implications on Households'Food Security: the case of Nairobi
    Dr. Mercy W. Kamau
    Tegemeo Institute
17. View/download paper1
18. View/download paper2
19. Pathways into and out of Poverty: A Study of Rural Household Wealth Dynamics in Kenya
    Milu Muyanga
    Tegemeo Institute
20. View/download presentation
21. Comparing Panel Data with Life Histories on Poverty Existing Households in Rural Kenya
22. View/download presentation
    Raphael Gitau
    Tegemeo Institute

 DAY 2

1. Summary of DAY 1 Deliberations
   Dr. Mary K. Mathenge
   Director Tegemeo Institute
2. View/download Presentation
3. Developing Staple Food Markets to Reduce Hunger and Poverty
   Prof T.S. Jayne
   Michigan State University
4. Assisting Kenyan Smallholder Farmers access Commercial Markets
   Isaac Tallam
   Private Sector grain trade advisor ,USAID COMPETE
5. Post-harvest Challenges to Food Security in Kenya
   Dr. Johnson Irungu Waithaka
   Director Land and Crops
   Ministry of Agriculture Kenya
6. View/download presentation
7. View/download paper
8. Curbing Food Insecurity in Kenya
   Tutui Nanok
   Agricultural Specialist/Advisor ,Office of the Prime Minister Kenya