Anyone practising as an agriculturalist without a license will be liable and faces a fine of not less than Ksh1 million, or 3 year jail term or both.
John Mutunga-MP Titania West Constituency
Kenyans in the agricultural sector will soon need to be licensed to practice if parliament adopts the proposal before it. The Agricultural Professionals Registration and Licensing bill, 2024 wants the training, registration and licensing of agricultural professionals regulated by law.
This implies that for one to engage or be engaged in any agricultural activity, one must comply with the proposed guidelines which include being licensed and meeting the set qualifications proposed in the law, paying an annual membership fee among other provisions.
A regulatory board is proposed that will be tasked with the registration and issuance of certificates to qualified agricultural professionals, organisations and institutions. It requires that one must have studied and been awarded a certificate, diploma or degree in various agricultural specialities that is approved by the envisaged board.
The specialities include crop production, horticulture, plant breeding, seed technology, agronomy,botany,crop science, food science, agricultural economics, agribusiness,floriculture,biotechnology,soil and water engineering, and agro forestry.
CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE
Kenya is among 18 countries that the World Bank is assisting to implement climate smart agriculture investment plans. The plans prioritise the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices and other features. These plans seek to promote resilience, food nutrition security while curbing green house gas emissions.
Meanwhile a German based organisation, Heinrich Boll Stiftung is asking African governments to reject synthetic fertilisers. In a policy brief, the organisation is asking the African Union to prioritise soil health for sustainable agriculture. The African Union is meeting in Nairobi for the Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit.
We welcome the fact that the African Union recognises the importance of intact soils with its Action Plan on Fertilisers and Soil Health. However, this must lead to a far reaching rejection of synthetic fertilisers, as these have been proven to harm soil organisms.
Harun Wurai -Heinrich Boll Stiftung Foundation (Program Coordinator)
The foundation notes that Africa has relied on synthetic fertilisers to increase food production under the green revolution strategy. It however points out that the outcome has not been impressive in the 20 years of synthetic fertilisers use on African soil. It links climate change in Africa to the excessive use of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers. They suggest the replacement of nitrogen fertiliser with organic fertiliser and cultivation of legumes.
Fertiliser companies like Norwegian based Tara,is investing in the production of nitrogen fertilisers based on green or blue hydrogen. Although this is intended to decarbonise their production, the Heinrich foundation faults this approach describing it energy and resource intensive. It says these initiatives are transitional solutions to phase out the use of fossil fertilisers but what Africa needs is a transformation towards holistic solutions.