Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has directed the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) to issue guidelines on grafting of macadamia and avocado to save farmers from losses.
CS Kagwe said there was a need to safeguard production and sale of seedlings to ensure farmers get quality planting materials.
Speaking during a farmers’ field day at Mikinduri in Meru, Kagwe also advised farmers to use their cooperatives in managing the source of seedlings.
“We need clarity on standards for grafting and material used in the process. AFA should issue a definite circular on the issue of grafting. Farmers should know where to buy from licensed seedling sellers,” CS Kagwe said.
On Macadamia prices, he challenged farmers to aggregate their produce and form cooperatives so as to have bargaining power.
Farmers have been lamenting over fluctuating prices leading to huge losses.
“Do not allow buyers to come to your farms to offer low prices. Do not undersell yourselves. The government is ready to defend the interests of farmers by barring export of raw produce,” the CS said.
Kagwe called on AFA to stamp its authority in regulating various sub sectors as per the law and challenged parliament to stop mutilating AFA by establishing different crop bodies.
“We established AFA but years later, legislators now want to set up different crop authorities. We should legislate to strengthen the farmer rather than creating more bodies,” he observed.
