How rural farmers can ensure they get better roads

Dr Peter Ruto. For farmers to reap maximum yields, they need to ensure they invest in certified seeds, manage the crops to curb diseases and pests and sell produce at a good price. PHOTO | COURTESY

What you need to know:

  • Every Kenyan has a right to better infrastructure, and this being an election year, all farmers can do to get what they want is choose leaders wisely.
  • Good infrastructure means farmers get better prices for their produce such as milk, potatoes and tea. In some areas when it rains, buyers cannot access farms, and the farmer is forced to hire a tractor to access them at his cost.
  • For farmers to reap maximum yields, they need to ensure they invest in certified seeds, manage the crops to curb diseases and pests and sell produce at a good price.

Poor roads are one of the reasons why many farmers earn less. Dr Peter Ketyenya, an economist and a lecturer at Catholic University, explains how farmers in rural areas can get better roads.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy but poor roads remain the biggest hindrance to market access. What can be done to better farmers’ plight?

There is need for grading and murraming of roads across rural Kenya especially where agriculture thrives to ensure they are motorable all-year round.

This way, farmers can use smaller, less costly means of transport including motorcycles as opposed to hiring tractors and lorries as they try to reach market. County governments have tried but they haven’t done enough.

Do farmers have a right to better infrastructure? What can they do to ensure they get services they are entitled to?

Every Kenyan has a right to better infrastructure, and this being an election year, all farmers can do to get what they want is choose leaders wisely.

It is through good leaderships that laws are made and enforced. Farmers need to push for good services such as improved animal breeds and access to extension services.

How will good infrastructure impact farmers?

Good infrastructure means farmers get better prices for their produce such as milk, potatoes and tea. In some areas when it rains, buyers cannot access farms, and the farmer is forced to hire a tractor to access them at his cost.

With good infrastructure, cost of inputs such as fertilisers and chemicals would definitely go down.

What has been the greatest cause of poor infrastructure in farming communities?

I would blame it squarely on poor leadership particularly in the wake of the devolved units and the Constituency Development Fund.

There is need to end the culture of handouts which has resulted in impoverishment of people. Leaders don’t care about electorate because they bribe to win.

It is senseless to have agriculture as the country’s economic backbone, yet, farmers cannot have say over roads.

What are Kenyan farmers not doing right to ensure they reap big from their ventures?

For farmers to reap maximum yields, they need to ensure they invest in certified seeds, manage the crops to curb diseases and pests and sell produce at a good price.

Farmers should also join cooperative societies to help in seeking better markets both nationally and internationally.