The Agriculture Sector is the backbone of Kenya’s economy and the source of livelihood for majority of the rural population. The sector contributes about 26 percent of the country’s GDP and employs about 75 percent of the population. The sector is a major source of revenue with agricultural produce exports accounting for nearly two thirds of total domestic export. Supporting this sector therefore leads to securing most livelihoods of the Kenyans people.
Owing to the importance of agriculture in the economy, it is paramount to have accurate, reliable and timely data for informed decision making and proper planning. This “Economic Review of Agriculture” publication is the 9th edition since 2006 when it was re-introduced. The publication has become a crucial reference document for indicators on agriculture. Continuous effort has been made to collect, validate and analyze more data over time. The Ministry publication of agricultural statistics has therefore improved further by the inclusion of livestock and fisheries information which has lacked in the previous publications.
Agriculture function has largely been devolved and the sector requires much more coordination and proper monitoring. The Economic Review of Agriculture (ERA) will play a major role in this, since its focus is to consolidate and disseminate necessary information for the growth and development of the agriculture sector. It gives the global perspective in agriculture as well as the national and county performance. This publication will therefore facilitate informed decision making by stakeholders in the sector and thus improve the livelihood of Kenyans.
The Ministry supports preparation, printing, and circulation of the ERA publication in recognition of the importance of agriculture sector performance assessment. This is critical since the overall performance of the country’s economy is positively related to agriculture sector performance. It is expected that the publication will reach various stakeholders and will guide policy, planning and investment decisions.
I am certain that the Economic Review of Agriculture will be useful to various stakeholders.
Adan A. Mohammed, EBS
Ag. Cabinet Secretary
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries