National Irrigation Policy 2017

Abstract

The agricultural sector directly contributes about 25% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and _ a further 27% through manufacturing, .distribution and service sectors, and accounts for 65% of the total export earnings. The sector employs over 80% of Kenya's rural work force and provides more than 18% of formal employment. The Kenya Vision 2030 recognizes the significance of agriculture towards its goals that aim at achieving an average Gross Domestic Product growth rate of 10% per annum up to the year 2030. In spite of the critical role of the agricultural sector in the economy of the country, it still faces many challenges. The challenges include highly erratic and unpredictable rainfall in the arid and semi arid lands (ASAL) counties (84% of the country), a steady reduction of agricultural land; low agricultural production and productivity; poor marketing, low diversification in production, market uncertainties and low value addition to agricultural products; high post-harvest losses and unfavorable tax regimes. Other key challenges are ineffective and inefficient inter-sectoral linkages for development of agriculture; high cost of credit for investment in agriculture; poor governance in farmer organizations · indding farmer cooperatives; fewer adherences to demand-driven research for agricultural development and ineffective research extension- farmer linkages.