Page 67 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 11

Organic Farming GREEN HANDS

Why Organic Farming Is The Best Path

To Eradicating Poverty In Africa

By The Organic Guy

one of the sectors devolved to the
county governments making them a
he United Nations The current progress can be at- very important part in implementing
sustainable development tributed in part to the Kenya vision any agricultural policy. Just how im-
goal 1 (SDG1) of ‘NO 2030 (which is in line with SDG’s) portant is agriculture to the Kenyan
TPOVERTY’ Envisions and the big 4 agenda, both initiated economy? Well, it contributes up to
eradicating poverty in all of its by the Kenyan government where 26% of our GDP and another 27%
forms everywhere by 2030. The both of the plans places agriculture of the GDP indirectly. The sector
republic of Kenya is among the as the true path of improving the also employs more than 40% of the
193 member states that adopted economic wellbeing of Kenyans. total population and more than 70%
the agenda back in 2015. In Kenya, This is because, agriculture in gener- of the Kenyan rural people. The
and most parts of the world anyone al acts as a source of livelihood for sector also accounts for 65% of the
living on less than $ 1.90 a day is over 70% of Kenyans. Both Kenya’s export earnings and provides em-
considered to be below the poverty vision 2030 and the big 4 agenda ployment, income and food security
line. As of 2018, the proportions of align with SDG’s and are viewed as needs for more than 80% of the
Kenyans living below the poverty the best anchors in implementing Kenyan population.
line had declined from 46.8% in SDG’s in Kenya. With all the importance of agricul-
2005/06 to 36.1% in 2016/17 ac- In the Kenyan economy, agriculture ture to the Kenyan economy, only
cording to the World Bank. Despite does play a critical role especially in less than 20% of our land is suitable
this progress, Kenya is NOT on the rural economy where poverty for cultivation with the other 80%
track to eradicate poverty by 2030 as tends to be high. According to our classified as arid and semi-arid land.
per SDG’s! NEW constitution, agriculture was
This coupled with climate change,

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