The document discusses the challenges and potential for commercializing Kenya's agricultural sector, emphasizing its importance for economic growth and transformation. It outlines experiences from two approaches, highlighting issues such as low productivity, food security, and the need for better data usage in decision-making. The conclusion stresses the necessity for deeper understanding and policy development to effectively drive agricultural commercialization and rural transformation.

1. Commercializing Agricultural
Sector in Kenya: Wake the
Kenyan Giant!
Stephen Vundi Mungula,
SIANI Expert Group in Kenya
#SIANI17

2. Commercializing Agricultural Sector
in Kenya: Wake the Kenyan Giant
Stephen Vundi Mungula
Lead Junior Professional - SIANI Kenya

3. Outline
Introduction
The Journey
Experiences and Achievements
Findings from Second Approach
• The origin – SIANI Kenya Chapter (SKCEG)
• Objectives of expert group
• First Approach
• Second Approach
Conclusion and Way Forward
 Why Giant

4. WHY GIANT ?
Driver for economic growth and
transformation…high economic growth
directly linked to increased agric’ production
Percentage of population involved/affected by
agriculture
Kenya agro-ecological zone diversity
Demographic Characteristics - Youth

5. Introduction
 A brainstorming on findings led to the establishment
of a multidisciplinary group of experts.
ASDSP a joint programme by GOS and GOK (3)
baseline survey tell on Commercialization;-
Productivity, Income and Food Security
A worrying trend on 1) Household food security, 2)
Food productivity and incomes 3)
Un(under)employment 4) Youth and Women in
agriculture 5) Land degradation and 6) little/No
commercialization

6. Introduction cont.
Objectives of SIANI Kenya Chapter
What is the current status of the agricultural
sector in Kenya?
Why is the sector the way it is?
How can stakeholders harness the sector’s
potential and remove obstacles to
commercialization?

7. The Journey
Expert Group approach – launched
successfully with a lot of enthusiasm but did
not work. Abandoned after three months
Two approaches were used to accomplish the strategy
Junior expert mentoring approach -
successful and provided information partially
answering what? and why ?questions

8. Mechanization (Cassava) – Country yield of Cassava is
15% of potential. Issues for mechanization; farm size,
access to credit/machine suppliers, information on
technologies along value chain
Findings from Second Approach
Farmer organization (dairy) – Only 55% of small-scale
farmers sell produce vs 85% needed to be
commercialized. Collective action from production to
marketing can improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Issues; human and institutional capacities
Profitability (maize) – Maize cannot be profitable at
subsistence level. OPVs at subsistence higher gross
margins than hybrid. At present yield level, per capita
income of 5 cents/day/ha

9. Agricultural data – Limited emphasis and low
prioritization in use of data have led to little/no
use in decision and policy making. All the
agricultural indicators have been produced
through estimation arising from sample
surveys.
 Because of limited/unreliable data not
evidence based policy making
Findings from Second Approach

10. Experiences and Achievements
SE Approach did not work- WHY?- Competing
need, time, monetary compensation, gasp of
concept- ( may work in next phase)
Process rigorous, some JE dropped off – need
for qualitative selection of JE
Technical capacities of fresh graduates in critical
analysis and communication of scientific issues
wanting
Require commitment from both mentees (JE) and
mentors (SE)
On objectives ? What – some, Why- some,
How- next SIANI phase

11. Many stakeholders in the agricultural sector all
trying to commercialize agriculture
Conclusions and Way forward
Output papers give evidence that
commercialization is superficially being
addressed
Need for deeper understanding of
commercialization and sharing of this to
stakeholders
Need to develop adequate policies to make
agriculture a driver of rural transformation

12. THANK
YOU