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Kenya has appealed for urgency in combating climate change effects that have led to drought and other disasters globally.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary said this during his remarks while delivering Kenya’s ministerial statement during the ongoing, United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Council meeting in Rome, Italy.
The Cabinet Secretary who is leading the Kenyan delegation in the international summit whose theme is focused on global food security, has called on the international community to defeat hunger and malnutrition by transforming agriculture in the face of ever changing climatic conditions.
“We must take urgent measures to combat climate change because the extreme climate change events being witnessed globally has compromised food security even in some parts of the developed world economies. Development partners should work with governments to address the food insecurity issue that’s affecting millions of people worldwide,” said Linturi.
Linturi assured the meeting that the Kenyan government is determined to ensure Kenyans are food secure in the most affordable, accessible and qualitative sense.
“As part of the short term response to the ongoing drought, my ministry has embarked on distribution of relief supplies and cash transfers to 4.5 million Kenyans who are affected by drought in 23 arid and semi- arid counties,” he added while addressing the global meeting.
He added that the Government and development partners are also heavily involved in distribution of livestock feeds, livestock off-take measures, expansion and rehabilitation of water resources and enhanced animal health administration as short term measure to combat the prolonged drought.
Linturi further assured the global meeting that the Kenyan Government is also engaging stakeholders to lower the cost of inputs, avail affordable financing and secure markets for agricultural produce and products as a way of boosting food security and empowering local farmers.
“My ministry will work closely with FAO a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and other strategic partners as we implement long term measures to combat the prolonged drought that has led to loss of lives and livestock,” stated the Cabinet Secretary.
Linturi called for the adaptation of technology to boost food security globally.
“If we are to address food challenges expeditiously then efficiency and effectiveness must be the hallmark of our agri-food systems. The use of technology is key to achieving efficiency, safety, transparency and avoiding waste,” he said.
Others in the Kenyan delegation for the one-week long meeting, include; Livestock Development Permanent Secretary Harry Kimutai and Council of Governors Agriculture Committee Chairman and Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka.
The National Assembly’s Agriculture and Livestock Vice Chairperson Leonard Yegon, and committee member Sabina Chege are also in the trip.
Kenya is facing the worst drought in 40 years after four consecutive seasons of failed rains.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, about 4.5 million Kenyans face starvation and over 2.5 million livestock worth Sh1.8 billion has already been lost.
As part of the short term response to the ongoing drought, the government has embarked on distribution of relief supplies and cash transfers to 4.5 million Kenyans who are affected by drought in 23 arid and semi- arid counties.
The Government and development partners are also heavily involved in distribution of livestock feeds, livestock off-take measures, expansion and rehabilitation of water resources and enhanced animal health administration. BY THE STAR