Sweden gives Kenya Ksh.650M to build farmers' database

The Swedish government has offered Kenya a grant of Ksh.650 million to implement the second phase of the Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (KIAMIS).

The KIAMIS is a digital platform with various components that enable the government to register farmers and establish a national central farmers’ database.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi announced Sweden’s input in the project on Sunday while launching the second phase of the information system.

He said the funding will go towards setting up a comprehensive database of all farmers across the country.

“I am happy to announce that Swedish government has offered Kenya a grant of Sh650 million to implement KIAMIS Phase II, with main focus being registration of all farmers and establishment of a complete, central farmers’ database which will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),” said Linturi.

This is in the backdrop of the recent launch of a rapid national farmers’ registration through the National government administration. According to the CS, this effort has led to registration of 4.2 million farmers.

The CS said the next step for his ministry, after registering all farmers, will be embarking on a national fertilizer subsidy program across the country.

“Once we have a complete register of all farmers, we shall embark on elaborate national fertilizer subsidy programme that will cover all counties and use digital systems to ensure efficiency and also implement other inputs subsidy programmes, including seeds, lime, animal and chicken feeds, crops and livestock insurance, among others,” Linturi said.

The launch was attended by Swedish Ambassador to Kenya Caroline Vicini, FAO Kenya Representative Amb. Carla Mucavi, Assistant FAO Kenya Representative-Programmes Hamisi Williams, PS State Department of Crop Development Kello Harsama and other senior government officials.