Ministry of Agriculture set high targets as it become ISO certified

By Ben Kinyanjui

It is often associated with frequent famines that cause untold sufferings to the millions of people. It is often criticised for all manner of ills affecting the sector including high cost of farm inputs, poor seeds and extension services. President Mwai Kibaki (centre) display ISO certification given to ministry of Agriculture

The ministry is also home to numerous poor performing state-owned enterprises that suffer bad press due to the many scandals that keep on surfacing. It is also home to the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, (KARI) that is one of the best known research institutions in Africa.

Despite that, the ministry of Agriculture is set to change that perception by setting for itself high targets that might change how business is done in the sector.

Among the targets is the reduction of post harvest crop losses from 40 per cent to 10 per cent and increment of water harvesting structures from 220 to 460 by the end of this year.

And in order to achieve these targets, the ministry decided to go for ISO certification that re-examines the entire management structure and its functionality. Now they have got it and analysts say the hard part has just started.

Even President Mwai Kibaki who presented the coveted ISO 9001: 2008 certification to Agriculture minister Dr Sally Kosgei and PS Dr Romano Kiome said as much. The team at Kilimo house has a daunting task ahead if they have to live to the spirit and letter of the certification.

President Kibaki said the ministry should use the certification to provide quality services to farmers.

Other targets under the ISO include enhancing customer access to quality farm inputs by 10 per cent by the end of this year and to increase Agricultural productivity and output by five per cent annually to attain food security for all through improved extension services and adopting modern technologies.

Other quality objectives under the ISO are to increase control of crop pests and diseases by end of the year and strengthening private-public partnerships, improve access to ICT-based Agriculture information and sustainable land use practices.

“The attainment of ISO certification is not an end in itself. I, therefore, urge the ministry to continue monitoring the quality management system and institute measures to ensure continued improvement,” President Kibaki said.

The President, at the same time, congratulated the Ministry of Agriculture for attaining the prestigious ISO certification, noting that the ministry is one of the largest with a countrywide coverage to achieve the certification.

President Kibaki also commended the Agriculture ministry for being at the forefront in the implementation of results based management initiatives in the public sector.

The Head of State acknowledged the central role the Ministry of Agriculture plays in promoting the country’s economy.

Dr Sally Kosgei reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to promoting sustainable and competitive agriculture to enhance food security, wealth and employment creation.

She expressed optimism that the measures the ministry has put in place would contribute to poverty reduction by providing efficient and effective services to the farmers through dissemination of information and provision of technical services.