What the government can do to reduce poverty levels in Kenya

  

Date Posted: 9/27/2011 2:16:44 PM

Posted By: rawlit3  Membership Level: Silver  Total Points: 811

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Kenya is faced by hunger and increase in poverty levels each year, it is unfortunate that lives can still be lost out of poverty in one of the strongest growing economies in Africa at a point where we are aiming at Vision 2030’s full realization.

Here are some suggestions that can reduce the impact of such occurrences in future:

1. Re-evaluation of the agricultural policies; most of the government policies are aimed at bringing the arid and semi-arid regions into agricultural productivity. These policies and strategies are often failures because the area residents do not share in the spirit of most projects as they are traditionally pastoralists. Efforts must thus be redirected towards the more productive regions for optimal productivity such as the tea, coffee, maize and sugarcane growing areas. If these regions are efficiently utilized to produce enough food for the whole country, the ASALs can be used for solar and wind power generations on a large-scale.

2. Reintroduction of government extension officers to farmers to teach and advise farmers on good farming practices, proper record keeping and introduction of new technologies to farmers.

3. Providing affordable storage facilities to farmers’ produce; instead of purchasing the harvest from farmers, silos should offer storage at a cheaper price. This will ensure that many farmers have food throughout the season and no reason for a hike in prices when middlemen hoard the commodities.

4. Value addition; the government should provide mechanisms for adding value to products especially perishable ones, simple processing facilities can be constructed close to the farmers for products such as milk, avocado that go stale within no time after harvest.

5. Subsidizing the price of inputs especially during the planting season; this will reduce the cost of production and thus increasing profitability of the farmers and also contributes to lower prices.

6.

Empowering women though self-help projects. Women once empowered economically can greatly contribute towards the well being of their families.

7. Provision of free education to all. Education acts as the catalyst to development and economic empowered. Once all the citizens of Kenya have access to least high school education, they will become empowered to work in industries or get self employed.

8. Regulating sale of alcohol. In most cases, over-consumption of alcohol can negatively impact on the ability of the parents to provide basic needs to their families. The government should also ban illegal brews.

9. Creation of more technical colleges and polytechnics as well as expanding the existing ones. This will ensure that students acquire the necessary technical expertise in various fields e.g. engineering, building and construction, welding, plumbing e.t.c.

10. Curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS. This disease really affects the economic growth of the country since it takes away the able bodied people who could otherwise participate in many nation building activities. Again, the affected families suffer when the bread winner is no longer able to provide.

What else do you think the government can do to salvage this situation?

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