NAIROBI: The Government has received Sh1.4 billion (US$ 14 million) from the European Union to improve standards of livestock and agricultural products through the Standards and Market Access Programme (Smap).
With many agro-products being rejected in global markets for not meeting international standards especially in processing and sanitation, the funding is expected to make Kenyan manufacturers comply with the stipulated standards.
Livestock Principal Secretary Fred Sigor noted that for many years, Kenyan farmers have been struggling to access the European market.
“This is despite our country’s economy depending largely on horticulture and tea for a large part of foreign exchange earnings. We therefore need to adopt relevant international standards to boost these economies,” said Mr Sigor yesterday at a press conference.
Sigor acknowledged that the poor standards of agro-products have made Kenyan farmers fall victim to the tight legislation and policies of the EU market.
His counterpart in the Ministry of Industrialisation and Enterprise Development Wilson Songa, said despite the country excelling in production, the agro-processing sector had not done well in value addition.
Kenya plans to utilise the funds to increase the GDP contribution of the sector from 11 to 20 per cent by 2020.
