PRESS RELEASE BY GLOBAL YOUTH ACTION [ACTIVISTA] KENYA

We, the youth representatives from different youth organizations from all regions of Kenya under the banner of the Global Youth Action/Activista, have come together in a two day workshop in Nairobi, to bring to the fore local experiences, communities’ coping mechanisms and propose possible solutions on the current food crisis. This declaration provides recommendations to our government on the priority areas that must be addressed to mitigate the effect and impact of current food crisis.
Many projects started by youth organizations in the recent past, particularly in the service industry, are now under serious threat of collapse with the rising inflation and food prices. The impact so far experienced has led most of this youthful generation to a point of destitution as most of them now depend on handouts as a means of survival.
We are aware that;
The current food crisis has largely been attributed to the increase in price of fossil fuel which has had and continues to have a knock on effect on key productive sectors.
The high transport costs have had multiplier effect resulting into increased cost of agricultural production and retail food prices.
As the poor grapple with the high food prices, neither small scale producers nor consumers benefit. The huge profit margins accrue into the pockets of multinational companies and middlemen.
 The high cost of food has led to reduced access to adequate food and basic commodities resulting to promotion of cheaper and substandard alternatives.
We are concerned that;
the causes of the crisis are both global and national and they are political as well as economic.
the subsidy incentives to farmers in developed countries for production and subsequent conversion of cereal crops into bio-fuel is to blame for the spike in food prices.
the Government’s implementation of structural adjustment programmes leading to withdrawal of support & commitment to smallholder agricultural production has compounded this food crisis.
the trade liberalization agenda promoted by the WTO, EPAs, WB/IMF are all in favor of multinational companies that has led to the crowding out effect of small scale farmers in the market;
the World Bank/IMF aid conditionalities have in many ways prohibited use of subsidy programmes to aid small scale producers have sustained access to quality seeds, affordable credit, fertilizers and agro-chemicals.
failure of the Kenya government to direct the market and closely monitor and regulate the food trade has further complicated the food crisis.
despite the agricultural sector in Kenya being the most analyzed and over-researched sector, the country has been flagged by FAO as one of the 22 most vulnerable countries in the world experiencing famine.
We recommend that;
The GOK should allocate more resources to the agricultural sector to meet the recommended budgetary allocation of at least 10% (Abuja/Maputo Declaration);
Fast track legislative process of all food and agriculture related Bills in Parliament and monitor policy implementation;
A certain proportion of devolved funds especially CDF fund should be used for agriculture and food security initiatives at the community level;
Government should step up its irrigation efforts and make use of the idle irrigation potential in the country;
Government should direct the course of the market, monitor and regulate trade in food and agricultural commodities;
Government should take deliberate measures and put in place targeted subsidy programs for small scale farmers with a view to enhance their productivity;
Need to invest in innovative research and extension programmes that promote skills and technology transfer to the farmers;
Pursue a land reform agenda that ensures that poor people especially women, the landless and youths have more access to land;
Invest in Cereal and seed banks at community level to promote timely access and control of seeds (quality and otherwise).
Ensuring accountability and regulatory frameworks for transnational and multinational corporations.
Introduce guaranteed minimum returns for small scale farmers in key agricultural sub-sectors.
Increase and enforce the minimum wage requirement for workers and social protection for the vulnerable organizations including the unemployed;
Lastly, all Government ministries and departments should be encouraged to demonstrate how their policies and programmes being implemented on the ground contribute towards food security for all Kenyans.
Finally, we take due cognizance of the 25th FAO Regional Conference for Africa and recommend that the issues raised above are seriously deliberated on and appropriate solutions as well as political and legal choices made.