Agricultural Productivity in Kenya: Barriers and Opportunities

Abstract

The purpose of this rapid literature review is to help identify barriers and opportunities for increasing the long term sustainable agricultural productivity in Kenya. The scope of this report does not include the livestock sub-sector. Pastoral and agro-pastoral livestock production is covered in a separate report. And no good quality information about the relationship between agricultural productivity and devolution since 2013 was found. The review finds that there are six areas of principal barriers: land and population pressures, agricultural research and development and agricultural extension, markets, climate change, soil fertility and land degradation and public expenditure. In addition to this, through the rapid synthesis of literatures, the review is able to identify some of the opportunities to increase the agricultural productivity. First, it is important to re-orient public expenditures from private to public goods, particularly to agricultural research and development, extension and training, and measures that reduce market transaction costs. Secondly, the implementation of farmer-centre approached will be beneficial considering that the knowledge of farmers themselves is often overlooked. There is also an association between women’s empowerment and productivity. New forms of farmer organisation may be required. Finally, index insurance in the agriculture sector is expanding and demonstrating results, as are digital technologies that facilitate market access. Measures to bring financial and agricultural markets closer together could improve productivity.