However, the needs of the rural people, who are such a vital segment, have totally been ignored. Governments have given priority to people settled in the urban areas. They use all the available resources on urban and industrial development at the expense of agricultural development. 

At independence, some four decades ago, many of the African countries could feed themselves and were leading exporters of certain agricultural commodities. These included tea, coffee, palm oil, cotton, cocoa, and sisal. 

Today, the production of agricultural products has drastically declined. The growing of food crops has been greatly reduced. As a result, Africa cannot feed its growing population and is at the mercy of donors for survival. 

The Narc Government should start investing heavily and developing agriculture. It is ironical for our leaders to keep on telling us that agriculture is the backbone of our economy, yet the dairy, coffee, and tea sub-sectors have been severely ravaged. The Government has an uphill task to revive the agricultural sector. But given its goodwill and support from the masses, this should not be difficult. 

Kenyans now should create a strong foundation for agriculture as a means to sustainable industrial growth and urban development. Some of the results of the Agricultural Revolution in Europe were development of rural infrastructure, industrial growth and urbanisation. An agricultural revolution in our country is a must. 

Apart from the provision of food, a robust agricultural sector creates employment, cash flow for extra produce and small-scale industrialisation. However, the development of this sector will require inputs, credits and viable markets. 

The Government should promote the setting up of small financial institutions in the rural areas to offer credit to farmers. Agricultural inputs should also be made affordable. 

Irrigation is vital. It should be developed. This country has enough water resources if properly exploited and utilised. This could be done by harvesting rain water, sinking boreholes, and digging dams. 

The oil pipeline should be used to pump water from Kisumu on Lake Victoria to the dry areas such as Maasailand, Kambaland, northern Kenya. and the Coast for irrigation. 

Leonard G. Maina, 
Timau. 

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