Cassava on vision 2030 -SDG 2

Cassava farming can be a valuable contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, which aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. To adopt cassava farming in Kenya and align it with Vision 2020 and SDG 2, consider the following steps:

1. Awareness and Training: Conduct awareness campaigns to educate farmers about the benefits of cassava farming, its nutritional value, and its potential as a cash crop. Provide training programs to farmers on modern and sustainable cassava farming techniques, including proper planting, harvesting, and processing methods.
2. Variety Selection: Encourage the cultivation of high-yielding and disease-resistant cassava varieties to ensure a reliable and productive harvest. Work with agricultural research institutions to identify and promote improved cassava varieties suitable for different regions of Kenya.
3. Access to Quality Planting Material: Ensure farmers access high-quality planting materials such as disease-free stems and healthy cassava cuttings. Establish community-based nurseries to produce and distribute quality planting material to farmers.
4. Good Agricultural Practices: Promote sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices, including proper land preparation, mulching, and integrated pest management. Encourage the use of organic fertilizers and environmentally friendly pest control methods.
5. Market Access: Facilitate the establishment of market linkages for cassava farmers. This may involve connecting them with local markets, processors, and potential buyers. Explore opportunities for value addition, such as processing cassava into flour, chips, or other products, to enhance market value.
6. Infrastructure Development: Improve rural infrastructure, including roads and storage facilities, to reduce post-harvest losses and facilitate the transportation of cassava products to markets.
7. Policy Support: Advocate for supportive policies at the national and local levels to incentivize cassava farming, including subsidies, credit facilities, and research and development investments.
8. Climate-Smart Agriculture:Promote climate-smart agriculture practices to enhance the resilience of cassava farming to climate change impacts.
9. Collaboration and Partnerships: Foster collaboration between government agencies, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, and private sector stakeholders to create a holistic and sustainable approach to cassava farming.
10. Monitoring and Evaluation: Implement monitoring and evaluation systems to track the progress of cassava farming initiatives, identify challenges, and make informed adjustments to strategies.

By implementing these steps, Kenya can enhance cassava production, contribute to food security, and work towards achieving the objectives of Vision 2030 and SDG 2.