Conspiracy on crop production
bacteria and attitude
My 2010 started with meeting two people; an Anglican Church bishop and a crop production expert.
The bishop wanted to know what strategies my organization (the Inter Region Economic Network) can offer to the unemployed youth bulge in the western part of Kenya. The crop scientist, I sought out the because I wanted to know the reason why agribusiness is low in western Kenya.
I gave a menu of approaches to the bishop. I met the crop expert to test out one of those approaches - agribusiness.
The expert implored me to ask religious leaders to change farmers' attitudes; he gave the reason that small holder farmers are impervious to new ideas. The bishop hinted that part of the agricultural productivity crisis plaguing western Kenya was as a result of parents not releasing land to their offspring for fear the youth will sell the land for short run goals.
What hit me was the expert's statement that large swathes of land in western Kenya are infected by bacteria by the name Ralstonia solanacearum. R.solanacearum colonizes a plant's xylem causing a disease popularly referred to as bacteria wilt. Bacteria wilt coincidently attacks crops that are fast moving at the market place such as tomatoes, cucumber, potatoes and sweet peppers among others.
As 2010 kicks off, I welcome you to offer ideas on how to fight the conspiracy between bacteria and farmers attitude to crop productivity!
James Shikwati
Please post your response to James in the Community Forum or email getintouch@stewardshipcommunity.com and your response will be posted for you. Your name can be withheld if you prefer.