Farmers deserve a fair hearing
The East African | 29 October 2007
Farmers deserve a fair hearing
By L MUTHONI WANYEKI
Trade might make the world go round. But charity begins at home. In any given home, there are those deemed to be successful, whose decisions carry the day. And then there are those who may clamour at the edges to try to get a word in, but to no avail. They are the poorer and/or younger, whose role in life is simply to accept — and live with — the wisdom of the powers that be.
Likening that kind of home to a state, it is obvious that the same kind of dynamics work.
Just like heads of households, the state’s role is to mediate and negotiate the differing interests and needs of all of its citizens. But, again just like far too many of our heads of households, the state often fails to fulfil this task.
We should, therefore, not be surprised at our state’s almost complete lack of understanding of the concerns raised in a suit filed last week by the Kenya Small Scale Farmers Forum, with the support of the Kenya Human Rights Commission to block any trade agreement between Kenya and the EU.
The farmers are seeking orders to stop the government from concluding its negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreements, which are expected to end the preferential terms of trade enjoyed under the four Lome agreements by the African, Caribbean and Pacific states in relation to the entry of export goods into the European Union.
The EPAs, under pressure to be concluded by the end of this year, were to make the ACP-EU trading relationship compliant with the World Trade Organisation requirements.
The farmers forum feel that the state has failed to spearhead its concerns during the lengthy negotiations.
A study commissioned by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and carried out by the Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research Analysis — the government’s own economic think tank — shows that the EPAs will bring about a revenue loss of between Ksh6 billion ($89.5 million) and Ksh9 billion ($134.3 million). They will reduce national output by between 0.6-1 per cent and result in the loss of at least 3,000 jobs.
The EPAs will also drive intra-East African Community trade down by about 15 per cent.
As a result, Kenya will either be forced to expand its tax base or seek increased external revenues.
For members of the Farmers Forum, the EPAs will pose significant challenges to the continued domestic production of food commodities — from maize, rice, sugar and wheat staples to dairy and meat products.
The study collaborates another one by the Africa Trade Policy Centre of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, which found that the “reciprocity” touted by proponents of WTO-compliance will be costly for Africa; with implementation of the EPAs causing competition, losses of revenue and difficulties in market access.
This study cites a reduction in trade taxes of 25 per cent and a loss of six per cent of total revenue within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and — in effect, undermining Africa’s recent progress towards integration.
Let me add that “reciprocity” in “free” trade in goods and services does not apply in respect to Africans’ freedom of movement within the EU — the current debates on so called “blue cards” for skilled African migrant workers not withstanding.
There are, of course, alternatives. There are always choices even when it’s drummed into us that there are none. May our small farmers, through their suit, need to be heard. And may their voice be listened to in a constructive and thoughtful manner.
L. Muthoni Wanyeki is the Executive Director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)
