Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) is a State Corporation in the ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Corporatives established by the Agriculture and Food Authority Act No 13 of 2013 to operationalize the Crops Act No 16 of 2013. The Act consolidates the laws on regulation and promotion of agriculture and makes provision for the respective roles of national and county governments according to the provisions of the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of Kenya. The role of the Authority is to Regulate, Develop and Promote Scheduled Crops value chains for increased economic growth in Kenya.
AFA is a product of Agriculture Sector Reforms which commenced in 2003 with the formulation of the Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation (ERS) and the Strategy for the Revitalization of Agriculture (SRA).The reforms focused on improving efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery through the review of the legal and regulatory framework in the agriculture Sector.
The following institutions were abolished and succeeded by the Authority;
Kenya Coconut Development Authority
Coffee Board of Kenya
Cotton Development Authority
Horticultural Crops Development Authority;
Kenya Sisal Board
Kenya Sugar Board
Pyrethrum Board of Kenya
Tea Board of Kenya
The authority is currently comprised of the following Directorates/Departments
To be a World Class Regulator in the Agriculture Sector
Mission
To sustainably develop and promote scheduled crops value chains through effective regulation for economic growth
Core Values
Customer focus
Teamwork
Integrity
Innovativeness
Professionalism
Mandate
Administer the Crops Act, in accordance with the provisions of these Acts;
Promote best practices and regulate the production, processing, marketing;
grading, storage, collection, transportation, and warehousing of agricultural products;
excluding livestock products as may be provided for under the Crops Act;
Collect and collate data, maintain a database on agricultural products excluding livestock products, documenting and monitoring agriculture through registration of players as provided for in the Crops Ac;
Be responsible for determining the research priorities in agriculture and to advise generally on research thereof;
Advise the national government and the county governments on agriculture levies for purposes of planning, enhancing harmony and equity in the sector;
Carry out such other functions as may be assigned to it by this Act, the Crops Act;
and any written law while respecting the roles of the two levels of the Government.