Farmers reject Government deal with EU
The Standard (Nairobi) | 27 September 2010
Farmers reject Government deal with EU
By Vincent Bartoo and Titus Too
Farmers in the North Rift have opposed a planned trade agreement between the Government and the European Union (EU) that they said risked robbing them of their livelihoods.
The farmers held a demonstration along Eldoret Town streets at the weekend protesting the bilateral trade agreement currently being negotiated. They said the pact, dubbed the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), would see free flow of goods among them agricultural products that would flood the market.
Hellen Yego, who was among the protesting farmers, said if the agreement is signed, European States would have undue advantages over local farmers.
She said the pact would attract more imports than exports since farmers in EU have better incentives and their products would be cheaper than those from the Eastern African States.
We will be disadvantaged
"Farmers in European countries are offered subsidies by their governments. It is not the same for us. We will be disadvantaged," she said, adding the move would kill small-scale industries and loss of jobs.
The Kenya National Human Rights Commission also joined the campaign to reject the EPA negotiations, saying if implemented, the pact would violate rights to self-determination in trade and agriculture in particular.
Commission officials who joined the farmers in Sunday’s demonstration said the Government should not bow into signing the agreement as an inducement to gain more funding from the EU.
