Persons with disabilities:
gaps and opportunities for
inclusion in agriculture
By
Washington Opiyo Sati( ENAR)
28th May 2013
Agriculture…as we all know..…
 …..is the backbone of the national
economy, contributing directly 24% of
Gross Domestic Product…
The questions…
 How included are persons with disability in
agricultural practices in Kenya?
Gaps
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Statistical gaps...rural to urban migration
Lack of knowledge/ignorance
Environmental barriers
Access to land
Social and cultural stigma
 Do people with disabilities have rights to
participate in Agricultural activities ?
The Constitution of Kenya
 Article 27 (2) Equality includes the full and
equal enjoyment of all rights and
fundamental freedoms
 Article 54 ; …..a persons with any
disability is entitled….to same rights…
 …have opportunities to associate, be
represented and participate in political,
social, economic and other spheres of life;
The persons with Disabilities Act 2003
 The government shall take steps to the
maximum of its available resources with a
view to achieving the full realization of the
rights of persons with disabilities set out in
the Act
The UN CRPD…
 …….recognizes the right of persons with
disabilities to work, on an equal basis with
others; this includes the rights to the
opportunity to gain a living by work freely
chosen….
National Disability Policy
 …Provides that PWDs should enjoy their
economic, social, cultural, civil and political
rights…
Addressing gaps…..
 Induction workshop to identify
research/advocacy questions
 Open Day-over 100 people attended
 Young Voices & Policy influence
 LCD Livelihood projects
 A Story line- Shujaaz/awareness creation
Addressing gaps…..
Addressing gaps….
Feedback from Shujaaz Story
 “If the disabled girl in Shujaaz Chapta 19
can plant sukuma in a sack, I swear that’s
the perfect idea a human being can come
up with.” Ismail Mohammed” Mylaw
 “The disabled like Sifa have many abilities.
Actually, they may be more talented than
the rest of us. Disability is not inability”
Tiffany
 What are the opportunities for inclusion of
PWD in agriculture?
What are the opportunities for inclusion of PWD in
agriculture?
 Disseminate the study finding to relevant
stakeholders and networks
 Awareness building around the capability of
people with disabilities to participate in agricultural
activities
 Engage National Council for Persons with
disabilities to support agriculture projects as a
form of livelihood support for PWDs
Opportunities…contd
 More research….there are research
questions to address
 The need for inclusion of agriculture in
disability and agriculture related policies
 Support DPOs to invest in agricultural
projects
 A set up a model project- Disability and
Agriculture for learning/ best practices
In closing…
 ……Self pity is our worst enemy and if we
yield to it, we can never do anything good
in the world….
 Helen Keller (1880 - 1968)
For your Attention