Tigania West Member of Parliament John Kanyuithia has fronted the Agricultural Professionals Registration and Licensing Bill 2024 which seeks to train, register and license agricultural professionals.
According to the MP allied to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), the bill will regulate the practice of agricultural professionals and provide for the establishment, powers and functions of the Agricultural Professionals Registration and Licensing Board.
Some of these professionals include; food scientists, agricultural economists, soil and water engineers, agricultural engineers, botanists, agronomists, and soil scientists among others.
"A person shall be eligible for registration under this act as an agricultural if that person is a holder of a degree, diploma or certificate recognised by the board," reads part of the bill.
Under the new guidelines, all graduates and professionals with accreditation in the field will need to be registered by the board to receive a license.
Also, the bill provides for the licensing of agricultural professions, the qualifications for private practitioners, the validity of practising certificates and renewal, cancellation and renovations of any certificates issued.
Per the bill, all applicants will be required to pay a prescribed fee when applying for a license to the board. Anyone who practices without the license commits an offence and is liable to a fine of not less than Ksh1 million or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both.
"A person shall not while in charge of an agricultural institution or any other agricultural organisation in Kenya, employ a person who is not registered under this Act as an agricultural professional. Anyone who contravenes this commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh1 million or five years imprisonment or both," reads part of the bill.
Any agricultural professional who was already practising when the bill was enacted will continue to practice but will need to apply for the license six months after the enactment.
Additionally, they can practice up to the period when their application for registration is approved or rejected by the board.
Per the bill, any applicant who makes an application and knowingly gives false or misleading statements or presents fake certificates commits an offence and is liable to a fine not less than Ksh1 million or imprisonment for three years or both.
"A person who willingly procures or attempts to procure registration or licensing by making or producing or causing to be made produced any false or fraudulent representation or declaration, either orally or in writing, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year or both," reads part of the bill.
If any professional without a license and poses as a licensed professional, or manages or dispenses agricultural inputs commits an offence and will be fined Ksh200,000 and a two-year sentence or both.
