Agriculture Graduates & Experts Without License Face Fine
Agriculture Graduates & Experts Without License Face Fine
Agriculture Graduates & Experts Without License Face Fine
The Agricultural Professionals Registration and Licensing Bill 2024, which aims to train, register, and license agricultural professionals, has been spearheaded by Tigania West Member of Parliament John Kanyuithia.
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA)-affiliated MP claims that the bill will establish, authorize, and manage the Agricultural Professionals Registration and Licensing Board, as well as regulate the practices of agricultural professionals.
Among these experts are soil scientists, agronomists, botanists, agricultural engineers, food scientists, agricultural economists, and soil and water engineers.
“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 a portion of the bill.
In accordance with the new regulations, in order to obtain a license, all professionals and graduates who have accreditation in the relevant field must register with the board.
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.
The bill stipulates that all applicants must pay a certain fee to the board in order to submit an application for a license. Anyone who practices without a license is breaking the law and faces a minimum fine of Ksh1 million, a maximum sentence of three years in jail, or both.
“A person shall not employ someone who is not registered as an agricultural professional under this Act while they are in charge of an agricultural institution or any other agricultural organization in Kenya.” A portion of the bill states, “Anyone who violates this commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh1 million or five years imprisonment, or both.”
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.
According to the bill, submitting an application while knowing to make false or misleading statements or to present fake certificates is against the law. Offenders risk a fine of at least Ksh1 million, three years in prison, 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 a portion of the legislation.
Any unlicensed professional who manages or dispenses agricultural inputs, or who poses as a licensed professional, is guilty of an offense and faces a fine of Ksh200,000, a two-year sentence, or both.
