These include seven main factors: (i)  a further slowdown in the year-on-year rate of increase in nominal unit labour costs from an already low 4.5% in the second quarter of 1999 to 2.2% in the second quarter of 2000;  (ii)  surplus production capacity in the economy, as reflected by the utilisation of production capacity in manufacturing of only about 79% in the first quarter of 2000.
The Central Bank of Kenya through its capacity building arm – the Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KSMS) intends to develop a certified agricultural finance program in collaboration with COMPETE – USAID. This program will be suitable for agricultural officers as well as credit officers.