Kenya’s food situation improves but effects of drought still felt in arid and semi arid areas

By Ben Kinyanjui

Kenya expects to harvest 15 million bags of maize in the next seven months as food situation improve after a severe drought that left 3.7 million people in need of emergency food relief.Maize harvest set to improve due to good rains

The country also expects to import 500,000 bags to boost the local production that is facing strains from effects of climate change, high costs of inputs and reducing arable land.

“The national food security situation continued to improve in the month of November. This was mainly attributed to the ongoing harvesting of long rains maize crop in the high rainfall areas which peaked during the month,” says a food situation report for November released by the ministry of Agriculture.

“The ongoing short rains boosted availability and supply of vegetables resulting in reduced prices.”

According to the report prices of potatoes, bananas, onions, tomatoes and other vegetables remained low in most parts of the country reflecting improved supply.

Prices of maize remained stable in most parts of the country with Eldoret recording the lowest prices of Sh2600 per 90kg compared to a high recorded price of Sh4800 per 90kg in June of 2011.

“This situation is expected to improve around the month of January to March when harvests from the short rains crop is expected to start,” says the report.

National maize stocks stood at 16,584,626 bags in November last year up from 14,440,367 bags with National Cereal and Produce Board holding 2,299,000 bags , farmers 11,453,825 bags, traders’ 2,227,891 bags and millers 603,910 bags.

The ministry attributed the improvement of stocks largely to the ongoing harvesting of long rains crop in North Rift, parts of Western Province, importation and inflows from neighboring countries.

“The NCPB is currently purchasing a 90kg bag of maize at Sh3000 under the warehouse receipt system,” says the report.

“This is expected to assist farmers avoid exploitation as well as provide safe storage as they await suitable prices for their maize.”

While report paints a rosy picture of the food situation in Kenya, there are still uncertainties due to effects of climate change that have made drought more common and severe.

The report says the effects of the drought experienced early last year continued to be felt in some parts of Eastern, North Eastern and Coast Provinces with millions of households still dependent on emergency relief food.

“Food security in the ASAL counties continued to improve as a result of the current short rains which saw a further improvement of pastures and food supply in these areas. Vulnerable households continue to require and receive relief food,” says the report.

The country expects to accumulate 32.5 million bags of maize by June with consumption expected to hit 26.1 million bags leaving a net surplus of 6.4 million bags.

Out of the amount, 500,000 bags will be imported though the report is silent on whether duty free importation will continue or be stopped to allow local farmers to sell their produce that stood at 11.4 million bags by November last year.

The farmers also expects to harvest 15 million bags between December 2011 and June this year with an estimated 1.5 million loss due to poor post harvest handling.