Rains improve food security

• Prices of produce have eased and rows over pasture and water have stopped

The majority of Kenyans are assured of enough food for at least the next five months as a result of the good rains experienced in most parts of the country.

Already, pressure on food prices has eased, albeit marginally, as significant amounts of short cycle crops such as beans, potatoes, cowpeas and vegetables enter the market.

However, Agriculture permanent secretary Romano Kiome said on Monday the country would still have to import maize despite the bumper harvest anticipated in many areas. Maize is the staple diet for most Kenyans.

The shortage resulted from the long rains that run from March to May not being sufficient in the North Rift, which is the country’s grain basket, said the PS.

“About 33 million bags of maize are needed to last Kenya a year, but the harvest is only expected to yield nine to 10 million bags of maize,” Dr Kiome told the Nation in a telephone interview.

In most arid areas, the price of livestock has increased marginally while more milk is available for children and the elderly. As a result of recovering pasture and more water, conflicts have reduced.

However, of the estimated 38 million Kenyans, about 4 million still require food assistance either because they have not harvested any crops or their livestock have not recovered – though this is likely to change for the better.

In one of the most positive food forecasts in about five years, the country’s outlook for January to June 2010 indicates a time of “plenty for all” and especially if the long rains will be sufficient.

The forecast is prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture in conjunction with the World Food Programme and USAid.

The biggest beneficially are residents of Mwingi, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Makueni, Malindi, Mbeere and Mwingi, where prices of livestock went up by close to 70 per cent last month.

In some of these areas and elsewhere, including Mbeere, Meru North, Nyeri and Tharaka, the price of maize has gone down by about 10 per cent, mainly because of the availability of alternative foods.

The food situation in eastern and coastal areas is expected to improve even further after crops are harvested between mid-February and early March.

However, the report warns of possible contamination of cereals with aflatoxins if immediate and decisive action is not taken.

Political tension

The report also warns that the crippling food shortage experienced by the urban poor in the 2007 post-election violence could happen again if the expected referendum on the Constitution generates political tensions.

Agricultural officials also dispelled fears that food security was threatened by infestations of armyworms and bollworms, which have been reported in 30 districts of Eastern and Central provinces.