Kenya faces maize shortage, warns FAO

Experts are warning of a maize deficit in light of erratic rains and dry conditions in major growing beltsin the country.

A recently released food report indicate that the country will register a shortage of 10 million bags of maize from the ongoing long rain harvest, confirming the initial statement by the government over the same.

Western and North Rift regions and others covering the high, medium and potential areas (HMPA) received late and poorly distributed rains during the 2013 long rains, according to the report.

The deficit has also been attributed to heavy rains that flooded farming lands as well as late distribution of the subsidised planting fertilisers to farmers. The floods caused havoc to crops in the fields as it washed away the plantation in affected areas. 

Fertiliser supply

The supply of fertiliser was affected by the electioneering period that coincided with the planting season.

“The crops which rely on heavy fertiliser, coupled with increased cost of land preparations saw the acreage under maize reduce compared to the previous year, hence affecting the production,” reads the report.

The report, which is the product of joint study by Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Ministry of Agriculture and the county governments, indicate that rains also ceased earlier than usual, leading to poor production of crops in the affected regions.

“Dry spell at critical stages of crop development was experienced in some parts of the key producing zones, affecting the production,” the report says.

Maize production from the main season is expected to drop by 30 per cent according to the Ministry of Agriculture and the research bodies.

READ: Maize shortage signals price increase

The government has already formed a team to audit the available food stocks nationally amid concern that the country could experience shortage as early as March next year.

“I have commissioned a team to carry out the research on the shortage that we are likely to register in order to know the figures that we will need from outside,” Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei said.

The report shows that the country is currently in possession of nine million bags under the household compared to last year the same period when 11 million bags was being held for subsistence at the domestic level.

The report also indicate that the current stocks of maize will last up to next year May and that the country will have to rely on imports to meet the deficit.

“Food security is very key to the country and we are moving with speed to establish the appropriate measure that will not leave us at an awkward situation in terms of food security,” he said.

This year’s maize production that had been projected at 43.3 million bags will drop to 33.9 million bags according to a report released by Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural, Policy and Development.

Mr Anthony Kioko, chief executive officer of the cereal growers association of Kenya notes that the delay in rains in lower Eastern Province, which supplements the country with the maize crop from the short rains in months of February and March, will have a huge impact on the commodity, pushing up the price.

Eastern Kenya

Mr Kioko says that farmers in Eastern Kenya started planting last month, when ideally the process should have begun mid October.

“From all indication, the country will register a sharp decline, the late planting of maize in lower eastern Kenya will obviously result to a drop as the crop will not perform well,” he said.

The shortage comes in the wake of increased consumption on maize resulting from overreliance which has pushed the annual figure to 40 million bags from the initial thirty three million bags.

Millers have petitioned the government to abolish the 50 percent tax on import duty charged on maize coming in from none EAC members in order to allow a systematic and stable flow of the stocks in the country.

“The government should move with speed and make a decision about the duty that is charged on imported maize in order to maintain affordable prices of flour for the consumers,” said Mr Diamond Lalji, the chairman of the millers association.