Poor rain forecast points to further surge in inflation
A customer shops at Woodley Supermarket in Nyeri last year. The weatherman says food security is expected to deteriorate during the October-December period. FILE
Inadequate rainfall in the short planting season between October and November has worsened outlook of the inflation rate, which last month surged to a 13-month high of 6.7 per cent.
The Meteorological Department on Friday predicted that the upcoming planting season would record depressed rainfall, likely to impact negatively on the cost of food and electricity.
Rising food and fuel prices was cited in last month’s inflation rate increase to 6.7 per cent from 6.02 per cent, according to data released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics on Friday.
The report indicates that the cost of housing, water, gas and electricity went up by 0.99 per cent between July and August, mainly due to increase in prices of kerosene and electricity.
The weather forecast indicated that some key agricultural areas would record inadequate rains.
“Generally depressed rainfall is expected over most agricultural areas of the country,” said Joseph Mukabana, director of the Metrological Department. In a statement sent to the media, Dr Mukabana said the rainfall would be poorly distributed, impacting negatively on the agricultural activities and power generation.
The weatherman says food security is expected to deteriorate especially in the eastern sector of Kenya during the October-December period, urging farmers to embrace the fast maturing crops to cushion them from hunger.
“Farmers are advised to liaise with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries for advice and where possible plant fast maturing as well as drought resistant crops to improve food security,” said Dr Mukabana.
The major river catchment areas for hydroelectric power generating dams are also expected to receive near-average rainfall.
“This means that surface water run-offs may register low inflows into rivers like Tana and Athi and this may lead to a slight decrease in water levels, thereby reducing the capacity for hydroelectric power generation in the Seven-Folk dams,” said the forecast.
Farmers in South Rift depend on the short rains to plant the short season crop.
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