Food security not so gloomy for Kenya in 2014

The price of maize is likely to increase early this
year according to a food assessment report. The
2014 high and medium rainfall areas (HMRA) food
situation assessment report states that there will
be a shortfall of maize after May to end of June
when the first harvest is expected.
"In view of this, prices of maize are likely to
slightly increase after April 2014 but the shortfall
will be easily covered by cross border trade
imports so the country will not experience any
shortages," the report said.
The report prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture
in partnership with the Food and Agriculture
Organisation and other partners from the sector
attributes this to the poor rainfall distribution and
the Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease in the South Rift
counties.
There was a slight drop in the yield especially for
maize and beans but there was improved
production of rice, wheat and other roots and
tubers crops.
The current short rains are characterised by late
onset and are likely to cease much earlier,
according to forecast by the meteorology
department. Overall, low performance of crop
production is expected during the current short
rains compared to the 2012 season.
The reported further states that household food
stocks are currently good in most of the counties
except for areas such as Migori and Vihiga which
were hard hit by the floods and production is
below normal due to land sizes and low use of
fertilisers.
"In addition, average stocks held by farmers has
gone down in 2013 compared to 2012 as most
farmers are selling maize to traders to enable
them buy other household goods. In the North
and South Rift, farmers are beginning to purchase
fertilisers and as such they are disposing off their
stocks to traders. Despite decline in stocks level
and projected deficit, the maize balance sheet
after May 2013 indicate that imports from
neighbouring countries have been lower in 2013
compared to 2012," the report says.