Maize production in Kenya are boosted by above-average rainfall

Published 2024년 3월 19일

Tridge summary

Kenyan counties that experienced drought last year have seen improvements in food and nutrition security due to the long and short rain seasons. The Kenya Food Security Steering Group and the Agriculture Ministry anticipate a 15-20% increase in national maize production for 2023, reaching 4.2 million tonnes. However, Kenya still faces a maize deficit, necessitating about 356,000 metric tonnes of maize imports annually. Staple food prices remain high in arid and semi-arid regions due to factors such as low opening stocks, high demand, and the depreciation of the Kenya shilling. Additionally, crop losses have been reported in Lamu County due to pest attacks and diseases.

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Original content

Most counties that were affected by a ravaging drought last year have reported a slight improvement in food and nutrition security due to the March-April-May long rains and the October-November-December short rain season last year. An assessment report by the Kenya Food Security Steering Group (KFSSG) and the Agriculture Ministry expects the 2023 national maize production to be 4.2 million tonnes, 15-20 percent above the five-year average. Read: Maize prices fall 12.7pc on better local harvests The report highlights that despite the high and medium rainfall areas of western Kenya and Rift Valley having near average-to-average production, Kenya remains a maize deficit country requiring about 356,000 metric tonnes of maize imports per year, whose prices are dictated by drivers at both local and regional levels. “From October 2023, prices were on a downward trend in both urban and rural markets driven by available local long rains harvests from the high and medium rainfall areas and ...

Source: Businessdailyafrica