Kenya's looming food crisis calls for urgent agricultural reform

Published Jun 21, 2023

Tridge summary

Kenya is facing a food affordability crisis due to increasing food costs and stagnant or declining production of staple crops like maize, wheat, and rice, caused by high population growth. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the country's population has grown at a rate of 2.0% annually, while maize production has dropped by 25% over the last five years. This decline in production has led to a surge in maize imports, which have nearly doubled in five years. The situation is further worsened by a decrease in the production of supplementary staple crops. To mitigate this crisis, Kenya needs comprehensive agricultural reforms aimed at modernizing agricultural systems, empowering farmers, and diversifying food consumption. The country's economy is strained by the rising costs of importing essential crops.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The escalating cost of food in Kenya has been on an upward trajectory over recent years, with indications the trend will continue in the foreseeable future. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Kenya has experienced a consistent population growth rate of approximately 2.0 percent per annum. However, the production of Kenya's primary staple crops, including maize, wheat, and rice, has exhibited either stagnant or dwindling trends. As per FAOSTAT 2022, the authoritative data unit of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, Kenya has witnessed a notable decline in maize production by 25 percent over the past five years, whereas wheat production has demonstrated a relatively stable trend. The estimated annual maize production for the country in 2018 stood at 44.6 million bags, which considerably dwindled to 34.3 million bags by 2022. During the same period, maize imports surged from 88.6 million bags in 2018 to 146.0 million bags in 2022. The cultivation of rice ...

Source: Businessdailyafrica