| The country’s strategic grain reserve is already worryingly low, and development and agricultural experts anticipate a 40 per cent reduction in grain production this season.  | | A deserted farm in Kiambaa, Uasin Gishu District. Photo/FILE | To further aggravate matters, the five million bags of strategic grain reserve at the National Cereals and Produce Board is fast being depleted because of the need to feed internally displaced persons following post-election violence. According to NCPB spokesman Kipserem Maritim, the reserve grain would have sustained the country until August when new crop is harvested. However, the increased demand for the stocks and the disruption of farming activities occasioned by post-election violence have set the Board’s projections back. Regional and interntional agricultural experts have warned of a looming food crisis, and Tanzania is already facing a maize shortfall of 300,000 tonnes. It also faces a drop in production. To plug this gap the country has to import maize, which it usually sources from Kenya’s grain basket, the North Rift region. But this season, key grain-producing districts in the region like Trans-Nzoia, Uasin Gishu and Lugari will experience a drastic decline in crop production. Erratic weather patterns In addition to the displacement of farmers and erratic weather patterns, factors affecting this decline include escalating fuel and fertilizer prices and the high cost of labour and herbicides. To counter these rising costs, farmers have begun to cut down on the acreage under cultivation of grains like maize and wheat. Trans-Nzoia is projected to harvest almost 3 million bags of maize this season, down from 6 million bags last year following reduced acreage under cultivation of the crop from 109,557 hectares to 98,000 hectares, said District Agricultural Officer Felicia Ndung’u. Uasin Gishu District should harvest 3.7 million bags of maize this season down from 4.3 million bags last year. District Agricultural Officer Grace Kirui says acreage under maize declined from 38,445 hectares to 32,293 hectares as farmers moved to other more lucrative ventures like dairy farming.  But maize production in the two districts is expected to be much lower than projected since displaced farmers have been unable to till their land. More than 150,000 people were displaced in Uasin Gishu and 40,000 others in Trans-Nzoia.
The announcement by Agriculture minister William Ruto that the cost of top dressing would be lowered from Sh1,800 to Sh1,650 and the release of Sh127 million for grain delivery to NCPB have been viewed by most farmers as good news that has come too late. “The government should have moved fast to cushion us from the high cost of farm inputs. The planting season is almost over and this kind of frustration will cause most farmers to abandon maize and wheat cultivation in favour of other lucrative ventures,” said Isaac Kiborgy of Sergoit in Uasin Gishu. Apart from possibly having to import maize this season, the country will also have to import tonnes of wheat to meet the anticipated shortfall. “The country should expect a drastic decline in wheat production this season. Cultivation of the crop is mechanised, and most farmers cannot afford the rising costs,” said Peter Kosgei of Moiben in Uasin Gishu. Increase in prices The shortage of wheat and maize is likely to cause an increase in staple food prices like bread, maize flour and cereals. “The increased food prices will make it difficult for most families to place food on their table unless urgent measures are put in place to address the problem,” said Joyce Chekoech, a trader at the Eldoret retail market. Protests over rising food prices have erupted in several countries, and to prevent this from happening in Kenya, farmers and industry experts have called for proper planning. “No country in the world is safe from the looming food crisis, Kenya included. Agriculturally rich countries have either switched to other lucrative ventures including making and using biofuel or are experiencing the possibility of crop failure,” said Robert Langat, an agricultural expert. To avert starvation and malnutrition due to possible food shortages, nutritionists are calling on Kenyans to change their eating habits and consume more drought-resistant foods
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Farmers have also called for the revival of agricultural mechanisation through tractor hire and for the government to start an irrigation system in dry areas to improve Kenya’s food security. SOURCE: http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=121548
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