- Kenya plans to import 25 million bags of maize to bridge a drought driven food deficit
- The shortage threatens supplies and could put pressure on maize prices and consumers
- Government is turning to irrigation expansion and tax reforms to strengthen local food production
Kenya will import 25 million bags of maize to cover a deficit caused by drought, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe has announced, as the government moves to protect the country from food shortages.
Kagwe said arrangements for the imports are already underway. He made the announcement during a joint consultative meeting between the national government, county governments and the World Bank, held to review progress on the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) and the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP).
“We are making arrangements to import 25 million bags of 90 kilogrammes each,” Kagwe said, attributing the shortfall to drought that has hit several maize growing regions.
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Although the imports offer an immediate fix, Kagwe said the government is also pursuing long term measures to strengthen local production and cut the country’s exposure to climate shocks.
Chief among these is the expansion of irrigation schemes such as Galana Kulalu, which the government expects will boost productivity and reduce dependence on rain-fed farming. The project, spanning parts of Kilifi and Tana River counties, has previously been flagged as a pioneer initiative for large-scale food security.
The Ministry will also work with the National Treasury to streamline taxes and cut bureaucratic bottlenecks facing farmers and agribusinesses, an effort aimed at making the sector more competitive.
By Benedict Aoya
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