Nairobi – Experts are warning Kenya could face a maize deficit following erratic rains and dry conditions in major growing belts in the country.A recently-released food report indicates that the country will register a shortage of 10 million bags of maize from the ongoing harvest, confirming the initial statement by the government over the same.Western and North Rift regions and others covering the high, medium and potential areas received late and poorly distributed rains during the 2013 long rains, according to the report.The deficit has also been attributed to heavy rains that flooded farming lands as well as late distribution of the subsidised fertilisers to farmers. The floods caused havoc to crops in the fields as it washed away the plantation in affected areas. The supply of fertiliser was affected by the electioneering period that coincided with the planting season.“This coupled with increased cost of land preparations saw the acreage under maize reduce compared to the previous year, hence affecting output,” reads the report.The report, which is the product of joint study by the Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Ministry of Agriculture and the county governments, indicate that rains also ceased earlier than usual, leading to poor production of crops in the affected regions.“A dry spell at critical stages of crop development was experienced in some parts of the key producing zones, affecting production,” the report says.Maize production from the main season is expected to drop by 30 per cent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and the research bodies. The government has already constituted a team to audit the available food stocks nationally amid concern that the country could experience shortage as early as March next year.“I have commissioned a team to carry out research on the shortage that we are likely to register in order to know the figures that we will need from outside,” Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei said.The report shows that the country is currently in possession of nine million bags of maize grain compared to last year the same period when 11 million bags were being held for subsistence at the domestic level.The report also indicates that the current stocks of maize will last up to May next year and that the country will have to rely on imports to meet the deficit. “Food security is key to the country and we are moving fast to establish the appropriate measures to ensure there is enough food for all Kenyans,” he said.This year’s maize production that had been projected at 43.3 million bags will drop to 33.9 million bags, according to a report released by Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural, Policy and Development.Anthony Kioko, chief executive officer of the Cereal Growers Association of Kenya, noted that the delay in rains in lower Eastern Province, which supplements the country with the maize crop from the short rains in months of February and March, will have a huge impact on the commodity, pushing up the price.Millers have petitioned the government to abolish the 50 per cent tax on import duty charged on maize coming in from non-EAC members in order to allow a systematic and stable flow of the stocks in the country.“The government should decide fast about the duty that is charged on imported maize in order to maintain affordable prices of flour for the consumers,” said Diamond Lalji, the chairman of the millers association.
