Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has assured Kenyans that the country will remain food secure despite the effects of drought and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
Kagwe said the government had put in place measures to cushion the country against reduced agricultural production, including plans to import maize and other commodities where necessary to bridge supply gaps.
He spoke during a visit to Trans Nzoia County, where he assessed the impact of dry conditions on maize production and maize seed multiplication.
Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang, Kenya Seed Company Managing Director Sammy Kiplagat Chepsiror and other national and county government officials accompanied him.
Kagwe said maize production was expected to decline because of the drought but ruled out a food shortage, saying Kenya would supplement local supplies through imports.
He said the government was looking to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region for additional maize supplies.
“We expect maize production to decline because of the drought, but we have put in place measures to ensure this does not translate into a food shortage,” Kagwe said.
The CS also said the country had adequate maize seed stocks despite the dry conditions.
He estimated that between 25 and 30 per cent of the seed crop could be lost but said the remaining stocks would be sufficient to support farmers during the next planting season.
Kagwe said the government was working with seed producers to safeguard supplies and ensure farmers have access to adequate and quality seed.
The CS said changing weather patterns were forcing the government to rethink its approach to agriculture and livestock production.
He said climate change was already a reality and Kenya could no longer rely entirely on traditional weather patterns when planning agricultural activities.
Kagwe said the government would continue relying on forecasts and advice from the Kenya Meteorological Department to prepare for drought, El Niño and other extreme weather events.
He said the government's response would remain dynamic as weather conditions became increasingly unpredictable.
“We have to recognise that climate change is already here. Our plans must therefore remain dynamic because the weather is no longer as predictable as it was in the past,” he said.
The CS said the government was preparing contingency plans for both agriculture and livestock to enable farmers to respond to changing conditions.
Kagwe also said Kenya would continue importing commodities such as wheat and rice to bridge the gap between local production and demand.
He noted that Kenya produces only a small proportion of its wheat requirements and has traditionally relied on imports.
On rice, he attributed growing demand to population growth, urbanisation and changing dietary preferences among the country's youthful population.
Kagwe also said sugar production had increased significantly, with output doubling for the first time.
He said the rise could enable Kenya to reduce and potentially eliminate its reliance on sugar imports if the trend is sustained.
Kagwe maintained that despite the difficult agricultural season ahead, the government had mitigation measures in place to protect food supplies and ensure farmers have adequate seed.
He said the government would continue monitoring weather conditions and adjusting its plans to ensure Kenya remains food secure.
