Tough times as maize production dips

Seasonal maize production in the country is estimated to be below-average due to inadequate rains that affected crop germination and development, the United Nations has said.

The Global Information and Early Warning System country brief by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations linked the decline in production to increased incidents of the viral maize lethal necrosis disease in some maize-growing zones.

Harvesting for the 2014 'long rains' season in the high and medium areas of the North Rift, Kenya's breadbasket, continues until the end of the year but in the south-eastern parts of the country, harvesting ended in August.

It is estimated that the total cereal production in 2014 (including a forecast of a slightly above-average output for the 'short rains' season to be harvested by early 2015) will be 3.5 million tonnes, about 12 per cent below the last five-year average.

This decline means the cereal import requirement for the 2014-2015 financial year is set at above average level of about 2.5 million tonnes, which includes 1.1 million tonnes of wheat and wheat flour, and over 1.3 million tonnes of maize and maize flour.