Experts warn on food shortage in the country

Food security experts have asked the government to implement the Maputo Declaration which requires at least 10 percent of the country's budget to be allocated to the agriculture sector.
The experts said deteriorating food shortage in the country may worsen if the government fails to put in place proper mitigation measures to alleviate the situation.
Speaking during a Journalists Conference at a Kisumu hotel,  Lawrence Kiguro, Associate Director-Livelihoods and Resilience at the World Vision Kenya said that the situation will worsen this year.
"Over 1.6million people in the country last year were in dire need of food and this year the numbers may increase due to dwindling rainfall patterns among other factors," he said.
"The Government needs to implement the declaration if it is serious about addressing food security in the country," said Kiguro.
Kiguro said the situation has been aggravated by unfavourable policies resulting in inadequate resource allocation.
"The short rains received in March during the planting season and those expected in August will not be sufficient for Kenya's food production," said Kiguro.
The official said that according to an assessment of food situation in the country carried out by the humanitarian agency, between 26-30 million of bags of maize will be harvested in the country this year. The production is against the annual consumption of 30-36 million bags every year translating to a deficit of between 4-8 million bags.
The experts pointed out the worst hit counties as West Pokot, Mandera, Turkana, Samburu and Marsabit.
"Kenya should diversify its diet. There has been over dependence on maize and a negative attitude towards other crops,"said  Kiguro.