There is enough maize to feed the country for five months, says Agriculture CS Willy Bett

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett during the launch of the first Africa Post Harvest Conference in Nairobi. (Photo: Beverlyne Musili/Standard)

The government has said there is enough maize to feed the country for the next five months, if the current drought situation persists.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett has said a ground survey done by the ministry has revealed that the country has 21 million bags of maize.

This is from both what the national reserve and what farmers are hoarding.

“Coupled with other grains like beans and rice, this can take us up to June if the current situation remains constant. But we are closely monitoring,” said Bett.

The CS also dismissed claims that maize held by the country's cereal board is unfit for human consumption-some argued to be held for over eight years-saying the current policy by the newly formed strategic reserve board has capped the storage to two years.

“Whatever was not good was sold to animal feed millers,” said Bett.

Bett said the government targets to buy two million bags from farmers by the end of the month to increase the government reserve.

So far, the government has bought 1.4 million bags of 90 kilogrammes each.

“The challenge we have now is that farmers are hoarding maize. I believe the price of Sh3, 000 a bag the government is offering is fair enough,” argued Bett.

Bett said the country currently requires 29 million bags which reveal a deficit of eight million bags. Kenya needs to produce at least 32 million bags to be food secure.

“Such deficit is what is usually covered with the short rains which this year, has been uneven causing the drought. If this persists, then we will have to employ different strategies but currently we are not looking into buying grains from neighbouring countries,” said Bett.

The CS was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the first African Post Harvest Conference scheduled for March 28.

About 500 delegates from across the globe will attend the conference organized by The University of Nairobi where experts will share knowledge and ideas on how to minimize post-harvest loss.

Currently, about 30 per cent of farmers' harvest does not reach the table where grains and horticulture produce are leading with 12 and 44 per cent respectively.