Why Kenya's food basket could change to Kitui, Samburu from North Rift

By Antony Gitonga

NAIVASHA, KENYA: The country's food basket could change from parts of North Rift to Kitui and Samburu due to climate change according to a new report.

The report 'Climate change to shift Kenya's breadbaskets’ warns of a possible geographic shift in maize production in the country.

While releasing the report, experts warned that the country weather partners would adversely change between now and 2050.

According to James Kinyangi from Climate Change, agriculture and food security (CCAFS), raising temperatures could make maize production impractical in parts of Rift Valley.

He added that research had indicated the high temperatures would see yields in the Coast also drop by over 25 percent.

"The research shows rainfall levels increasing in arid and semi-arid parts of Kenya like Kitui, Samburu and Isiolo which could allow maize growing to be carried out," he said.

Kinyangi noted that the change would be gradual adding that the affected communities would have time to embrace new farming.

He added that other cereals and mainly wheat production would also be affected with production falling in parts of Mt Kenya and Elgon and increasing in parts of Central Rift Valley.

Kinyangi was speaking in a Naivasha hotel where the report was presented during the National climate and agriculture meeting.