Kenya expects to have a surplus of 2.2 million 90-kg bags of maize (198,000 tonnes) by the end of December, thanks to improved harvests from its long and short rainy seasons and a steady flow of duty-free imports, its Agriculture Ministry said.
The east African nation said it expected to harvest 6.8 million 90-kg bags of maize (612,000 tonnes) from its ended long rainy season between March and May, which will increase supply of the staple food after months of shortages that mainly hit its eastern and northern areas.
"The country's food situation is likely to improve in the next coming months as harvesting of long rains crop continue in the major high production areas," the ministry said in a document seen by Reuters. The 2.2 million bags were insufficient enough to feed the country for a month, the ministry said. Its maize stocks as at August 31 stood at 11.3 million bags, with the state-run National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) holding 2.8 million bags.
Farmers had in their custody 7.1 million bags, while traders and millers held 1.1 million and 0.2 million bags, respectively. "As surplus of food is likely to be experienced in the regions harvesting long rains crop, effective and efficient food redistribution from surplus to deficit areas should be prioritised," the ministry said. The surplus could provide relief to east Africa's largest economy where rising food, fuel and electricity prices have helped push the inflation rate higher for 10 months in a row. It hit 16.67 percent in August.
Kenya said it projected surplus of maize may be higher following forecasts of higher rainfall during the short rainy season later in the year. "The situation should however improve if short rains come in time to boost production in the drought affected regions and irrigation production is stepped up in the major irrigation schemes," the ministry said.