Strategic Food Reserves

Kenya said on August 13 that it plans to increase its strategic food reserve to 8 million bags of maize in the medium term to boost food security.

Eugene Wamalwa, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry Of Devolution and ASAL Areas, told journalists in Nairobi that $14 million has been set aside in the current financial year to purchase maize both locally and abroad to boost the food reserves.

Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation indicates that the country produces approximately 39 million bags of maize annually against a consumption of 46 million bags. The shortfall is met through imports from the international markets as well as through informal trade from Uganda and Tanzania, Wamalwa said. To guarantee more maize production, he said, the government is enhancing investment in irrigation as well as fertilizer subsidies to maize farmers.

$14 mln has been set aside by the Kenyan Government in the current financial year to purchase maize both locally and abroad to boost the food reserves