Area:
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570 000 sq.km
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Climate:
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North-east is semi-arid to arid; mountainous central and south-western areas have two rainy seasons: March-May and November December.
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Population:
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30.75 million (2001 estimate), GNP per caput US$360 (1999)
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country; regular importer and occasional exporter of grain.
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Logistics:
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Good port (Mombasa) and extensive rail and road network. Gateway to Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda
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Major foodcrops:
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Maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers
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Marketing year:
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October/September
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Lean season:
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June-July
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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56 percent
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The 2001 main "long rains" cropping season has began and the outlook is favourable due to the forecasted normal rainfall in major producing areas. However, the outlook in pastoral areas remains bleak with expectations of below normal rainfall.
Harvesting of the 2000/2001 secondary "short rains" cereal crop, accounting for some 15 to 20 percent of annual production, is complete. The unseasonal continuation of the rains well into last January has helped improve yields. This crop provides the main source of food in parts of Central and Eastern provinces. The main "long rains" cereal crop, harvested until last October, was significantly reduced due to a severe drought. Official estimates indicate maize output of about 1.7 million tonnes compared to 2.4 million tonnes average over the previous five years. The aggregate 2000/01 cereal production is provisionally estimated at 2.1 million tonnes, 22 percent and 28 percent below the previous year's crop and the average respectively.
The severe drought in 1999/2000 seriously undermined the food security of nearly 4.4 million people and resulted in a massive relief operation. Despite some improvement, the food supply situation is still fragile, particularly in the northern, eastern and north-eastern pastoral districts. The severe scarcity of water and pasture has resulted in loss of large numbers of livestock and the process of recovery is rather slow.
An revised Emergency Operation was jointly approved in January 2001 by FAO and WFP for food assistance to 4.4 million drought affected people, worth US$148.9 million for a period of six months.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 267 | 50 | 2 588 | 2 905 |
| Previous five years average imports | 456 | 222 | 745 | 1 423 |
| 2000/01 Domestic Availability | 180 | 33 | 1 986 | 2 199 |
| 2000 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 130 | 50 | 1 916 | 2 096 |
| 2000 Production (rice in milled terms) | 130 | 33 | 1 916 | 2 079 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 50 | - | 70 | 120 |
| 2000/01 Utilization | 780 | 233 | 3 350 | 4 363 |
| Food Use | 760 | 213 | 3 014 | 3 987 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 7 | 7 |
| Non-food use | 20 | 20 | 336 | 376 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2000/01 Import Requirement | 600 | 200 | 1 364 | 2 164 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 451 | 200 | 750 | 1 401 |
| Food aid needs | 149 | - | 614 | 763 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 49 | - | 111 | 160 |
| of which: Delivered | 14 | - | 111 | 125 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 7 | 7 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 7 | 7 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 25 | 7 | 98 | 130 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2000 production as % of average: | 72 | |||
| 2000/01 import requirement as % of average: | 152 |
