Area: |
570 000 sq.km |
Climate: |
North-east is semi-arid to arid; mountainous central and south-western areas have two rainy seasons: March-May and November December. |
Population: |
31.61 million (2002 estimate), GNP per caput US$360 (2000) |
Specific characteristics of the country: |
Low-income food-deficit country; regular importer and occasional exporter of grain. |
Logistics: |
Good port (Mombasa) and extensive rail and road network. Gateway to Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda |
Major foodcrops: |
Maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers |
Marketing year: |
October/September; Lean season: June-July |
Share of cereals in total calorie intake: |
56 percent |
Harvesting of the 2001 main "long rains" cereal crops is complete in the main growing areas of the Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza Provinces. The main rainy season (March-May), which normally accounts for 80 percent of total annual food production, has largely been favourable resulting in improved food supply in most parts of the country. Preliminary official estimates indicate a maize output of about 2.31 million tonnes for the season, an increase of about 20 percent over the reduced harvest last year. With forecast of normal secondary season rains, the 2001/02 aggregate maize output is forecast at 2.7 million tonnes, well above average.
Following the good cereal harvest and adequate stock levels, prices of maize, the staple crop, have declined considerably prompting the Government to appeal to donors to increase local purchases to support the producers.
However, despite the improvement in the overall food supply situation, pastoralists in northern and eastern parts of the country continue to face serious food supply difficulties. Water and pasture conditions remain poor and with below-normal rainfall forecast in the September to December season the situation is anticipated to deteriorate further. This has already led to long distance trekking in search of grazing which in turn has increased the likelihood of large-scale livestock mortality.
In September 2001 WFP distributed food aid to about 1.56 million people in 13 pastoral and agro-pastoral districts.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Previous five years average production
|
230 |
51 |
2 357 |
2 638 |
|
Previous five years average imports
|
539 |
207 |
940 |
1 686 |
|
2001/02 Domestic Availability
|
230 |
33 |
3 129 |
3 392 |
|
2001 Production (rice in paddy terms)
|
230 |
50 |
2 939 |
3 219 |
|
2001 Production (rice in milled terms)
|
230 |
33 |
2 939 |
3 202 |
|
Possible stock drawdown
|
- |
- |
190 |
190 |
|
2001/02 Utilization
|
830 |
233 |
3 529 |
4 592 |
|
Food use
|
797 |
213 |
3 129 |
4 139 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement
|
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
Non-food use
|
33 |
20 |
400 |
453 |
|
Exports or re-exports
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Possible stock build up
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
2001/02 Import Requirement
|
600 |
200 |
400 |
1 200 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports
|
451 |
200 |
100 |
751 |
|
Food aid needs
|
149 |
- |
300 |
449 |
|
Current Aid Position
|
||||
|
Food aid pledges
|
37 |
- |
56 |
93 |
|
of which: delivered
|
- |
- |
56 |
56 |
|
Donor-financed purchases
|
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
of which: for local use
|
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
for export
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year)
|
25 |
7 |
99 |
131 |
|
Indexes
|
||||
|
2001 Production as % of average:
|
122 |
|||
|
2001/02 Import requirement as % of average:
|
71 |
