Harvesting of the 2002 main season cereal crops is almost complete. Official reports indicate improved overall crop production with preliminary estimates of total cereal production (maize, rice, wheat, sorghum and millet) at 4.3 million tonnes, about 10 percent above last year’s harvest due to favourable rains. Similarly, prospects for non-cereal crops (pulses, potatoes, cassava and plantains) are reported to be good.
The overall food situation remains satisfactory with increased on-farm stocks and market supplies. Nationally, maize prices have declined since April with the harvest. Adequate availability of water and forage has also improved the food security of most pastoralists. However, localized food shortages are anticipated in some northern parts of the country during the 2002/03 marketing year due to poor performance of the short (vuli) rains and the long (masika) rains. Insufficient pasture and water is also predicted in these areas.