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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31.10 million (1999 estimate), GNP per caput US$ 330 (1998)
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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 2000 main "long rains" cropping season has began and the outlook is uncertain so far due to continued drought conditions in most regions.
Harvesting of the 1999/2000 secondary "short rains" cereal crop, accounting for some 20 percent of annual production, is complete. Late and insufficient rains resulted in reduction in planting and negatively affected yields. Current estimates put the short rains maize crop at 315 000 tonnes, compared with the previous five year average of about 410 000 tonnes. The output of the main "long rains" cereal crop, harvested until last October, was significantly reduced, particularly in Eastern, Central, Western and Nyanza Provinces due to drought, inadequate input supply and armyworm infestation in parts. Official estimates indicate maize output of about 2.1 million tonnes compared to 2.44 million tonnes in 1998 and 2.5 million tonnes average over the previous five years.
The food supply situation is critical in the northern, eastern and north-western pastoral districts and parts of Central, Coast and Rift Valley provinces affected by drought during the 1999/2000 "short rains" season. In the pastoral areas, the short rains are crucial for the replenishment of water supplies and pastures after the long dry season, while in agricultural areas, crops from the short rains provide the bulk of food supplies. Worst affected districts include Turkana, Mandera, Moyale, Garissa, Kajiado, Machakos, Mbeere, Kitui, Wajir, Mwingi, Tana River, Marsabit, Isiolo, Baringo, Samburu, West Pokot, Makueni, and Tharaka Nithi. Prices of maize, the major staple in the country have increased sharply in most parts affecting the livelihood of large number of people. In January, maize prices were up to 50 percent higher than the average for the previous five years. Increased malnutrition and health problems were also reported.
An Emergency Operation was jointly approved in January 2000 by FAO and WFP for food assistance to 2.74 million drought affected people, worth US$ 43.4 million for a period of five months. The Government has also appealed in February for about US$62 million to combat the looming food shortage and distributed 5 400 tonnes of maize to 25 food-insecure districts.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal Production | 241 | 49 | 2 587 | 2 877 |
| Normal Imports | 311 | 57 | 312 | 680 |
| of which: Structural food aid | 74 | - | - | 74 |
| 1999/2000 Domestic Availability | 335 | 33 | 2 366 | 2 734 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 135 | 50 | 2 346 | 2 531 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | 135 | 33 | 2 346 | 2 514 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 200 | - | 20 | 220 |
| 1999/2000 Utilization | 725 | 233 | 3 366 | 4 324 |
| Food Use | 705 | 213 | 3 107 | 4 025 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| Non-food use | 20 | 20 | 259 | 299 |
| Exports or Re-exports | - | - | - | - |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 1999/2000 Import Requirement | 390 | 200 | 1 000 | 1 590 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 300 | 200 | 880 | 1 380 |
| Food aid needs | 90 | - | 120 | 210 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 5 | - | 4 | 9 |
| of which: Delivered | 5 | - | 4 | 9 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 22 | 7 | 97 | 126 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of normal: | 88 | |||
| 1999/2000 import requirement as % of normal: | 234 | |||
| 1999/2000 food aid requirement as % of normal: | 230 |
