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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Prospects for the 2000 main "long rains" cereal crop, to be harvested from October in the main growing areas, are unfavourable. The long rains cropping season (March-May), which normally accounts for 80 percent of total annual food production, has failed due to a severe drought. With the exception of parts of Western Province and Nyanza Province, the rest of the country, including the "bread basket" Rift Valley Province, have received little or no rainfall, leading to widespread crop failures as well as large livestock losses in the pastoral areas of the north, north-east and north-west. Current official forecast puts the 2000 long rains maize crop at only 1.4 million tonnes, 36 percent lower than the long rains average of 2.21 million tonnes and 22 percent less than the drought-reduced 1999 long rains crop of 1.8 million tonnes. Assuming the 2000 short rains (October-December) harvest at the same level as in 1999, estimated at 450 000 tonnes, total domestic production available for consumption in 2000/01 amounts to 1.85 million tonnes. Maize stocks are estimated to be depleted at all levels throughout the country. With a national maize utilization requirement (including food, feed, seed, losses) estimated at 3.21 million tonnes, Kenya will need to import some 1.4 million tonnes until the next main harvest in September 2001.
The country's food supply situation gives cause for serious concern with nearly 3.3 million people now estimated to be in need of urgent food assistance. Pastoralists are of particular concern as they are faced with the fourth consecutive failure of the rainy season. The current drought has aggravated an already severe scarcity of water and pasture and resulted in large livestock losses. Starvation-related deaths, particularly among children, are being reported. An Emergency Operation for US$88.5 million was jointly approved by FAO and WFP on 30 June 2000 to assist some 3.3 million people for a period of 6 months. Earlier in May, the Government appealed for international food assistance amounting to US$134.2 million, reflecting the large numbers of people faced with severe food shortages. The long drought has also drained reservoirs in dams, prompting the Government to take measures of rationing power for the next six months.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 299 | 53 | 2 755 | 3 107 |
| Previous five years average imports | 406 | 222 | 572 | 1 200 |
| 1999/2000 Domestic Availability | 385 | 33 | 2 496 | 2 914 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 135 | 50 | 2 496 | 2 681 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | 135 | 33 | 2 496 | 2 664 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 250 | - | - | 250 |
| 1999/2000 Utilization | 775 | 233 | 3 496 | 4 504 |
| Food Use | 755 | 213 | 3 087 | 4 055 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 14 | 14 |
| Non-food use | 20 | 20 | 409 | 449 |
| 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 | - | 50 | 55 |
| of which: Delivered | 5 | - | 50 | 55 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 14 | 14 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 14 | 14 |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 25 | 7 | 103 | 136 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of average: | 86 | |||
| 1999/2000 import requirement as % of average: | 133 |
