FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.37
| 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$350 (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 |
Prospects for the 2002 main “long rains” season crops have deteriorated following an early end to long season rains. Earlier optimistic crop prospects based on normal rainfall forecasts were dampened by actual erratic rains and some key maize growing areas in the Rift Valley Province have received poor rains. However, the maize harvest in Western and Nyanza provinces, with the exception of some flooded areas, is expected to be normal to above normal. Early estimates of the long rains maize crop indicate an output of about 1.89 million tonnes compared to 2.32 million tonnes in 2001.
Unusually heavy rains in several previously drought affected pastoralist areas have improved overall food supply prospects. However, continued food security concerns are reported in the districts of Mandera, Moyale, southern parts of Tana River, West Pokot, Koibatek, Marakwet and Baringo. An Emergency Operation was jointly approved in April 2002 by FAO and WFP for food assistance to 1.26 million drought-affected people, worth US$36.26 million for a period of 6-1/2 months (15 April to 31 October).
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 230 | 52 | 2 357 | 2 639 |
| Previous five years average imports | 556 | 85 | 920 | 1 561 |
| 2001/02 Domestic Availability | 250 | 37 | 3 089 | 3 376 |
| 2001 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 230 | 55 | 2 939 | 3 224 |
| 2001 Production (rice in milled terms) | 230 | 36 | 2 939 | 3 205 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 20 | 1 | 150 | 171 |
| 2001/02 Utilization | 790 | 177 | 3 489 | 4 456 |
| Food use | 757 | 155 | 3 079 | 3 991 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 100 | 100 |
| Non-food use | 33 | 21 | 400 | 454 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2001/02 Import Requirement | 540 | 140 | 400 | 1 080 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 470 | 140 | 200 | 810 |
| Food aid needs | 70 | - | 200 | 270 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 38 | - | 74 | 111 |
| of which: delivered | 38 | - | 74 | 111 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | 21 | 21 |
| of which: for local use | - | - | 20 | 20 |
| for export | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 24 | 5 | 97 | 126 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2001 Production as % of average: | 122 | |||
| 2001/02 Import requirement as % of average: | 69 |