Food Security in Kenya - Case Study Example

Name : xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Tutor : xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Title : Food Security in Kenya Date : xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx @ 2011 Food Security in Kenya Introduction Kenya, a country in the Eastern part of Africa is classified among the food insecure countries of the world. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, food security is the situation “when all people have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets dietary needs and food preference for an active and healthy life at all times” FAO (2002). The country has been rated as having the best economy in the region in the past few years. However the economical gains made have not been adequate to ensure abundant food on the tables of many Kenyans on daily basis. This paper deeply examines the causes of food security problems in Kenya, the responses taken and the effectiveness of those responses. Causes of food problems For a long time Kenya has had incidences of starvation in the country some of which have seen the death of people. The situation of food inadequacy in the country has perennially been cause by the harsh climatic conditions that are present in the country. 80% of the country is classified as Arid and semi Arid. This fraction of the country rarely gets sufficient rainfall which when available is always erratic. Since the country’s economy is principally sustained by rain fed agriculture, such conditions have always caused problems. Many of the pastoral communities in the country are normally adversely affected due to drought which causes the death of their animals. Drought situations occur frequently in the country Kang’ethe, Ontita & Mwangi (2000 p. 120). Political instability has also been cited as a reason contributing to food scarcity. The 2008 post election violence that occurred in Kenya after the disputed elections of 2007 affected the agricultural sector of the country a great deal. This is the major problem contributing to the present food crisis in the country. Protesters burned food crops in the fields and farmers were displaced because of the violence. Consequently there were no satisfactory harvests in the country. Maize is the staple food and this is the crop that was badly affected. Maize production has been stepped up but wheat and rice productions are still very low Meissner (1996 p.210). Another factor of great concern is the high population growth rate which has seen the population of Kenya rise to over 42 million people as per the 2009 National census. The size of the country is 582, 650 square kilometers. This fast growing population has been battling with the HIV-AIDS pandemic for a long time. Farmers are highly affected by this disease and are dying in large numbers. This affects the growth of the agricultural sector and puts unnecessary stress on the economy. Feeding a highly growing population is stressful especially when the levels of food production in the country are not high. Other contributing factors include livestock diseases and high prices for farm inputs which impact directly on the economy of the farmers Kang’ethe et al (2000). Poverty affects a sizeable portion of the population especially the peasant farmers. As a result they are unable to farm their lands and they end up partitioning them for sale to people in need of making residential buildings on them. This is a problem that is said to be reducing the volume of large scale crop production at a high rate. The problem is partially caused by high population growth rate Meissner (1996 p. 200). Responses to the food situation The government has the obligation to feed its people and has always tried to help those under chronic starvation through various ways. Emergency cases are met with distribution of relief food which sustains people until the situation improves. It also intervenes in the activities of farmers on a short term to boost their production of food. Intervention efforts include provision of tools, equipment and inputs to farmers, mass vaccination of livestock and animal feed provision. Government also provides, fish stocks, fish equipment and facilities for cold storage. Others include water tanks, rehabilitation of boreholes, removal of silt in dams and water pans. Health and nutrition packages are also provided by government. Much of the efforts made to control food security issues in the country are undertaken by the government. International agencies have limited involvement and whenever they come in they do that through the government. The government has some long term intervention initiatives taken to ensure food sufficiency Meissner (1996 p. 220). Through technological development and application the government backs efforts made to raise production of food. It also helps in buying and storing grains in Strategic Grain Reserves to be used in times of food scarcity. The government imports fertilizers which are sold to farmers at a subsidized price. Currently the government is undertaking a program in which it is offering support to 4 major parastatals for continued procurement of bulk fertilizers for farmers. Through the ministry of Agriculture the Kenyan government funds various programs which impact on food production Kang’ethe et al (2000 p. 130). One major concern for the government as far as food security is concerned has been the resettlement of those families displaced by the 2008 violence and provision of support to their efforts in food production. The government has been in the process of distributing food, seeds, agricultural equipment and fertilizer to these families. It also develops and offers support to services of business development through which the families are connected to market and financial institutions. These families are made of traders, livestock farmers, fishermen and crop farmers. In the long term the government seeks to implement some well thought out measures to help in food production. In harmony with the Agriculture Revitalization Strategy and the government’s vision for year 2030, legal as well as policy framework is being undertaken in order to make an environment which can support investment and increased agricultural production. A coordinating unit has been set up for the Agriculture sector by sector ministries to carry out reviews which will create legislation for the bigger sector Horesnstein, (1989 p. 115). The government also makes efforts to provide skills and knowledge to farmers and staff involved in extension services by way of sharing knowledge and training. This is done to encourage farmers to see their occupation as a business. There are plans to raise the number of industries dealing in the processing of agricultural products in rural areas compared to urban areas. Plans are also underway to increase the area under irrigation within the country to 600,000 hectares through the creation of more irrigation schemes. Irrigation is done in the arid areas Kang’ethe et al (2000 p. 310). Effectiveness of responses The food situation in Kenya has remained a major problem for years despite the efforts of the government to boost food production. The responses made to control the food problems have not been as successful as expected to end the food scarcity problems in the country. Distribution of relief food which is normally done in times of acute food shortage has to a certain level developed a carefree attitude among some communities. Some people do not seek for alternative means of food production since they are sure of relief food whenever they are faced by famine Horesnstein, (1989 p. 199). Unending conflicts between pastoral communities have been a derailing factor in food sufficiency efforts in these areas. Efforts by the government to boost farmers’ production through the ministry of Agriculture have been curtailed by incompetence and misuse of funds. This has made the sustained support of the government to farmers to fail at some times. Production of maize which is the staple crop in the arid areas for some time has been a waste of time and money since poor storage results in the infection of the maize with a flatoxin which is a poisonous substance when consumed by humans Sarris Morrison (2010 p. 400). Since the country relies so much on rain fed agriculture provision of subsidized fertilizers, farm equipment and seeds to farmers has not been so helpful especially because of the unreliable nature of rainfall in the country. Many farms have been destroyed by unreliable or excessive and erratic rainfall which causes nutrient loss on these farms. Pastoral communities have received so many challenges from animal diseases which infect their livestock and kill them. Since their only source of wellbeing is dependent on these animals they become vulnerable to famine. In some places however the government has succeeded in improving on food production. Highest production of maize and wheat in the country is found in the western parts of the country where climatic conditions favor agriculture. Subsidized fertilizers, provision of seeds and equipment by government has born fruits especially in the area of maize production Meissner (1996 p. 318). Conclusion In conclusion this paper has examined the circumstances causing food scarcity in Kenya, the responses taken and the effectiveness of these responses in solving the food security problems. Food security in Kenya is of concern since the country has been battling food security problems for many years. Much of the problems facing the country in the area of food production are caused by lack of adequate rainfall in over 80% of the country which is classified as Arid or Semi Arid. Other problems discussed include high population; inter tribal conflicts, political instability, crop and animal diseases and the HIV-AIDS pandemic. Poverty has also been blamed for lowering food production. The government’s intervention measures have been on the short term and long term basis. On the short term relief food has been distributed among other efforts. In the long term measures to help farmers to stabilize their production such as the implementation of the government’s “Agriculture Revitalization Strategy” are underway. Responses by the government have hit many obstacles and as result they have registered little success. However continued planning is being done and it is expected that with adoption of modern farming methods food production will increase. References Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2002. FAOSTAT on-line statistical service. Rome: FAO. Available on-line at on 23/03/2011 Kang’ethe, L. Ontita, E. & Mwangi, E. 2000, Forestry and food security in Kenya: The case of South West Mau Forest. Horesnstein, R. 1989, Women and Food security in Kenya Sarris A. Morrison, J. 2010, Food security in Africa; Market and Trade policy for staple foods Meissner, H. 1996, Food security in Africa; Challenges, opportunities and targets United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs. Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health – 2007, Food security in Africa: the impact of agricultural development Volume 4 Read More