The agriculture sector reversed the negative growth trend recorded since 2021 to register an impressive recovery of seven per cent per cent in 2023.
The Kenya Economic Survey 2024 released Monday attributes this to favorable weather conditions.
Other factors include expansion in area under crop as a result of farmers anticipating high prices and enhanced government interventions that included the fertilizer subsidy programme.
Maize production recorded an increase of 38.8 per cent to 47.6 million bags in 2023, linked to expansion in area cropped; a promise by the government to buy maize from farmers under the guaranteed minimum returns principles, and improved weather conditions.
Exports of fresh horticultural products expanded by 9.9 per cent from 391,500 tonnes in 2022 to 430,200 tonnes in 2023.
Paddy production recorded a growth of 19.1 per cent, totaling 229,064 tonnes in 2023, primarily due to expanded areas under irrigation.
Marketed milk production rose by 6.9 per cent from 754.3 million litres in 2022 to 806.6 million litres in 2023 as a result of improved pastures and fodder.
Sugarcane production contracted by 36.4 per cent from 8.8 million tonnes in 2022 to 5.6 million tonnes in 2023 as several sugar millers closed due to a shortage of mature cane for processing.
Coffee production decreased by 6.2 per cent from 51,900 tonnes to 48,700 tonnes during the crop year under review, as a result of harsh weather conditions that favored the spread of Coffee Berry Disease.
Wheat production decreased by 16.1 per cent from 368,700 tonnes in 2022 to 309,500 tonnes in 2023, as farmers opted to cultivate maize farming.
This necessitated an increase in imports of wheat by 21.5 per cent to 2.o3 million tonnes in 2023.
The March-April-May (MAM) long rains performance in all parts of the country was below normal compared to their Long-Term Mean (LTM).
However, during the short rains season, October-November-December (OND), all meteorological stations recorded rainfall that was more than their Long-Term Means (LTMs) except the Meru weather station.
The mean annual maximum temperatures increased from 28.6 degrees Celsius in 2022 to 28.7 degrees Celsius in 2023.
The mean annual minimum temperatures recorded a decrease from 18.1 degrees Celsius in 2022 to 18.0 degrees Celsius in 2023.
