• The area under maize production has decreased in Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu counties.
• A slightly below average production of maize – 90-80 per cent – is expected in Trans Nzoia, Nandi, Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
Image: MUSEMBI NZENGU
Farmers in parts of the North Rift have shifted from maize growing to Irish potatoes and beans, a government food report says.
The shift is because many farmers planted late this season due to poor rainfall, poor germination and army worm infestation. Irish potatoes and beans are also fast-maturing.
According to the food and nutrition security report released in May, the shift is likely to have an effect on the expected long rains maize harvest.
The report, which was released by the State Department for Crop Development and Agricultural Research in the Ministry of Agriculture, says the area under maize production has decreased in Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu counties.
“This is either as a result of poor crop germination or farmers shifting to short term crops such as beans and Irish potatoes,” the report shows.
It indicates that a slightly below-average production of maize is expected in Trans Nzoia, Nandi, Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
Below-average production of 50 per cent is expected in Baringo, Samburu, Laikipia and West Pokot counties.
This is due to a decrease in the area under the crop, poor rainfall performance, poor germination and fall army worm infestation.
“There are reported cases of fall army worm infestation in Trans Nzoia, Baringo, West Pokot, Uasin Gishu and Nandi, which is estimated at five per cent of the crop area. However, farmers have employed chemical control measures using recommended pesticides,” the report indicates.
The report revealed that crop failure may be experienced in parts of West Pokot, Laikipia and Baringo counties.
In the Central region, the report shows that the performance of maize for long rains is below average but favourable for bean crop development.
Maize performance in Kiambu county is expected to decline by up to 40 per cent.
“In the Upper Eastern region, maize performance is expected to decline by about 25 per cent. In Nyanza region, normal yields are expected for the maize crop planted in mid-March, while those who planted late due to the early cessation of the rains will have below-average yields,” the report says.
The maize balance sheet projected to the end of August 2021 showed there will be a surplus of about 11.9 million bags.
This is based on an estimated 450,000 bags of imports by millers from the region and harvest estimates from the long rains of approximately 7.3 million bags by the end of August.
The total available stock by 31 August will be 24.3 million bags.
Post-harvest losses are estimated to be at 10 per cent, which translates to 2.4 million bags.
With animal feed taking about 333,000 bags, another 243,402 retained as seeds, 243,402 bags to be used for manufacture of other products, there will be a net stock of 21 million bags by the end of August.
The national maize consumption by the end of August will be 9,180,000 bags, with the national consumption rate being at 3.06 million bags/per month for 47.5 million people. This means there will be a surplus of 11,906,376 bags as at 31 August 2021.
Edited by Henry Makori