Timothy Njagi said the country is staring at higher food prices in the next three months following the start of what is traditionally known as hunger month when farmers are getting into the planting season.
The researcher said that the 'hunger month' is that period during the planting season when farmers have exhausted all their maize stocks to help prepare for planting.
“The hunger months are normally in March and October just before the planning season. The reason they are called the hunger months is because at that particular time, the farmer has to plant, especially those farmers that do not have another source of income apart from farming. So whatever stocks they have, they have to release it to buy inputs,” Njagi said.
He said traditionally, the peak months of high food prices in Kenya is normally in May or June.
“From there the prices start reducing until December, then from January to May they go up again. This has always been the cycle so whatever we are seeing now is not very unique but the only problem is that food prices are already at a record high and if they go higher than that, people will feel the burden,” he said.
The agricultural commodities market prices, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, shows that a kilo of dry maize in Nairobi is currently retailing at an average of Sh78, Irish potato at Sh74, beans at Sh220, a kg of kales is selling at Sh78 and beef is selling at Sh510 per kg.
A kilogramme of rice is retailing at between Sh120 and Sh200, a tray of eggs (30) is selling at between Sh350 and Sh600 while chicken is selling at Sh400-Sh1200 depending on the outlet.
Kenyans are already grappling with high cost of living and a drought situation that is worsening. So far, about six million people in 32 counties are affected by the severe drought.
According to data from the Ministry of Regional Development and ASALs (arid and semi-arid lands), 4.4 million people were in dire need of food aid in 22 counties by January.
Another 500,000 people in nine more counties had joined the bracket of those in need of humanitarian assistance by February.
The nine non-ASAL counties assessed as at February 2023 include Machakos, Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kirinyaga and Murang'a.
The food and nutrition security assessment report indicated that the number of people facing acute food insecurity and in need of humanitarian assistance has increased from the 3.5 million people identified in July 2022 to 4.4 million this month.
The assessment showed that the food security situation in the country has deteriorated, especially in ASAL counties. This is following a fifth consecutive poor rainfall season.
“An estimated six million people in 32 counties are affected by the prolonged drought and are currently categorised under various food insecurity levels or acute malnutrition,” the findings show.
Experts have warned that the situation could worsen further in the next three months as drought persists.
