NAIROBI, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is facing a maize deficit following reduction in maize-growing areas and long dry spells, an official said on Thursday.
Willy Bett, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, said the situation was worsened by the invasion of the fall armyworms (FAW) that affected main maize producing regions.
"It is projected that 37.9 million bags will be realized from both the long and short rains, compared to 40 million bags that was harvested last year, representing a decline of 4.4 percent of the long term average," Bett told journalists in Nairobi.
Bett said the area under maize production has reduced by 5.1 percent, causing fears in country where maize is the staple food.
He said the production of beans and Irish potatoes also declined by 29 and by 17 percent respectively due to inadequate certified seed, and poor rainfall distribution.
"The production of other food crops such as banana, sorghum, cowpeas, green gram and root crops also recorded a slight drop," he added.
The number of people affected by food insecurity has risen to about 3.5 million, with majority of them found in the arid and semi-arid areas (ASALs) areas.
Bett noted that drought and food security situation remains critical in the ASALS as rains were highly depressed and erratic in the early part of this year.
"After evaluating the situation, we are providing a rebate of 2 U.S. dollars per 90-kilogram bag of maize offered to the national grain, the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB)," he said.
