The need for increased and dependable food supply in Kenya cannot be over emphasized. Kenya enjoys favorable conditions for food production but food availability has been erratic, fluctuating from year to year. This is majorly due to challenges experienced in the course of production including but not limited to climate variability and change, rain dependent farming, high input costs, low productivity, post-harvest losses, and most recently the fall army worm infestation, among others.

Despite efforts by the Government and other actors in the agriculture sector, Kenya is still not self-sufficient in production of the key staples namely maize, wheat and rice. Demand for these staples has increased due to population growth, increased urbanization and a shift in food preferences. Therefore, it is important to continuously assess the cost of producing these food crops to inform affordability and identify key drivers affecting cost of production. This will in turn inform on areas where policy can intervene and consequently lead to improved productivity, food security and household incomes.

Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development of Egerton University recently conducted an assessment of the costs of production for maize and rice for the 2017/18 cropping year and the current status of the food situation in the country. The findings of this assessment were shared and discussed at a stakeholders’ breakfast forum to elicit feedback and way forward on feasible options that could lower costs of production and ensure dependable food supply and lower food prices.

Cost of Production for Maize & Rice in Kenya 2017

Food Situation Assessment & Prospects for 2017-2018

Breakfast Meeting Proceedings 

Date :  14th July 2015

Time : 7.00am - 10.30am

Venue : PanAfric Hotel

Introduction

Maize production in Kenya has continuously faced a number of challenges that have hampered food availability and access. These challenges include, low productivity, high input costs, post-harvest losses, climate variability and change, among others. To address the challenge of high input costs, the Government launched an aggressive programme of providing subsidized fertilizer to farmers. It was expected that this programme, coupled with other interventions, would bring down the costs of maize production and consequently maize flour prices. In addition, the Government is investing in large scale irrigated maize production in order to reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture, and thus deal with the problem of perennial maize shortage.

Given the strategic role that maize plays in food security and household income, it is imperative to have continued assessment and deliberation on feasible options that could lower costs of production and hence ensure competitiveness in production and lower food prices. In light of this, Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, Egerton University has been carrying out regular/annual assessment of production costs for maize to help inform on this debate. We have recently assessed the cost of production for the 2014/15 cropping year under different production systems and fertilizer access regimes, the viability of irrigated maize, and the status of the current food situation in Kenya.

The following findings from these studies were shared with stakeholders:

Presentations

1. Cost of Maize Across Different Systems and Regions in Kenya: Implications for Food Security and Pricing

2. Can Irrigation be an Answer to Increased Maize Production snd Food Security in Kenya?

3. Trends in maize grain and flour prices: Implications for food security

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Proceedings

Press releases

Low agricultural production and erratic food availability can be attributed to factors such as climate variability and change, high input costs, low adoption of technology, declining agricultural land, low productivity, post-harvest losses, limited value addition, and prevalence of pests and diseases, among others. Despite efforts by the Government and other actors in the agriculture sector, the country is still not self-sufficient in the production of the key staples such as maize, wheat, rice and Irish potatoes. Continuous assessment of the cost of production for these crops is essential to inform on key drivers of food security.

Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, Egerton University, recently conducted an assessment of the costs of production for maize, rice and Irish potatoes for the 2017/18 cropping year and the current status of the food situation in the country. The findings of this assessment were shared at a Stakeholders’ Breakfast Forum to elicit feedback on appropriate policy options which can be used to inform policy formulation and decision making.

Cost of Production for Maize , Irish Potatoes and Rice in Kenya 2018 plus Food Situation Assessment 2018

Breakfast Meeting Proceedings