Food security is one of the pillars under the Government’s ‘Big Four Agenda’ and is also a key theme in the forthcoming Agriculture Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS). The need for increased and dependable food supply in Kenya cannot be overemphasized given the growth in its population.
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.
