Mwaniki Wahome
24 April 2008
Nairobi — The Government has allayed fears of food shortages saying available stocks in the country will last up to August.
Agriculture Minister, Mr William Ruto, however, said the food situation was precarious adding there was need for measures to ensure the country does not face food deficit in a few months. "Unless we move with speed, more people will be put on the relief food lifeline if the country experiences food deficit in a few months," he said.
Mr Ruto said the stock of grains in the reserve was 3.8 million bags enough to cater for Kenya's food needs up to August when the other crop is expected to be harvested.
Speaking during the launch of freedom from hunger walk kitty at Serena hotel, Mr Ruto said his ministry, that of Finance and Special Programmes would form a committee to assess the food situation in the country. Mr Ruto said the government was supporting 2 million people in arid and semi-arid areas (Asals) and informal settlements with food relief every year. The number has ,however, increased due to internal refugees.
The minister moved to assuage growing fears that the country was staring at famine even as rising food prices in the world market shoot through the roof. Mr Ruto said although poor food security was tied to rising fuel prices and escalating cost of farm inputs including fertilisers, the violence in January had excerbated the situation.
Mr Ruto said the government will assist farmers who grow cereals with farm inputs soon. Nation Media Group CEO, Mr Linus Gitahi said the government should resettle displaced people to enable them contribute to food production. During the launch, Brookside, which is the official sponsors of the freedom from hunger walk to be conducted on May 17, donated Sh4 million. Tetra Pak also donated Sh1.5 million to the kitty.
Nation Media Group will be the official media sponsors to provide publicity for the event as its contribution. The kitty aims to raise Sh30 million, compared to Sh20 million raised last year.
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