Nairobi — The Government has increased the national food reserve levels to counter the biting scarcity worldwide.

Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 minister Wycliffe Oparanya said increased world oil prices, intensified use of agro fuels, climate change and increased population were some of the factors that had pushed up prices of basic food items and other commodities.

"We have, therefore, decided to increase the national yearly food reserve from three to six billion bags," he said.

Parliament heard that inadequate infrastructure and the post-election violence were behind skyrocketing prices.

He was responding to Mr Joseph Lekuton (Laisamis, Kanu) who wanted to know what the minister was doing to save the situation.Mr Oparanya said the Government had zero-rated Value Added Tax on basic foods, including wheat, milk and maize flour "to cushion the poor."

Agriculture minister William Ruto, MPs were told, had put in place measures to make fertiliser and seed available at affordable prices.

Mr Lekuton dismissed the minister's response as "shallow" and demanded to know how the measures would help the public "directly."

"The increments will not stop, how can the remedies you are talking about put food on people's tables?"MPs Charles Kilonzo (Yatta, ODM-K) and Mithika Linturi (Igembe South, Kanu) put the Government in the dock for failure to plan timely.

Mr Linturi sought government intervention in what he termed a "monopoly" of grain handling at the port of Mombasa.