Nairobi — Within a few months, the images of desperately hungry children have been replaced by smiling and hopeful faces in several parts of the country.

The most dramatic changes have been noted in Eastern Province where families, previously depending on inconsistent handouts, can now harvest green maize, beans and vegetables from their farms.

This development, a result of the short rains, has also significantly eased pressure on the cost of food in urban areas and given a respite to the poor.

While we have much to thank the rains for, the direct intervention by the Ministry of Agriculture in providing free seeds and fertilisers was a key contributor to that result.

The ministry has also indicated it will assist farmers in drying their crop to reduce post-harvest losses.

This proves that timely and well thought-out institutional interventions, including the ongoing irrigation programmes, are the way to go in solving our recurrent food deficit problems.

However, despite the positive interventions, the food situation remains precarious with an estimated 3.8 million Kenyans, especially in arid areas, still dependent on food relief agencies.

Thankfully, even these areas have reported significant improvement in pasture and water, and there is no reason why the Ministry of Livestock Development should not immediately launch or accelerate restocking programmes.

Such programmes will, besides assuring food security, also reduce human conflict associated with livestock rustling.

But we, as a country, must not rest now that food is readily available; we must, in fact ensure that droughts in the future do not lead to hunger, malnutrition or even death.

So far, the government has done a sterling job of sensitising people that rain-fed agriculture is not the answer to our problems, but more must be done.