By BARNABAS BII
Posted Monday, October 1 2012 at 19:00
In Summary
- Maize production could fall by four million bags due to bad weather that interrupted planting and expensive farm inputs for farmers with low incomes
- According to an annual agricultural report, maize yields are estimated at 17 million bags, down from 21 million bags last year
- According to the experts, changing demographics, increased global demand of wheat, and sky-rocketing food prices have resulted in the scramble for lease of agricultural land for crop production in Africa
A viral disease that has attacked maize and heavy rains that are pounding wheat fields are expected to reduce the output of grains in the Rift Valley this season.
This, even as experts from Africa converge in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to deliberate on how to boost the growing potential of the two crops and attain food security on the continent.
Maize production could fall by four million bags due to bad weather that interrupted planting and expensive farm inputs for farmers with low incomes.
According to an annual agricultural report, maize yields are estimated at 17 million bags, down from 21 million bags last year.
The drop has been blamed on late planting caused by prolonged drought that saw uneven germination of seeds.
The outbreak of maize lethal necrosis (MLN) can only make matters worse.
The experts in Ethiopia are expected to address threats posed by pests and diseases, temperature, rainfall, and soils on wheat production.
The conference by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre brings together 12 wheat-growing African countries.
Increased global demand
According to the experts, changing demographics, increased global demand of wheat, and sky-rocketing food prices have resulted in the scramble for lease of agricultural land for crop production in Africa.
Grain farmers, however, attribute increased cost of farm inputs, disease outbreaks, and the effects of climate change as their greatest challenges.
“The government needs to subsidise the cost of farm inputs, especially fertiliser, and introduce insurance to cushion farmers against losses caused by natural calamities like drought or floods in order to transform farming into a profit-making venture,” said Mr Peter Boit, a large scale maize farmer in Uasin Gishu County.
According to the report, maize production in Bomet County, which was hard-hit by the MLN disease, is to drop from a million bags to between 300,000 and 500,000 bags this season.
The production of wheat, an alternative source of food, is expected to decline due to damage caused by heavy rains.
Harvesting is on in the South Rift and is expected to commence next month in the North Rift.