Boosting Kenya’s Food Reserve

NDMA Chairperson Agnes Ndetei said that through this programme, Kenya will not only diversify its food reserves to communities during drought and other emergencies that could lead to famine but also cushion pastoralists against widespread losses as witnessed during drought outbreaks.

Most of the canned meat in the Kenyan market is imported from Botswana or United Arab Emirates.

Speaking when she led the NDMA board of directors on a familiarization tour of Garissa, Lamu and Tana River counties which are hard hit by the current drought, Ndetei observed that the Government should come up with a marshal plan to provide long-term solutions to the perennial water crisis bedevilling arid and semi-arid counties.

More than 80% of the beef consumed in Kenya is produced by pastoralists, either domestically or in neighboring countries and then imported on the hoof, often unofficially.

She said county governments in counties affected by drought had intensified trucking of water to affected communities.

Ndetei  also urged those  living along the River Tana to increase productivity by irrigating more land as NDMA with offer them technical and mental knowledge that will boost their produce.

By Maureen Murimi