A Critical Analysis of Food Security and Policy in Eastern Africa: the Case Study of the Maize Sub-sector in Kenya

Abstract

The overall objective of the study was to investigate the role of policy on the attainment of food security and a sustainable development of maize sub-sector in Eastern Africa with special focus on Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to examine food security and policy status in maize sub-sector in the Eastern Africa Region, critically analyze the food security and policy regime in maize sub-sector in Kenya and discuss the challenges and opportunities in maize sub-sector in Eastern Africa and Kenya. These objectives were anchored on the Complex inter-dependency theoretical framework. The study set three hypotheses upon which the findings of the study were to be gauged for confirmation or rejection. These were; The slow growth of Maize sub-sector in Kenya is occasioned by weakness in the existing agricultural policies in the sub-sector, there are decreasing maize yields in Kenya in spite of development and release of high yielding maize varieties due to climate change and agricultural input affordability challenges and lastly, that there is reduction in consumption of maize in Kenya due to increasing preference of other cereals for foodstuffs by the Kenyan population. Secondary and primary data were utilized. Primary data was collected through individual questionnaires administration, Key informants’ interviews and general observations. The Eastern Africa countries whose food security and maize sub-sector performance was analysed were; Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Zambia. The study established that although there are various government policies and strategies in management of food security in the region, there is prevalence of food insecurity and maize insufficiency in the region and particularly in Kenya. The stunting rate of children under 5 years in Eastern African region is 35.2% which is above the global average rate of 21.9%. Maize is indispensable food security commodity in Eastern Africa with Malawi and Zambia recording the highest maize per capita consumption of 129 Kgs and 119 Kgs per year respectively. Kenya has annual maize per capita consumption of 76 Kg. Uganda and Ethiopia has the lowest annual maize per capita consumption of 50 Kgs and 42 Kgs respectively. Various policies and strategies employed by Eastern Africa states to tackle food security and maize sub-sector challenges were critically discussed. The performance of various government Institutions and actors in attainment of food security were also analyzed. The study established that food insecurity in Kenya is mainly due to; Low funding of Agricultural sector, climate change that is leading to low crop production through drought, floods, emerging crop pests and diseases, use of outdated agricultural production technologies and land ownership challenges. Devolution of most agricultural functions to counties was cited as being one of the contributor to slow rate of agricultural growth and attainment of food and nutrition security in Kenya as envisaged in the Big four agenda and ASTGS. Lastly the study made recommendations that are aimed at addressing challenges established in the research by exploiting the identified opportunities. The recommendations include; Prioritized funding of agricultural projects at national and county levels, promotion of maize flour blending to reduce demand pressure on maize, implementation of 10% commitment of annual government budget to Agriculture as contained in Malabo declaration of which Kenya and most Eastern African countries are signatories, promotion of agricultural mechanization for efficient agricultural operations, reduction of maize post-harvest loses through promotion of grain drying services, warehouse receipt system and aflatoxin control. These recommendations are key in realization of increased maize production, efficient marketing and food safety. Private public partnership and public participation in the formulation and implementation of food security intervention strategies were seen to be vital.