Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri, on Thursday, told Kenyans to brace themselves for effects of the drought that has hit the country.
The uncertain future of the rains prompted the CS to urge farmers to consider planting crops that will require a shorter period to mature.
"There will be consequences; the rains are going to start late. We expected the rains to have fallen in the first and second week of March when most farmers do planting but the skies are still clear, there are no rains.
"Already planted seeds are rotting where it had begun raining. Farmers will be required to plant again," Kiunjuri spoke.
He disclosed that an analysis conducted by State officials indicated that there were 21.4 million bags of maize in the country, which were enough to cover the next five months though most bags were being held by farmers.
Kiunjuri announced that the government had removed the 400 bags limit that the farmers were allowed to sell to the government.
“I have directed the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCBP) to accept maize deliveries from vetted farmers with more than 400 bags that had earlier been set.
“I further direct NCPB to lift the previously set county supply limits to allow free delivery of surplus maize from all vetted farmers,” Kiunjuri declared.
This is a bid to replenish the stock at the national granary that has been used to provide food aid to the counties currently facing starvation.
Should private millers offer farmers a better price than the government, the price of maize flour will inevitably increase.
He noted that even though other food commodities such as rice, beans and sorghum are readily available in local markets, their prices were steadily rising.
