Over 2.15 million people in Kenya are facing food insecurity, up from one million in July 2024. This situation is driven by poor rainfall leading to malnutrition and food gaps. Projections estimate up to 2.8 million could suffer acute food insecurity this year. The agricultural sector continues to face challenges from climate change, affecting productivity in arid regions.
Kenya’s food insecurity crisis has intensified, with 2.15 million people affected as of March 2024, an increase from one million in July 2024, according to the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA). This deterioration is largely due to below-normal short rains that have created household food consumption gaps and raised malnutrition levels across the country.
The NDMA has projected that the situation will worsen further during the March-May long rains season, potentially affecting 2.8 million people with acute food insecurity. Insufficient rainfall during the 2024 short rains season is particularly evident across various livelihood zones in arid and semi-arid regions, which has increased the number of food-insecure individuals significantly.
Declining availability of pasture and water has forced livestock to trek longer distances, severely impacting their productivity. The pastoral northwest has experienced a 25-40 percent reduction in milk production, coupled with a rise in milk prices, highlighting ongoing challenges for local farmers.
In a related note, climate scientists from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) indicated that Kenya, alongside three other East African nations, is expected to face rising temperatures and increased heat waves, which could exacerbate existing agricultural issues. The World Food Programme highlights that, despite rapid economic changes, over a third of Kenyans live below the poverty line, underscoring social inequalities in food access.
Access to nutritious food remains a significant concern, particularly in the 80 percent of the country designated as arid or semi-arid. The reliance on seasonal rainfall poses a critical threat to agricultural productivity, which is the backbone of Kenya’s economy. Furthermore, the presence of 500,000 refugees, primarily in food-insecure camps, highlights the urgent need for international food assistance.
The food insecurity situation in Kenya is dire, with rising numbers of affected individuals attributed to climatic factors and existing socio-economic disparities. As the country grapples with declining agricultural yields and increasing malnutrition rates, urgent interventions are paramount. The projected worsening of conditions in coming seasons could further strain the already vulnerable populations, making access to adequate nutrition more critical than ever. Immediate and effective measures are needed to combat these escalating challenges.
Original Source: www.socialnews.xyz
