Two things need to be emphasised. First, we don't have the luxury of
time in formulating a policy. Millions of Kenyans are on the wrong side
of the food security fence. At best, they are paying more, and at worst
they are starving to death. Many, many more Kenyans will join them.
Secondly, there is no magic wand. We should be brutally honest to
Kenyans and say the best we can do is alleviate the terrible food
crisis we are in. We should not promise that we can or will solve it
next week or next month, or even in the next year. If the next rains
are sufficient and the next North Rift crop is reasonable, then by
2010, at the earliest, there will be a chance of bringing the country
back from the precipice of serious food insecurity.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE MUST DO THE following. A working team comprising of
key players – private and public, national and international – must be
formed to formulate and implement this food security action plan. This
team should be as full-time as possible.
One of its first priorities should be to allow millers and bona fide
maize traders to scavenge for whatever white maize is in the world
market and import it. The world market for white maize is a very very
small compared to that of yellow maize.
There is a distinct possibility that the quantities we require might
not be accessed and could even result in an upward spike on the world
price of white maize. As a result, we must look out of the white maize
box.
Yellow maize is available and plentiful and at much lower prices. Kenya
is now importing yellow maize for industrial purposes and for animal
feed. Why not offer yellow maize as an alternative human food? It used
to be said that Kenyans would never eat yellow maize. Would that still
be the case today if it was more available and affordable to an
increasingly hungry population?
We must also look at all our staple food products. We import the
majority of our wheat and rice. They are still subject to import
tariffs. The world wheat price has dropped significantly over the last
few months. Why not take away all tariffs on staple food products for
the rest of this year, and allow more Kenyans to access these foods at
a cheaper price?
Remember the urgent need is to increase the flow of staple foods into
Kenya and get them to Kenyans at the most affordable price possible.
There should be no other priorities or impediments put in the way.
Last, but not least, we must devise an effective and equitable manner
to distribute subsidised fertiliser. To leave it in the hands of the
National Cereals and Produce Board per se is to ask for a raft of scams.
One idea is to have the distribution led by lead agencies, religious
bodies and NGOs on the ground in conjunction with the NCPB. Secondly,
subsidised fertiliser must be made available countrywide and not just
concentrated on Kenya's food granary.
FOR EXAMPLE, MANY AREAS WILL get a small but self-sufficient crop if
the next rains are adequate. That will bring such areas as Central
Province off the food dependency chain. Why not give these areas a
production boost with the sudsidised fertiliser?
In conclusion, much of the above runs against the grain of current
government actions and policy. That is not a problem. Our leaders must
have the courage to admit past mistakes and failures, learn from them,
but most important of all, move on to a fresh set of actions to
alleviate the crisis befalling us.
Daily Nation
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