El Niño boosts Kenyan maize
Recent rainfall in Kenya boosted by the El Niño phenomenon is expected to result in a bumper maize crop from mid-February. The latest report from the Kenya Food Security Steering Group anticipates a strong harvest in the country's coastal and south-eastern regions.
It is expected to help replenish national grain reserves after last year's drought hit food production in the Rift Valley Province. An agricultural officer told IRIN News that the Kenya National Cereal and Produce Board was expected to buy at least four million 90kg maize bags from farmers in the coastal and south-eastern lowlands.
Food security in Kenya has been affected by five consecutive failed rainy seasons. An estimated 3.8 million Kenyans are still in need of emergency food aid, according to the report.