A Machakos farmer inspecting his drought-resistant maize crops. Kenya is expected to record a 5.7% drop in grain harvests in 2017. [Photo/KNA]Kenya is set to record a 5.7 percent decline in this year's grain harvests.The Food and Agricultural Organisation's Crop Prospect and Food Situation Quarterly Global Report says the total cereal production last year was 44.4 million 90-kilogramme bags, but this year will have 42.2 million bags.The FAO report attributed this to the poor weather in the long-rain season and the Fall armyworm infestation."Crop output is estimated at below-average levels as the March-May rains were generally erratic and insufficient, resulting in reduced planted areas and yields," the report reads as quoted by the Star.Areas affected by the erratic rains which affected maize production include southeastern and coastal marginal agricultural areas of Kenya. Very low yields are estimated in southeastern Tharaka Nithi, Meru North, Kitui, Makueni and Embu counties.The report, released early this week, says about 2.6 million people, mainly from the eastern, southeastern and coastal areas, are severely food insecure. This is because of the negative impact of poor short-rains last year and below-average long rains this year.The report points out that in key-growing areas of the Rift Valley and Western regions, the long-rains were characterized by a late onset and a prolonged dry spell in June and this caused moisture stress and crop wilting."In East Africa, cereal imports are anticipated to rise in Kenya and South Sudan to compensate for smaller outputs in 2017, with Kenya also drawing on stocks to offset the lower harvest and help curb imports," the report adds. 

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