Kenyan food crisis

Something that did not make it in the headlines recently is the current food crisis that is occurring in Kenya. This crisis has developed for several reasons:

-Falling income, both at home and among family members abroad that typically send money back. This shows how the financial crisis has not affected just the affluent and also reminds us of who is hit the hardest during slow economic times.

-Short rains late in the year in 2008 has caused a drought which has resulted in crop failures.

-High food prices. The price of maize has soared to incredible heights, which obviously translates in people being forced to cut back on the very thing they need the most.

-Inflation and high fertilizer prices have not allowed subsistence farmers to plant the volume of crops desired.

This crisis is deep and wide. While subsistence farmers in rural areas are being especially hit hard, the urban populations are not immune. The World Food Programme (WFP) has recently announced that it will scale up operations to meet the needs of 3.5 million people who are expected to be affected the worse during this crisis. That number could very well continue to rise. The WFP will focus a majority of their energies on rural areas though. That means that the needs of approximately 4 million urban dwellers and 1.9 million people who live with HIV/AIDS who are feeling the effects of the food crisis will not be met through the operations of the WFP. What will happen to those people? It is nearly a guarantee that the Kenyan government will not be able to meet those people's needs, so who does that leave? The international community, the African Union (AU), local nonprofit organizations? I am not upset with the WFP; granted they are attempting to help those that are most effected by this crisis. My frustration ultimately comes down to a fact that continually haunts me. In a world that has so much, people still go hungry. We as a global community have not found a way to utilize our resources effectively.

This food crisis is a reminder of the importance of tapping into the most vital resource in Kenya..the people's aptitudes and entrepreunerial minds. This concept goes far beyond aid and is rooted in forming relationships and encouraging innovation. I am talking about empowering Kenyans through the use of income generating grants. There is an organization doing just that called The 10/10 Project..follow the link, educate yourself, and join the story.

Source: World Food Programme