Lack of rain in most parts of the country is causing concern, with the Ministry of Agriculture revising downwards its maize production estimates.

The most pronounced revision has been undertaken in Eastern and Central provinces, where it is estimated that less than 40 per cent of the targeted maize production will be harvested.

At the national level, the Ministry of Agriculture has projected that an estimated 2.02 million metric tonnes of maize will be harvested during the 1999 long rains compared with 2.31 million last year.

According to the June edition of the USAid monthly publication Kenya Vulnerability Update, the reduction in production has been attributed to a combination of poor and sparse distribution of rainfall.

Other causes include scarcity of key inputs such as maize seed and fertiliser, increased prices of agricultural inputs and crop damage by armyworms.

The report said the lower-than-expected long rains had resulted in depressed vegetation conditions in the eastern half of Kenya.

Food price increases amidst declining livestock prices have eroded the purchasing power of drought-prone households, the report said.

Meanwhile, Western Kenya and parts of the Rift Valley are set to receive reasonable rains this season - enough to sustain a successful crop - the weathermen said yesterday.

The deputy director of the Meteorological Department, Mr Joshua Wairoto, said Eldoret, Kisii and Kericho would receive a good amount of rainfall.

The Western parts will have a 75 per cent probability of normal to above-normal rainfall between June and August.

However, a good portion of Rift Valley and other parts in Eastern will be dry.

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