BARINGO COUNTY 2024 LONG RAINS FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY ASSESSMENT REPORT A Joint Report by the Kenya Food Security Steering Group (KFSSG) and Baringo County Technical Steering Group (CSG)1 July 2024 1Leah Sang, Losenge Koolic, Esther Barasa (NDMA),Ann Kimwa (Health), Lily Rotich (Livestock), Susan Mitei (Education), Wesley Chemjor (Agriculture), Henry Nyamweya (Water), Fridah Limo (DRM) and Irene Maasai (Children Proetcion). Executive Summary The 2024 long rains food and nutrition assessment was conducted by Baringo County sector working groups with visual support from Kenya Food Security Steering Group (KFSSG). The assessment covered four main livelihood zones namely Pastoral, Agro-pastoral, Irrigated Cropping and Mixed farming. The main objective was to assess the impact of the March to May (MAM) 2024 rainfall season considering other shocks and hazards and provide recommended interventions for response. Several parts of the county generally received above average rainfall of about 126 140 percent of the normal during the 2024 MAM season. Recurring incidences of cattle rustling and bandits were experienced in Saimo Soi, Bartabwa wars in Baringo North sub-county, Mukutani and Mochongoi wards in Baringo South and along the borders of Baringo with Elgeyo Marakwet; Tiaty West and Turkana East sub-counties, Tiaty East and Samburu West sub-counties. Around 2,352 households were affected by the flooding with approximately 1,955 households completely displaced, 1,530 in camps and 425 integrated households. A total of 100 primary schools, 29 junior schools and 10 secondary schools have been affected in one way or another by the recent flood occurrences causing damage to school infrastructure. Provision of health services were disrupted in Mukutani, Ilchamus and Mochongoi wards. Fall army worm was reported in maize growing areas that affected approximately 42 percent of the area planted in all sub-counties in the county. The spread of the fall army worn is attributed to the dry spell in the month of June 2024. Acreage under irish potatoes increased by 117 percent while area under maize, beans and sorghum remained relatively comparable to long term average. The projected yields for maize and beans are likely to decline by 19.3 percent and 42.5 percent respectively. Area under irrigated crops significantly increased due to sufficient water for irrigation. Maize stocks held by all actor in the county is currently lower than the long-term average by 36 percent. Farmers have maize stock which are 49 percent below the long-term average. Forage condition was good across the livelihood zones. A total of 1,684,000 bales of hay are currently being held in 93 hay stores, which have a total storage capacity of 2,970,000 bales. Livestock body condition for all species was ranging between good to fair across the livelihood zones. According to July 2024 SMART Survey, proportion of 7.8 percent of households in Tiaty had poor food consumption, while 78.5 87 percent of the households in the three sub-counties had acceptable food consumption patterns. Additionally, 11 - 13.7 percent of households had borderline food consumption. Global acute malnutrition (GAM) rates for children under five reduced to 21 percent from 23.3 percent in July 2023. Baringo North and South counties had GAM rate of 7.9 percent compared to 8.2 percent same period in 2023. The indicative phase classification for the county is Stressed (IPC Phase 2). Page i of 25