Crop Prospects and Food Situation in East Africa: An Overview

East Africa is a region on the eastern coast of Africa; the region is facing challenges such as droughts, floods, and pests all of which have disastrous effects on crops and food security. The present review paper mainly focuses on the status and intervention of the crop sector, food situation, strategies to develop crops and constraints faced by crop farmers in East Africa. East Africa is experiencing a severe food crisis due to prolonged drought affecting millions of people especially in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. Millions of Somalis, Ethiopians and South Sudanese will face acute food insecurity. With below-average precipitation forecasts the situation is expected to worsen in 2023. Despite drop in maize prices, local food prices remain high and has resulted to limited access to food. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reported five strategic pillars (SPs) for crop sector development from 2021 to 2026. The review also pointed out some constraints faced by farmers such as diseases, pests, natural disasters such as drought, declining soil fertility, lack of market access, and lack of adequate infrastructure. In Somalia, major constraints have been reported, such as decreasing groundwater and river levels, and fear of conflict between rebels and the government. These issues need urgent attention by governments, development partners and other stakeholders to address and provide urgent and long-term solutions to food crisis in East Africa.