Nairobi, March 15 -- Parliament has asked the government to allocate funds for the National Food Reserve in efforts to cushion against perennial food shortages.

The National Assembly's Agriculture committee says the 2023 Budget Policy Statement has no funds for the Reserve expected to be set up under the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).

The committee has asked the Budget and Appropriations Committee to allocate Sh10 billion for buying food stocks for reserves.

"It is important for the country to have a stock of food reserves to cushion against food shortage, provide a ready market for key food staples, as well as act as a price stabiliser," the committee said.

It is unfortunate, the team said, that the country has no food re...