Peace returns to Mt Elgon, but bulls remain behind

• It is expensive to rely on hired bullocks, manual labour and tractors

The hilly terrain and sorry state of roads notwithstanding, the return of peace in the once dreaded Mt Elgon District is a blessing to farmers. The green and tranquil atmosphere lends contrast to the past days, when tension, anxiety and fear gripped residents.

Farmers who had fled are back on their fertile farms. They understand the word “diversity”, and have planted a variety of crops to cash in on demand in low yielding parts. Top on their list are traditional food crops.

But they are at pains to explain the absence of their own bulls, which are the main source of cheap labour due to the hilly sloppy terrain that is not suitable for tractors. Relying on hired bulls, manual labour and tractors have turned out to be expensive. Many have reduced acreage under crops.

“We have no problem with the fertility of our land. Apart from maize which is a staple crop, we are growing fast maturing crops like onions, potatoes, peas, cabbages and cassava,” said Mrs Roselyne Chepkwemoi.

For two years, peace was elusive in their midst before the government intervened. The military operation to flush out the dreaded Sabaot Land Defence Forces (SLDF), which had wreaked havoc in the area, came at a cost.

“We lost virtually all our cattle especially the bulls, and acquiring them afresh is not a one day affair,” explained Mrs Chepkwemoi, a resident of Kimorong village in the district’s Kopsiro Division.

Mrs Phylis Tengecho said: “Besides being expensive, the nature of our pieces of land makes it cumbersome for the tractors to operate.

“We part with Sh2,000 to hire bull services per acre as opposed to Sh3,500 for tractors.”

She said many farmers sold their bulls at throw-away prices and others left them behind as they fled into safety following the crackdown by the military.

“Those left behind were stolen and we are feeling the pinch more at this time when we need the bulls,” the farmer said.

It will take time before optimal levels of crop production is resumed. The farmers are relying on this season’s harvests to buy more bulls.

Mrs Tengecho said the government should provide at least three tractors for each of the four divisions. Farmers can hire them at a “minimal” fee.

Agriculture minister William Ruto said the tractors may not be enough for every division and appealed to farmers to use those available optimally.

District agricultural officer Sammy Chemining’wa admits that scarcity of bulls prolongs land preparation period and affects yields. “Some farmers plant late while some pay through the nose due to high demand,” said the officer.

He is optimistic, though, that farmers will harvest 60 bags per hectare, a better yield compared to other parts of the country that have nothing to put on the table.

The officer said the district had 14,300 hectares under maize against a target of 18,100 hectares this season.

The good rains, he pointed out, would help the district surpass its targets.

“This district, which is suitable for cultivation of virtually all crops, is among the few areas in the country that will at the end of the day post better agricultural results,” said Mr Chemining’wa.

The officer appealed to farmers to take advantage of the subsidy in the cost of farm inputs and increase acreage under crops.

“Farmers are no longer complaining about high cost of fertilisers though they wish the prices could come down a little more,” he said.

However, he feels that farmers can save on transport costs if more distribution centres for farm inputs were opened up. “Bringing inputs closer to the people will be a step forward as farmers won’t travel long distances incurring costs.”

Distribution centres

Some farmers suggested additional distribution centres be put up at Cheptais, Kopsiro and Kaptama to enable farmers plough savings from transport into hiring manual labourers, bulls or tractors.

“We can top up the savings and replenish the bulls we lost,” said Mr Geoffrey Cheremoi who cultivates maize, onions, potatoes and beans in Masahek village.

Mr Cheremoi, 31, sells his produce at the nearby Chwele Trading centre and at times directly from his farm.

He noted that food insecurity was a threat in the country and farmers from agriculturally rich areas should be motivated to produce more.

Agriculture permanent secretary Romano Kiome has appealed to farmers to invest in the traditional food crops.

Dr Kiome said diversifying into other crops instead of over-relying on maize was the cure to the country’s food crisis which has threatened many livelihoods and people’s economic development.

This year’s maize yield is expected to decline to 20 million bags from targeted 27 million due to adverse weather in the country. In some parts, maize, beans and wheat withered before flowering.