Provincial
Relief food yet to reach the hungry in Taita
A man carrying away some of his maize crops that he decided to cut down after they were affected by heavy drought at Mbilinya village in Taita district.The maize farmers are selling their retarded crops to dairy famers who buy it at Ksh.15 per sack. Photo / Laban Walloga.
Posted Monday, February 2 2009 at 18:08
In Summary
- Traditional brews badly affected by maize shortage and absence of patrons
“We have informed the MP about the pathetic situation these particular children are living in, but he has not responded and has instead been saying the famine is a countrywide problem,” she said.
The last time the village benefited from famine relief food was in November last year when the residents were given two kilogrammes of food each.
Ms Marura said the food rations should be increased as the current ones were too insufficient to sustain the starving families.
She urged the government to device better and sustainable methods of improving food security to avert famine in future.
Another resident, Mr William Kidelo, urged the government to help the community tap water for irrigation as a lasting solution to food scarcity.
“Although our land is arid, it is very fertile and if we were helped harness the untapped water resources which are enough for us to produce sufficient food without relying on famine relief,” he said.
Mr Kidelo said he had unsuccessfully planted maize for the last two consecutive seasons due to failed rains.
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