Lobby seeks damages for disease-hit maize growers

The government has been asked to compensate farmers whose maize crop was destroyed by a viral disease in parts of Rift Valley.

Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers (Kenfap) CEO Kanywithia Mutunga on Friday accused the government of failing to guide farmers on how to control the disease, which has left between 30 per cent and 100 per cent of the crop destroyed.

“This should be considered like any other disaster and the government should give a serious statement on what farmers should do and how the government will assist them go back to production,” Mr Mutunga said.

He noted that the reports that land affected will go uncultivated for two seasons had implications on the food security and income to the farmers that needed to be addressed.

“This maize disease is spreading, but we hardly hear anything from the government. Will they compensate the farmers for lost income?”

Mr Mutunga said the government had not showed interest in the farming industry, which remained under-funded despite being the major contributor at 26 per cent to the national wealth and employing over 70 per cent of the population.