Looming crisis as maize virus strikes
A farmer in Uasin Gishu County inspects his maize farm. Decreased rainfall and a resurgence in the North Rift of a viral disease that affects maize have raised fears of a food crisis in Kenya next year. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | FILE |
What you need to know:
- Nandi Deputy Governor Dominic Biwott and Agriculture County Executive Mary Ngelechei said the disease spread from other maize-growing areas in the Rift Valley.
- In Elgeyo Marakwet County, panic hit farmers two weeks ago after the disease wiped out over 5,000 acres of maize.
- The country’s maize output this year is expected to be 33.9 million bags, down from 43.3 million last year, according to a recent report by Egerton University’s Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development.
Decreased rainfall and a resurgence in the North Rift of a viral disease that affects maize have raised fears of a food crisis in Kenya next year.
With inadequate rains during the March sowing season, over 40 per cent of maize grown in the region, considered the country’s food basket, was damaged.
The country’s maize output this year is expected to be 33.9 million bags, down from 43.3 million last year, according to a recent report by Egerton University’s Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development.
Farmers in parts of Nandi County are already counting losses after the Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease hit more than 1,000 acres of the crop.
A spot check by the Nation showed Meteitei Location in Tindiret Sub-county, Kaptumo Division in Nandi South Sub-county and parts of Nandi Central sub-county were the worst hit. Chepterit location is the latest area to be affected.
Tindiret Sub-county farmer Paul Letting said they were likely to incur huge losses following an outbreak of the disease.
“We spent a lot of money buying inputs and preparing the land for planting. We were shocked to see our maize turning yellow,” he added.
Nandi Deputy Governor Dominic Biwott and Agriculture County Executive Mary Ngelechei said the disease spread from other maize-growing areas in the Rift Valley.
“We urge farmers to follow instructions given by experts and plant in time. Farmers should also practise crop rotation and invest in horticulture crops that mature fast,” he said.
Uasin Gishu County Executive for Agriculture Cyril Cheruiyot said: “Productivity is expected to be lower because some crops are already showing nutritional deficiency.”
In Elgeyo Marakwet County, panic hit farmers two weeks ago after the disease wiped out over 5,000 acres of maize.
At the same time, maize farmers in Mogotio Sub-county, Baringo County, are staring at poor harvests due to drought ravaging the area and the lethal maize disease.
Area agricultural officer Ezekiel Chepkwon said the most affected areas include Ngendalei, Kisanana, Sinende, Kapnosge, Sirwa and Kapkechui.
