Maize disease exposes Kenyans to starvation

By Naftal Makori and Edwin Makiche

At least three million people in South Rift and parts of Nyamira County risk starvation after their maize crops were destroyed by a strange disease.

Speaking after visiting farms in Borabu District on Monday, Cereal Growers Association Chief Executive Officer, David Nyameino said the country’s food security would be in a precarious position if the government does not intervene.

Mr Nyameino said the disease was being transmitted by wind and could be viral adding that it could spread to the North Rift, Kenya’s grain basket, unless action is taken now.

“I have visited several farms in Borabu, Sotik and Narok and confirmed that the problem is huge and should be debated in Parliament immediately,” said Nyameino.

Mr Nyameino, whose organisation aims at sustainable cereals production in East Africa, said farmers had invested heavily in their fields but are expected to harvest nothing this year since the disease has caused over 70 percent destruction.

Ms Lucy Ondara, a resident of Matutu Scheme in Borabu said she has started uprooting the maize crop to plant sweet potatoes.

“This is my worst farming year. I spent Sh75,000 to prepare my farm. I expect to harvest nothing and appeal to the government to consider compensating us,” said Ms Ondara.

Borabu District Agriculture Officer, Odhiambo Opwapo has urged the farmers whose maize crops are affected to uproot and burn the crop as they await report from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service, where samples had been sent.

The disease, first reported in March last year causes the affected crops to experience stunted growth, turn yellowy and ultimately wither away.

At the same time Home Affairs Assistant Minister, Beatrice Kones has petitioned the government to give farmers a lasting solution to maize disease that has destroyed thousands of acres of the crop in Bomet and Kericho.

Mrs Kones who is also the Bomet MP, said inconsistent information from government research institutions have created confusion.

She said that despite the agriculture ministry urging farmers to grow alternative crops, the seeds of these crops were either too expensive or not available.

“I challenge the Agriculture Ministry to visit individual farms and see for themselves the losses farmers have incurred’’ she said.

Two weeks ago, Agriculture Director Dr Johnson Irungu urged farmers to diversify to other crops like Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes and beans.