Bad Weather Compromise Food Security In Migori County

Migori, Monday, June 19, 2023

KNA By George Agimba

Anxiety and panic have gripped residents of Nyatike constituency in Migori county over looming hunger following the destruction of farms in the area by raging floods.

Agricultural experts from the region say that up to 40 hectares of food crops had been destroyed this season after River Kuja and River Migori burst their banks, destroying crops on the farms.

"There are raging fears that the region could register low harvest this season due to the heavy destructions that have been meted on local food crop farms by raging floods," said Mr. Aggrey Otieno, an agricultural extension officer in the area.

One family of Mr. Collins Odoyo has reportedly lost maize crops worth millions of shillings after water spill-off from River Kuja swept their crops into Lake Victoria after breaking its banks, owing to the recent heavy rains.

"We are still counting our losses which amount to thousands of shillings following the floods that washed away several acres of maize and other food crops we planted along the River Kuja," lamented Mr. Onyango during an interview at Macalder town.

The government has therefore been petitioned to immediately put in place stop gaps that would ensure that the residents enjoy food security. 

Experts say that it would take a long time to replace the destroyed crops and asked that an elaborate arrangement for the availability of enough relief supplies to the region is made.

The fertile soils have all been washed away into Lake Victoria by the raging flood waters and replanting farms with new seeds at this moment will be a waste of resources as it is unpredictable when the rains will come to an end in the region, said Mr. Odoyo.

Currently, the state has been supplying flood victims in the area with relief food and other humanitarian assistance but we expect the donation to last longer owing to the looming poor harvest this season, he added.

There are also fears that the local people if not assisted will suffer malnutrition due to lack of proper food diet.

Several children have already shown signs of malnutrition even as the national governing administration and other humanitarian bodies make efforts to feed the more than 1000 victims in the region.

The Ministry of Agriculture at the devolved unit says there had been enough food and medicine for the victims but predicts a bad future for the residents if more relief supply does not reach the area this season.

Courtesy ; K. N. A