Posted on September, 15, 2023 at 07:55 am
Uasin Gishu County Assembly has passed a motion tasking Governor Jonathan Bii’s administration to provide maize driers to farmers in the region in a bid to prevent post harvest losses as a result of heavy rains being experienced in the region.
The Ministry of Agriculture estimates that Uasin Gishu is expected to produce 4,317,543 bags of maize from 106,606 hectares this year but the heavy rains could occasion huge post harvest losses, limiting the attainment of the target.
In a motion moved by Tembelio Ward Member of the County Assembly (MCA) Evans Kapkea, the assembly yesterday raised concern that farmers in the area have been drying their produce in open fields before transporting it to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) for sale.
“This condition may not be possible in the event that El Nino rains persist as predicted by the Kenya Meteorological Department that the rains could prevail during the remaining part of the year and may extend into early 2024,” said Kapkea.
Governor Bii’s administration has since put in place measures to control losses related to flooding and destruction of property due to the downpours.
County Roads, Transport and Public Works Executive Committee member Joseph Lagat acknowledged that flooding and destruction of property was already being experienced in some parts of the county, adding that the county government has already mapped out areas prone to flooding.
“We have already deployed machinery to work on drainage. We call on parents and schools to be vigilant and not allow children to cross streams alone or move out of schools immediately after the heavy rains stop,” said Lagat.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Kello Harsama said this year’s maize harvest is expected to be between 35 and 40 million bags.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (Kebs), Kenya has imported an average of 295,092 tonnes of maize annually over the past five years.
The county’s annual maize requirement is 52 million bags for human consumption, animal food production, seed multiplication and the manufacture of other products.
According to Trans Nzoia County Agriculture Executive Phanice Khatundi, the devolved unit expects to harvest 5.6 million bags of maize, with local consumption being two million bags while the rest is released to the market.
Uasin Gishu is expected to harvest about 4.5 million bags of maize, with more than 2.5 million bags being released to the market.
Source: People Daily