EL NINO RAINS TO WREAK HAVOC, FARMERS LAMENT

Oct 01, 2015 Ivy Keziah National, News, Regional 0

A section of farmers from Kipkabus area in Uasin Gishu County have today bitterly lamented over the unreadiness of their crops for early harvesting before the onset of the anticipated El Nino rains.

This is following various reports that the rain will destroy crops and disrupt farming activities in areas such as Nyando, Bundalangi and Rift Valley regions.

The farmers fear that they will have no means of drying their crops when the El Nino rains start saying that their crops cannot be harvested now.

According to one of the farmers Dennis Kipyegon, the crops still need a month to be ready for the earliest harvesting.

Although the El Nino rains is coming closer we have nothing to do to our crops in the shamba. Maize has not reached the stage for harvesting and we can’t rush to harvest when it is still green, said Kipyegon.

Three weeks is needed for the maize to be mature for cutting and dried in a faster way. Until then, harvesting the maize is
impossible, he added.

George Kandagor, another farmer said that there was no way they could rush to harvest the green maize and face a difficult time in drying.

I can harvest the maize early but if there will be no faster method of drying, it will be a challenge. All my maize will end up destroyed, said Kandagor.

Many farmers are not ready since their crops are still in the shamba with no drying machines available, added Kandagor.

This comes when County Government’s readiness for the El Nino rains is being analyzed. County Governments have also set aside money for the El Nino rains.