Floods
Several households in Kisumu County are counting food stocks losses worth Sh12.7 million following the recent floods which left behind a trail of destruction. The deluge significantly affected Ahero ward where some 300 households lost 500 bags of maize, 20 bags of beans, 20 bags of sorghum and 16 bags of rice valued at Sh2.2 million.
At Kabonyo Kanyagwal Ward which was adversely affected by the backflow from Lake Victoria, 250 households lost 300 bags of maize, 10 bags of beans, 20 bags of sorghum and a bag of rice valued at Sh. 1.3 million.
Kisumu County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Agriculture Kenneth Onyango said families in Kobura Ward lost food stocks worth Sh1.7 million, Awasi/Onjiko Ward Sh1.1 million, East Kano/Wawithi Sh1.4 million, West Nyakach Sh890, 000, Manyatta B Sh 255,000, Nyalenda A Sh. 460,000, Kolwa East Sh.640,000, Kolwa Central Sh520,000 and Nyalenda B Sh1.9 million.
Whereas some of the food was washed away by the floods, Onyango said most of it was destroyed during evacuation. The situation, he added, has affected food security in the areas adding that the county government was working closely with the farmers and partners to ensure they take advantage of the ongoing rains to plant.
Commodity prices, he said have not been affected by the situation adding that major markets including Kibuye which serves Kisumu and other counties in the Nyanza region and beyond have maintained the same prices as before the onset of the rains.
The county government in collaboration with partners, he added, will give incentives to farmers to ensure they replant to boost food security in the area. He said a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed with One Acre Fund and NCBA Bank to ensure that farmers access inputs at a subsidised price.
As a long term measure, the county government, he said, was working on an insurance policy to cushion farmers against such natural disasters. Other measures, he said include the completion of the Koru-Soin dam which has stalled to regulate the flow of water in river Nyando in line with containing floods.