By Otieno Nicholas Owino
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| Failed crops in Kwabwai |
This comes as a result of unpredictable climatic
change that has hit hard on the areas which have acted as major production
schemes for maize in the region. Farmers in Kwabwai ward which is the biggest ‘Kitale’
in this county did find it very challenging to plant as usual due to delayed
rains hence huge junks of productive lands have left fallow with flocks using them
as grazing land.
Talking to some residents in Osogo village in
Rachar location, this were their appeals to the authorities “we are dying of
hunger and we are appealing to the government to support us and give us meals
for we are going to die of hunger”, said one of the residents.
This awful scenario comes at a time when the
expectation of farmers was geared towards better outcomes in the second season following
failures met by most farmers in the previous season, early this year.
The area County Representative, Hon. Ouma Ogindo
when addressing a gathering at burial in Kwabwai location, Orandi village took
heed of the cry of his people towards access to relief food and promised to
present the matter before the HomaBay parliament. He and his team urged farmers
to embark on drought resistant crops and also go for the crops that take the
shortest period to mature.
Statistics indicate that climate change is one
of the most serious global challenges and is also evident in Kenya. In Western
Kenya, weather observations indicate that maximum day temperature have
increased in a magnitude between 0.5 and 2.5 degrees in the last 50 years and
is expected to increase further.
The agriculture sector among is the most
affected by climate risks. Those working in agriculture have therefore no
alternative, but to adjust their farming systems and at the same time consider
also other ways to mitigate risks increases their resilience.
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