Food security worsens in Kitui as farmers ignored Met advice

"Although we have not carried out the official food security situation assessment for Kitui, it is overt that our county is staring at up to 50 percent crop failure," said Koma on Thursday.

He said the food security would be conducted in early July in order to paint a more concrete picture of the situation. He said food aid support may be required in some cases.

On his part, Governor Dr Julius Malombe blamed the acute drop in crop yields following the last MAM rainfall on the failure by farmers to adhere to meteorological advisory.

The governor said that the situation would have been better had the residents observed the rainfall advisory given by the meteorological department that the MAM rain would not be sufficient for water thirsty crops like Maize.

Dr Malombe observed that had residents planted drought tolerant crops like millet and sorghum, they could have been more food secure as the crops would have performed well even with the poor MAM rainfall.

He pointed out that residents who listened to the weatherman's advisory and planted the drought-escaping crops had realised good yields from the MAM rain.

The Kitui county boss said on the contrary, those who planted maize watched helplessly as their crop failed.He advised  that going forward residents should take the rainfall advisory from the meteorological department seriously as it was accurate.

“We were given advice that the rains will be inadequate but ignored and plant maize only for the crop to wither before maturity leaving behind drying stocks beating the reason why farmers planted the crop,” said Governor Malombe.

He added that it was prudent for the residents to listen to agricultural extension officers who deliver timely weather advisory.

“If they say the rainfall will not be good  you  should plant drought tolerant crops like millet and sorghum and you will be assured of harvest,” said Malombe on Thursday.

The governor spoke as he issued 21 agricultural extension officers with motorbikes to boost their work.He said  the initiative was an important milestone in the advancement of agricultural extension and advisory services in Kitui.

Malombe said the object of the mobility empowerment was to reach up to  229,363 smallholder farmers in Kitui County with agricultural technologies to help them end over dependence on rain-fed agriculture to more reliable irrigated farming.

Speaking  to newsmen earlier on Thursday, Kitui CEC  for Agriculture Stephen Kimwele  confirmed that a large percentage of the MAM season crop  had failed  as the rains performed poorly.

He at the same time cautioned  farmers who planted drought tolerant crops and realised substantial yield  not to sell the surplus at throw away price to profiteering brokers and middlemen.

“Those who have surplus yield from crops like green grams should not rush to sell at throw away prices. Let them wait until the price is good so that they can get good returns,” said Kimwele.