The effect of ongoing drought situation is sending chill among farmers in Migori County after key water sources in the region have almost gone dry.
From fish farming to maize and to sweet potatoes farming, the regions’ farmers are now staring at zero harvests if the worsening rain failure situation continue for the next one week.
Already signs of the current crop desiccating are sending fears of serious famine in the region and leaders are now appealing to the state to move in quickly with food donations to save life.
A spot-check in the area by KNA in the past one week has revealed that most of the fish ponds initiated by individual farmers and through the government assistance are already dried up and fish have died.
Migori County Fisheries officials said the biting drought has led to many farmers incurring heavy losses after their fish died in ponds for lack of water.
“Following this, many farmers are now contemplating shifting their efforts to alternative farming activities that are resistant to harsh climatic conditions,” said the Muhuru Bay head of fisheries Mr. Walter Onyango.
The official cited Nyatike sub-county as the worst affected with almost all the existing ponds being left unattended to after all the fish died due to lack of water
Majority of farmers have so far suspended operations reluctantly waiting to re-initiate fish farming when rains sets in again if the government will sponsor them again.
Mr. Paul Midemo who spoke at Aneko areas of Nyatike said he was contemplating abandoning growing fish completely after losing his stock worth over Sh0.5 million following the drought.
The slump in fish production from local ponds coupled by severe shrinking of fish production from Lake Victoria has led to a huge loss of income of about Sh100 million to the locals in the past two months alone.
Not spared also are maize and sweet potatoes farmers whose crops are fast withering due to the long dry-spell being witnessed in the region.
“We are witnessing a total crop failure in this region because of lack of rains a situation that has seen our maize crop wilting indicating signs of serious famine in the near future,” lamented Bishop Evans Ogoda of Calvary Church.
Central location chief in Uriri Sub-County Mr. George Odhiambo confirmed that most farmers in his area were preparing for the worst effects of the drought after witnessing their maize crop farms drying up due to the strong heat battering the region.
“Farmers here are fast losing hope of any maize harvest this season due to the worsening drought,” he said, adding that even the lives of the local livestock are now hanging precariously unless rains fall comes soon.
By George Agimba
