Written by Vanessa Kariuki ||
Farmers in Migori County are feeling the effects of the protracted drought after the region’s main water sources virtually ran dry.
According to Migori County Fisheries officials, the severe drought has caused many farmers to suffer significant losses as a result of their fish dying in ponds due to a shortage of water.
If the deteriorating rain failure situation continues for the next week, the region’s farmers, who raise everything from fish to maize to sweet potatoes, are going to face zero harvests.
“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 named Nyatike sub-county as being the worst hit, with practically all the existing ponds being left untreated after all the fish perished owing to a shortage of water.
Locals have lost a significant amount of revenue over the previous two months alone, amounting to roughly Sh100 million due to the decline in fish production from area ponds and the sharp decline in fish production from Lake Victoria.
Leaders are now pleading with the state to intervene fast with food contributions to save lives because there are already warning signs that the current harvest is drying up, raising worries of a serious famine in the area.
“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.
He added, “Farmers here are fast losing hope of any maize harvest this season due to the worsening drought.”
