Disease destroys over 5,000 acres of maize plantations in Elgeyo Marakwet County

Elgeyo Marakwet; Kenya:  Maize plantations estimated to be over 5, 000 acres have been affected by Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND) in Elgeyo Marakwet county.

Agricultural official fear the affected fields would lead to losses amounting to over Sh50 million with several households staring at imminent food shortage.

Parts worst hit are along the semi-arid region of Kerio Valley and the hanging escarpment in which the disease is reported to have wiped out thousands of acres under maize.

The areas include Kocholwo location in Keiyo South, Keu location in Keiyo North and Arror location in Marakwet West; all within Kerio Valley.

The 1,500 acre Kabomo/Kapkamak irrigation scheme funded by the African Development Bank (ADB), which supports 1,500 families, has not been spared by the MLND with 80 percent of the crop destroyed.

Farmers in the affected areas have either uprooted the crop or cut down and fed it to livestock with agricultural experts attributing the disease to the quality of seeds planted.

Agricultural officials in the area have already painted a grim picture on the food situation in the county following the emergence of the disease saying there is a looming food deficit next year.

Stephen Kiprono, a farmer in Kasar village, Kocholwo location said he has lost 10 acres of maize to the disease.
"The maize farm was the only source of income and food to my family but now we are worried because the disease will force us to beg for food rations," said Kiprono.