Sorghum begins to replace rice in Kisumu plains

KISUMU COUNTY: Residents of Kano plains in Kisumu are slowly but steadily shifting focus to sorghum production on hitherto rice fields.

This began after a trial phase sponsored by the local county government proved productive.

The locals, who had previously shied away from growing sorghum, now have two planting seasons every year, with rice interchanging with sorghum.

Although rice was the staple crop for residents, its dwindling market prices has worked against the farmers.

The area's unpredictable climatic condition characterised by either prolonged floods or drought has been pushing local farmers to the wall.

In a bid to curb hunger in the area, which outsources over 70 per cent of its staple foods from other counties, the county government identified three rice schemes for a trial of sorghum production.

Over 300 acres of rice fields in Oriamataro, Kopondo A and Kopondo B rice schemes produced over 200 tonnes of sorghum in the July harvest.

In a normal production schedule, the rice fields are occupied between September and February.

This schedule is in line with the irrigation water supply schedule to the schemes, which are part of the Kano West Irrigation Board. It also allowed the farms to gain nutrients after the harvesting of rice.

The remaining period of the year leaves the farms bare and people use them for grazing.

However, a project to utilise the schemes during the rice off-season brought together 200 farmers from Nyando Constituency and targeted embracing self-dependence on subsistence crops.

According to Oriamataro Farmers Rice Scheme Director Jane Kisia, the farmers were given sorghum seeds and technical support by the county government. Market for the produce was also promised, hence farmers felt secure.

"There is this notion that people from this region are lazy and can never venture into commercial farming. From this trial, I have come to realise that it is ignorance on agricultural techniques which is a letdown," said Kisia.

Farmers in this region have always shied away from investing in commercial cereal production.

Kano plains is mostly known for rice production. This is however confined to specific areas, which are swampy and have established rice schemes.

Maize, which is the staple food, is supplied from Rift Valley while vegetables come mostly from Kisii and parts of Central region.

The first batch of rotational cropping has now opened a new twist in the agricultural practice in the county after the July bumper harvest.

Kisia, who harvested 51 bags each weighing 70 kilogrammes of sorghum from her four acres, says this is the first time she managed such a harvest since she started farming.

"I have set more acres for growing sorghum this planting season because I have realised the business is paying," said Kisia.

The county government in April rolled out mechanised farming by unveiling 23 tractors and also distributed 40 tonnes of sorghum seeds to farmers to boost food security.

In the whole county, a total of 3,400 hectares of sorghum was cultivated and a harvest of about 130,000 70-kilogramme bags of the product realised.

The pledge by the Kenya Breweries Limited (EBL) that it would offer ready market for the sorghum gave the farmers more confidence in the new undertaking.

And after the harvest, EBL did not disappoint.