Maize farmers in North rift stare at loses due to erratic weather

ELDORET, KENYA: Maize farmers in the North Rift region have expressed fears of running into heavy losses this season due to poor rains causing crops to wilt.

A spot check by the Standard established that most maize crops in plantations within Kaplamai, Kachibora, Kesogon, parts of Kwanza Sub County and Makutano areas in Trans Nzoia and West Pokot counties had wilted out as a result of sun.

Since mid-May, shortly after flash downpours, the amount of rain witnessed has drastically dropped.

"It has been quite a challenge especially for those who planted quite late since the maize crops were still in the early stages of growth and cannot withstand the hot sun that we have been experiencing for about one month now," said John Kimutai, a maize farmer in Kapsara.

He challenged seed companies to begin researching on maize varieties that withstand longer dry spells so that they do not incur heavy losses due to vagaries of the weather.

This comes even as the department of meteorology disclosed this years rainfall could be scanty and below normal in some parts of Trans Nzoia and West Pokot counties.