Farmers count losses as elephants destroy crops in Kilifi

Food security in drought stricken areas of Ganze is under threaten after marauding elephants invaded farms in the area destroying more than 100 acres of maize.

The jumbos raided farms in Kavunzoni, Migujini, Goshi and Midoina villages and cleared the crops.

The destruction has left many farmers who had planted fast maturing crops like maize ,green peas,cassava and vegetables counting losses and staring at prolonged hunger.

“I had invested about Sh10,000 in my three acres of maize from buying maize seeds and fertilizers and I expected to harvest next month. Now, the elephants have destroyed everything,” said Kazungu Katoi, a local farmer.

Katoi said that he has been struggling with hunger because the area had not experienced rains for the last two years leading to two seasons of crop failure.

He explained that when the rains came, he and other villagers had planted huge tracts of land but the elephants have caused a major setback.

''The maize I had planted was enough for me and my family for the next year. But now I do not know where to begin. I do not have even a coin to start buying seeds and planting again. I am also not sure if the rains will continue to sustain new crops, '' he said.

Another farmer, Mr Daniel Mangi, said the elephants from Tsavo East National Park have invaded his farm and communal water points, consuming crops and exposing residents to hunger and insecurity.

 ''It is so unfortunate that farmers who were expecting to harvest their produce next month have lost crops after elephants invaded their farms on Sunday evening exposing them to hunger,'' said Mangi, a former Bamba MCA. According to the residents, the animals have invaded farms as early as 6 pm daily since last Sunday and block access to shopping centres and schools posing danger.

 ''I was to say this to the government and anyone who is connected to these elephants starting with the Kenya Wildlife Service; enough is enough. As a leader, I will not allow my people to suffer in my presence,''' he said.

Mangi called on the local leadership to look for a lasting solution.

''These elephants roam in these areas like cows. Leaders should come together to end the invasion,'' he said.

The escalating human-wildlife conflict has also impacted education, with many schools in Ganze adjusting their reporting and departure hours to ensure the safety of learners.

 ''The affected schools include Midoina, Jira and Nzovuni primary schools. Children and teachers in the area report as late as 8 am and leave the school at 3 pm and sometimes children fail to attend classes," said Mangi.

 He told KWS officials camp at these areas every morning and evenings to help children cross over to their respective schools.

 For the past four years, Ganze residents have been battling human-wildlife conflicts. Villagers say that a countless number of people have been killed in that period.

Speaking to the Standard, KWS Director General Prof Erustus Kanga confirmed that the government was in the process of engaging the community on its plan to erect an electric fence around Tsavo East National Park to prevent further incursions by the elephants.

 ''Right now we are engaging the community; it's a continuous process. Once we agree with the community and they assure us where we can do fencing we do it,'' said Kanga.

 He further said that  KWS team is in the ground and they do frequent patrols as well as pushing the elephants back to the forest whenever they come out.

 Kanga said the government plans to create more boreholes to make sure that elephants do not come for water in the community places.

 He however urged residents whose crops have been destroyed to seek compensation from KWS.

 ''We also do compensation when crops are destroyed.KWS team comes and does the assessment together with the ministry of agriculture and livestock and thereafter, the department of wildlife is the one that gives money for compensation,'' he said.

 Kanga said the efforts are geared towards permanently addressing the perennial cases of wild animals especially elephants straying into people’s homes and farmlands causing crop destruction and at times death and body injuries.