After Garissa County came under numerous terror attacks by the Al Shaabab militants, the government resolved to impose a curfew, which restricts peoples’ movement between 6p.m. to 6a.m.
The curfew might have helped reduce the attacks but has also became a hindrance to locals who had ventured into farming.
The agro-pastoralists are finding it extremely difficult selling their produce, which includes tomatoes, oranges, bananas, paw paws and watermelons. Yakub Hassan, one of the farmers affected, says he used to search for lucrative markets in Masalani and Balambala but now he cannot.
“Because these places are far, l had to leave at 4a.m., travel and distribute to my customers and would be back in the house after 8p.m.,” he says.
Mr Yakub who uses a Probox to transport his produce, laments he stopped visiting these markets because he feared being attacked.
“Because of the curfew, I incur losses since my sales have reduced by more than 50 per cent,” he says.
Some farmers who had markets in far places are being forced to spend their nights there, which brings them extra costs.
“I hire a pick up to ferry my produce, so spending out means paying more for hire. I also have to cater for food and accommodation,” shares Amin Ramadhan. Abdiah Muhamed sold her tomatoes and bananas to local traders within Garissa town in the evenings. Today, she’s lost many of her customers.
“My local traders sold more during evenings, say between 5p.m.-8p.m. The curfew cannot allow them to sell vegetables at this time. Some stopped completely,” she narrates.
Because of these fears, a lot of produce goes to waste in the farms. Some farmers have resorted to selling their produce at throw away prices to avoid huge losses. Nadir Yusuf, says the marketing of their produce has reduced by half, and wishes the curfew was lifted.
“We pray that these terrorist activities come to an end, so that we continue with our farming in peace,” he says.
Other farmers want the government to use alternative means to stop the attacks and not curfew, because it is discouraging their efforts in the farms. Their situation is worsened by poor state of the roads.
“If our roads were good, we would be going far and returning on time,” they say.
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join