By Ebi Kesiena
Farmers in Kenya, Garissa province have decried losses caused by floods, which have caused damages on their farms and roads.
Kenya Livestock Marketing Council chairman Dubat Ahmey on Monday called on the County and National government to find solutions to floods challenge that have been recurring each rainy season.
“Every time it rains we have issue of floods after drought leading to losses worth thousands,” Dubat said in Garissa.
“For about a week, the floods have destroyed farm produce and car engines too. Our roads have been damaged, making it impossible to access the markets. Farmers are thus stuck with their produce, which often goes bad occasioning losses”.
Dubat said the destruction of produce and flooded farms cause unemployment and scarcity of certain foods such as cabbages, tomatoes, kales, sweet melons and watermelons making their prices to shoot up.
He also asked the county government to pay the agriculture and livestock extension officers so that they can resume working.
Hawa Dekow, a representative from Kenya National Farmers Federation, urged the national and county governments to help the farmers as the losses they experience translate directly to market value of certain foodstuffs causing them to rise.
“As a farmer, the rain has been a blessing to us but it has also brought about a disaster that was unplanned for. The government should provide the necessary assistance such as building outlets for our farms to prevent damages,” Adan Hassan said.
Abdirizack Dubat, another KENAFF member, suggested that other stakeholders chip in and help so that the markets stay afloat.
This comes after hiking of prices of certain foods after the recent heavy rainfall experienced in the county.
