Kenya Likely to Lose 16 Million Bags of Maize To Army-worms

By Juma Fredrick

Experts have warned that Kenya is likely to lose a total of 16 million bags of maize during this year’s harvest season due as an aftermath of an armyworm attack.

The vicious armyworms which matched through the country five months ago devouring everything green on their way have already destroyed thousands of acres of maize leaving farmers with no hope of a harvest this season.

The most affected counties are Trans-Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, and Bungoma. All the three countries have traditionally been viewed as the core food baskets for the country. Most farmers from Trans-Nzoia might not harvest anything from their farms.

The announcement comes even as Kenyans are already struggling to put a plate of ugali on their table with prices of maize flour, despite interventions from the government, still being out of reach. Last month, the government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, moved in to arrest the situation by ordering maize from Mexico. The government then entered into an agreement with maize millers that a 2- kilogram packet of maize flour would retail at 90 shillings with that of 1 kilogram going for 47 shillings but ever since, the majority of Kenyan have not set eyes on the affordable maize flour.

Farmers are now pointing an accusing finger to the agricultural ministry for ignoring the armyworm threat which has now become a menace. They say, despite government promises that it would release funds and chemicals to help farmers fight the armyworms, nothing tangible was done with only politics taking over every subject of discussion.

Most farmers are now contemplating abandoning the farming of maize all together come next season to avoid running into losses.

On Wednesday, the leader of the opposition, National Super Alliance, Raila Odinga called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to dismiss from duty the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Mr. Willy Bett for misleading Kenyans on the state of maize in the country.