The outbreak of the Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) disease in Kisii continues to pose a serious food security threat in the region as majority of the area residents depend on maize as a staple food.
Kisii University Director of Self-Sponsored Students Dr Tom Nyang'au has raised concern that if not checked, the maize disease will subject the region into a food security crisis.
Speaking at Agricultural Training Centre in Kisii Town during the County's annual farmers' field Day hosted by ATC, Nyang'au challenged area residents to embrace intensive agriculture and diversify on their farming activities as part of the food insecurity mitigation measures.
“With the food security challenges posed by the dreaded maize disease, area residents should start embracing other foods, especially horticultural farming to cushion themselves against effects of food insecurity,” stated Nyang'au.
Decrying the culture of land sub-divisions in the region, Nyang'au warned community members to shun the culture, as it was threatening the food security situation in the region due to uneconomical land fragmentation, which leads to over-cultivation and lose of essential soil nutrients and fertility.
Nyang'au further noted that if the culture of sub-dividing land into small pieces for purposes of sharing it out among their sons, the region will be exposed to serious food security threats and land-related conflicts.