Farmers in Garissa appeal for help after losing their harvest to floods. [Photo|andrewfire.co.ke]
More than 500 irrigation farmers who lost their crops after River Tana burst its banks and flooded their farms located near the river are appealing for help.
Speaking on behalf of the affected farmers on Monday, Garissa county livestock and marketing council chairman Dubat Amey said irrigation farmers along the river were affected by the floods which destroyed their crops and their farms are submerged in water.
Mr Amey said urgent relief food is needed in the area as the villagers are susceptible to starvation after their food was destroyed at a time they anticipated to harvest.
The chairman said the farmers started farming following the prolonged drought being experienced in the country that forced them to abandon being herders after losing almost all their livestock to drought.
“Their crops were swept away by raging floods when they were preparing to harvest. Most of them lost their entire crop. They need assistance as they recover from the loss.”
“These are pastoralists who abandoned livestock rearing to try their lack of irrigation farming. This is a double tragedy,” said Mr Amey.
The chairman further said that the county and national government should look for a long time solution to the perennial problem that keeps hurting farmers in the region.