Nyamira farmers have been challenged to consider practising banana farming in large scale in replacement of failing maize and beans farming.
This comes at a time when farmers are counting losses due to persisting drought that has literally made it impossible for them to have any hope of harvesting at the end of the season.
Speaking on Thursday at Gesima ward during a farming workshop organised by the county government, county agricultural officer, Tom Sagwe, said continued investment in traditional maize and beans farming may lead to severe famine due to droughts.
He said banana farming will help them commercialise the business since there were ready markets for the product outside the county.
“It is evident that maize and beans farming is not doing well in the recent past. If we continue relying in it, we may end up inviting famine in this region despite its good reputation in food production,” Sagwe said.
“There is nothing wrong if we try banana farming and we do it in large scale. Weather is favorable here and I am sure it will do extremely well. There are a lot of market opportunities for the product within and even outside the country,” he added.
Since 2009, following a mysterious disease that emanated from the neighboring Rift Valley province, maize farming has been a major blow with many farmers recording massive losses.
“It has taken time for this region to recover and it might take even longer. As experts, we have to advise you to look for alternatives,” he said.