The Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) chairman Kipkorir arap Menjo has warned of a poor maize harvest this season in the North Rift Region.
Menjo says that the crops were affected by the Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND), and poor rainfall experienced in the area.
Speaking on Monday, Menjo said that they had expected to harvest four 4,500,000 bags of maize this year but the target might not be met due to the disease and low rainfall.
"Moiben and Soy are the hardest hit areas by insufficient rainfall. With the low rainfall and crops being affected by lethal necrosis virus there will be food insecurity in Austin Gishu and the country at large since Uasin Gishu is the food basket" he said
Menjo revealed that this year, farmers reduced the acreage of land under maize to 77,225 hectares from 92,000 hectares in the last season within Uasin Gishu County.
Menjo urged the government to increase funding in the ministry of agriculture that will enable farmers get farm inputs at a subsidised rate. He says funds should be availed to farmers to enable them start greenhouse projects that will ensure they not only depend on rains but also can plant their crops throughout the year.
"If we had a proper irrigation project for greenhouses, cases of insufficient rain would be a thing of the past and Uasin Gishu can have a guaranteed bumper harvest since crops will not wither due to lack of rain," he added.