Delayed long rains have derailed the planting season in Kisii, raising concern over the fate of the region's food security situation.
The region, traditionally relies on maize as staple food, and delays in planting the crop early poses serious food security situation to majority of the residents who rely on maize.
A section of the farmers who talked this writer expressed fear that, their food security situation at household levels looked bleak, as they do not have surplus food from the previous season to sustain them until the next harvest, which is projected to be late August or early September.
Mary Marucha from Giasaiga sub-location in Kisii County said she engaged intensive human labour to prepare her farm, and has already bought fertilizer and hybrid maize seeds, but with delayed rains, she will be forced to hire human labour to prepare her farm for planting.
“I have spent a lot of cash to engage human labour to prepare my maize farm in readiness for planting this season, but with delayed rains I am worried that I will be forced to hire human labour when the rains come to do land preparation before planting,” said Marucha.
Samson Mose from Msongo Village in Nyaribari Chache in Kisii County challenged local farmers to embrace short season and first maturing crops instead of over relying on maize alone.
Mose laments that relying on maize alone by area residents was a threat to food security situation in the area, and there was need for diversification, to have a variety of food crops in case maize planting is delayed there will be alternative food reserves.