Households in Kisumu county are counting food stock losses of Sh12.7 million following the recent floods that left behind a trail of destruction.
The deluge significantly affected Ahero ward, where 300 households lost 500 bags of maize, 20 bags of beans, 20 bags of sorghum and 16 bags of rice valued at Sh2.2 million.
At Kabonyo Kanyagwal ward, which was adversely affected by the backflow from Lake Victoria, 250 households lost 300 bags of maize, 10 bags of beans, 20 bags of sorghum and a bag of rice valued at Sh1.3 million.
Kisumu agriculture executive Kenneth Onyango said families in Kobura ward lost food stocks worth Sh1.7 million, Awasi/Onjiko ward Sh1.1 million, East Kano/Wawithi Sh1.4 million and West Nyakach Sh890,000.
In Manyatta B, residents lost food stocks worth Sh255,000, Nyalenda A Sh460,000, Kolwa East Sh640,000, Kolwa Central Sh520,000 and Nyalenda B Sh1.9 million.
Whereas some of the food was washed away by the floods, Onyango said most of it was destroyed during evacuation.
The situation, he said, has affected food security in the areas.
The county government is working closely with the farmers and partners to ensure they take advantage of the ongoing rains to plant.
Commodity prices, Onyango said, have not been affected by the situation.
Major markets, including Kibuye, which serves Kisumu and other counties in the Nyanza region and beyond, have maintained the same prices as before the onset of the rains.
The county government in collaboration with partners will give incentives to farmers to ensure they replant to boost food security, Onyango said.
He said a memorandum of understanding has been signed with One Acre Fund and NCBA Bank to ensure farmers access inputs at a subsidised price.
As a long-term measure, the county government, he said, was working on an insurance policy to cushion farmers against such natural disasters.
Other measures, Onyango said, include the completion of the Koru-Soin dam, which has stalled to regulate the flow of water in River Nyando in line with containing floods.
