National and county government leaders have called for urgent interventions to cushion farmers from the devastating effects of climate change after prolonged dry spells caused widespread crop failure across Kenya's North Rift grain basket, raising fears over national food security.
Speaking during the national launch of the Integrated Natural Resources Management Programme (INReMP) at the University of Eldoret, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii and Principal Secretary for the State Department for Agriculture Kiprono Ronoh said erratic weather patterns had severely affected maize production in the country's key food-producing region.
Governor Bii said the prolonged drought had disrupted the traditional farming calendar, leaving thousands of acres of maize fields green but without grain after rainfall stopped abruptly before the crops matured.
"The last time you visited, we experienced early rains, giving farmers hope of a good season. We expected the rains to continue until May, but they suddenly disappeared. Today, the maize is green, yet there is nothing inside the cobs. The crops have dried up and the losses we are witnessing are devastating," he said.
According to the governor, the drought has affected Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Bungoma and parts of Kakamega counties, all of which are among Kenya's major maize-producing regions.
He warned that the widespread crop losses would significantly reduce this year's harvest and threaten the country's food supply.
Bii thanked the Ministry of Agriculture for deploying technical experts to assess the extent of crop damage, saying the findings would guide appropriate government interventions and inform support measures for affected farmers.
"For the first time, Uasin Gishu may find itself among the counties requiring relief food. We are accustomed to supporting other regions during times of hardship, but this year the situation is different," he said.
He observed that Uasin Gishu has historically been one of Kenya's leading food-producing counties, often supplying grain to deficit regions during droughts.
However, the current dry spell has reversed that position, leaving thousands of local farmers facing severe financial losses and uncertainty.
The governor appealed to the national government to compensate affected farmers and consider writing off agricultural loans, noting that about 60 per cent of crops in Uasin Gishu had been destroyed by drought.
"I urge the Ministry of Agriculture to consider writing off loans for maize farmers affected by the drought because the losses are enormous. Compensation will also be necessary to help them recover," he added.
Bii further called for increased investment in irrigation, climate-resilient farming technologies and sustainable water conservation programmes to reduce the vulnerability of farmers to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
Speaking at the same event, Agriculture Principal Secretary Kiprono Ronoh said the Ministry had already dispatched technical teams to assess crop losses across the North Rift to facilitate timely government intervention and determine the level of assistance required.
"Normally, at this time of the year, our farmers would be busy in their fields. Unfortunately, we are witnessing the effects of climate change, with many farms experiencing crop failure despite farmers doing everything required of them," he said.
Ronoh attributed the losses to changing weather patterns rather than poor farming practices, saying the government had fulfilled its responsibility by ensuring farmers received subsidised fertiliser, certified seeds and other essential farm inputs in good time before the planting season.
He revealed that the government distributed about 11.6 million bags of subsidised fertiliser this year, the highest number ever supplied under the programme, creating expectations of one of the country's biggest maize harvests before the drought struck.
"Everything that was required was done on time. Farmers prepared their land early, collected fertiliser and quality seeds, and we expected one of the highest harvests in the country's history. Unfortunately, the weather has dealt us a different outcome," he said.
The PS encouraged farmers not to lose hope despite the losses and urged them to prepare for the upcoming short rains, noting that subsidised fertiliser and other farm inputs had already been distributed beginning July 1 to support the next planting season.
"I urge our farmers not to lose hope. Return to your farms during the short rains because the government has already distributed fertiliser and other inputs to support the next planting season," he said.
Ronoh acknowledged that unpredictable rainfall patterns had made farming decisions increasingly difficult, recalling that many farmers initially hesitated to plant because of uncertainty over weather forecasts.
"We advised farmers to plant based on the available forecasts, expecting the rains to continue, but the season changed unexpectedly," he said.
The PS said the newly launched Integrated Natural Resources Management Programme would play a critical role in helping communities adapt to climate change over the next eight years.
He explained that the programme will focus on restoring degraded landscapes, promoting climate-smart agriculture, improving water resource management, expanding market opportunities for farmers and strengthening institutions that support agricultural production.
Ronoh affirmed the Ministry's commitment to ensuring the programme delivers lasting benefits to farming communities while enhancing environmental conservation and national food security.
The leaders noted that climate change continues to pose one of the greatest threats to Kenya's agricultural sector, with increasingly erratic rainfall and prolonged droughts affecting productivity across many regions.
They called for stronger collaboration between the national and county governments, development partners, research institutions and farming communities to accelerate the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices capable of withstanding changing weather conditions.
The appeal comes as prolonged dry spells continue to devastate maize farms across Kenya's North Rift grain basket, where thousands of acres of crops have withered before maturity despite farmers investing heavily in quality seeds, fertiliser and recommended farming practices.
Agriculture remains the backbone of the North Rift economy, and leaders warned that unless immediate support is provided to affected farmers and long-term climate adaptation measures implemented, the region's declining harvest could have far-reaching consequences for household incomes, food availability and the country's overall food security.
