By MUTINDA MWANZIA
How is it possible that food is rotting on farms even as hundreds of thousands of Kenyans and refugees are starving to death every day?
But this is exactly what is happening in fertile Nyandarua County, where farmers are watching helplessly as their cabbages go to waste.
 |
Mr Harrison Mugi’s cabbages are going to waste in his farm in Njambini. Farmers in the area on Thursday complained of lack of market for their farm produce. [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO/STANDARD] |
At Njabini trading centre in the county, your nose will guide you to the rotting vegetable: the stench is everywhere and it is overwhelming. If the farmers huddled in groups had their choice, they would gladly donate the cabbages to the hungry rather than feed it to their cows.
But the poor state of feeder roads ensures the cost of transporting vegetables to markets outside the county is enough to wipe out any income from its sale during the high season.
A spot check by The Standard and KTN teams in Kinang’op constituency revealed a sorry state of the farmers’ frustrations as mounds of mature cabbages, carrots, peas, Kales and potatoes rot in the farms.
This is nothing new. It happens every year and reflects other instances elsewhere in the country when dairy farmers pour milk on the ground because the local market is flooded and the poor state of roads means transporting it to other markets is not a viable option.
So as thousands die of malnutrition, food goes to waste.
The situation is further aggravated by the poor prices offered to the farmers by brokers who have cashed on their desperation.
Saddening
"It is saddening that we are now forced to feed the cabbages to our cows since we cannot find a market for them," said Harrison Mugi, a farmer.
He said the collapse of cooperative societies in the area has aggravated the situation since brokers were now having a field day.
"They offer ridiculously low prices for the crops and we feel exploited," said Mugi.
Cabbages retail for as low as Sh5 per piece, with an extended bag of potatoes going for Sh1,200.
The poor state of feeder roads in the county and especially Kinang’op Constituency has made matters worse as taking the mature crops to local markets is a herculean task.
Most feeder roads are washed away and potholed with most sections impassable for motor vehicles. Locals have to rely almost exclusively on donkeys to ferry their produce to the main Naivasha –Nairobi highway for sale to other markets.
The farmers blamed local leaders for ignoring their plight adding that the poor prices will certainly dominate elective politics come the general elections. "We are suffering while our MP sits pretty in Nairobi and engages in funny politics. We are watching," said Peter Gitau, a farmer.
Kinang’op MP David Ngugi blamed the Government for their woes, adding it had failed to match the needs of the producers with the markets.
"It is disappointing and shocking that we have abundant food in some areas and which is going to waste, while thousands of Kenyans elsewhere are starving," said Ngugi.
He said the collapse of the cooperatives in the region had led to farmers lacking unity in seeking markets leading to the infiltration of brokers.
"Brokers have taken over the marketing chain and are purely driven by profits," said Ngugi.
He said the bumper harvests in the county should be bought by the Government and channeled to those facing hunger in Turkana, North Eastern and parts of Ukambani.
Heavy rains
On Thursday, heavy rains continued to hit the region, a total contrast to the scenes of hungry and emaciated children and adults in areas ravaged by famine, and which are being beamed on national and international media.
A farmer at Mbako village in Kinang’op, Joseph Ndung’u said the Government should send its officers to the region and mop up the bumper harvests and save the farmers losses.
At his farm, acres of mature cabbages are rotting due to lack of ready buyers. Those who come offer very low prices.
"Even our cows are now refusing to eat the cabbages," said Ndung’u.
No comments:
Post a Comment