By MIchael Murigi | Project Leader
February, 2014
Maragua Division, Kenya
Dear Friends,
It is yet another frustrating season to the Kenyan farmer. The season started well with farmers planting crops as rains began to fall in October last year. However, the rains subsided two months later in December. A maize/corn crop requires five months of rainfall to mature. This pre-dominant staple food has already began to wither and die off prematurely while in the field. County governments across Kenya have started issuing famine alerts such as “Food security among an estimated 45 percent of the population of the southeastern and coastal marginal agricultural livelihood zones will remain Stressed (IPC Phase 2) during the post-harvest period due to a far below average short rains harvest and its effects on agricultural labor and staple food markets.” However, farmers in our cassava project catchment area are cushioned from total losses.
In the photos is a local farmer, Mr. Francis Muchoki inspecting his drying maize crop. He is again seen admiring his cassava crop which has been able to withstand the drought conditions. He says, " I have learnt a lesson. I will henceforth do cassava cultivation only."
Thank you for your continued support to help us achieve food security and to spread the word about the benefits of cassava.
All the best.
Michael
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