Ahero rice farmers count loses as floods wash off plantations

The National Irrigation Authority (NIA) in charge of the Ahero and West Kano irrigation schemes says the flooding caused by the burst of River Nyando on Saturday has affected over 800 acres of rice plantations. 

NIA Scheme Manager Kennedy Ouma says all the farms have been washed away by the raging flood waters.

“We are assessing the damage, but the situation is very bad, farmers have recorded serious losses,” he says. 

Ouma says they are carrying out assessments to evaluate the extent of the damage but says the expected bumper harvest by the farmers has now been dealt a blow.

He adds that the incident is likely to deal a blow to efforts by the national government to ensure there is proper food security through rice farming.

Speaking at Ahero, Ouma says most farmers took loans to grow the crop adding that many are now counting massive losses with fears that the flooding may continue.