By Robert Mutasi 
The government has started a digital assessment to find out how much maize has been destroyed by drought after the rains failed.
The Ministry of Agriculture is doing the exercise together with county governments. The goal is to get real data to help protect the country’s food security.
Thousands of acres of maize in the high producing counties have already been affected by the long dry spell. Farmers are now worried there could be a shortage next year.
The North Rift, which is Kenya’s main grain basket, is the hardest hit. Rains failed about a month after planting.
On many farms, the maize has withered and is drying up. Some farmers are now planning to uproot the crop and use it as animal feed to cut their losses.
In Trans Nzoia:
Agriculture executive Phanice Khatundi says about 50,000 acres out of more than 250,000 acres under maize have been destroyed. She warns the region could face its worst food crisis in many years.
In Uasin Gishu:
About 175,000 farmers planted 118,700 hectares this season. The county normally produces over 4.2 million bags of 90kg maize. Now at least 30 percent of the crop is severely affected.
County executive Sam Kotut said the crop is at a critical stage and needs water urgently. He spoke while hosting a technical team from Kilimo House.
The digital solution:
The national team is led by Deputy Director of Crops Protus Khiza and Roots and Tuber Crops officer Naomi Khiara. They are using a digitised tool linked to the Kenya Agricultural Information Management System, KIAMIS.
The platform will capture real time data on maize performance across counties to improve reporting and help national and county governments make quick, evidence based decisions.
Eldoret Leo