Creaw Portal

By JOEL OKWAYO

Hundreds of children in West­ern Province are at the risk of malnutrition if the food crisis es­calates.

Many mothers say they have been forced to feed their children on white porridge.

Others are feeding them on boiled potatoes only, HeaJth workers say such children are likely to develop kwashiorkor or marasmus.

Food prices have gone up even for commodities such as millet. beans and cassava that are usually affordable.

Two kilogrammes of millet (wimbi) are going for Sh 120 up from 5h80 in Kakamega while the same amount of finger mil­let (mawele) is selling at Sh80. Groundnuts are going for 5h200 per two kilogrammes. The same amount of beans is selling at 5h150. A 90-kg bag is going for 5h6, ODD.

A trader at the market Rose­mary Okurnu says she is buying the cereals from Busia. The area is known for high production of cas­sava, millet and finger millet.

Traders are also importing food from Uganda.

EXPLOITATION BY MIDDLEMEN

The Western Provincial Direc­tor of Agriculture John Cheruiyot says local depots are empty since farmers did not sell their crop to the National Cereals and Produce Board because of poor prices.

"The Government has released 5h474 million for buying maize, but no deliveries have been made," he says.

He said the Bungorna depot had abou 16.000 bags delivered two months ago, but schools bought the stock.

Cheruiyot says the food short­age may get worse because mill­ers are luring farmers with more money.

"Farmers prefer to sell their maize to middlemen at between 5hZ, 000 and 5hZ, ZOO per 90-kg bag of maize. The board is buying at 5hl,700 per bag," he says.

MostWestern residents feel the maize shortage is artificial and the Government should punish those creating it.

"Although harvest was low, we know maize in the North Rift is in plenty and therefore the prevail­ing shortage is suspect," says Bea-

Children have been forced to look for food.

trice Naliaka, a resident of Kabula in Bungoma South District'.

Post-election violence, insecu­rity in Mt Elgon, the high cost of farming inputs, and diminishing land ownership are some of the key factors affecting food produc­tion.

The ministry of Agriculture says the province faces a deficit of 439,970 bags of maize.

He says the Government has projected a harvest of over 7.6 million bags in the next season.

Cheruiyot says the projection may not be realised due to effects of post-election violence. among other factors.

He says most farmers in Lugar!

District. the backbone of cereals production in the province, were affected by the chaos.

The resettlement of displaced persons may also affect planting next season.

" The Government gave maize seeds but few people have come for them," he says.

Some of those in transitional camps, he says, cannot go back to their farms because they are too far from their temporary homes.

Some small-scale traders say they have been forced to close shop because of lack of custom­ers.

A former councillor, Joshua Maina, wants the Government to control food prices.