Nyakach District Agricultural Officer Henry Owiti has said maize farmers from the lower Nyakach and Nyabondo plateau are counting losses after their crops was destroyed by a strange viral disease.
Owiti said the viral disease has affected expansive fields completely drying young maize, leaving farmers in agony.
He described the loss as “monumental'' and expressed fears that there could be an acute food shortage at the beginning of next year
Following the devastating losses, Owiti urged the farmers to now plant beans, millet and sorghum to prevent a looming food shortage.
The agricultural officer said the government has embarked on research aimed at establishing the best way to deal with the scary maize virus first reported in Rift Valley where farmers are yet to recover from similar colossal losses.
"We hope to know the cause of the disease and how best to control it before it spreads further", he said.
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