North Rift maize farmers suffer amid dry spell

Maize farmers in the North Rift region are facing significant losses due to a prolonged dry spell lasting more than a month, which has disrupted crop development and sparked fears of poor harvests.
The lack of rainfall has caused many farms to dry up at a critical growth stage, with farmers expressing concern over potential impacts on food production and household incomes.
The North Rift region, considered Kenya’s food basket, accounts for about 80 percent of the country’s maize production. The ongoing dry conditions have therefore raised concerns about national food security and future maize availability.
Farmers had expected a bumper harvest this season, largely due to the government’s subsidized fertilizer program, which enabled many growers to access farm inputs at affordable prices and expand cultivated areas. The favorable start to the planting season had further boosted expectations of increased production.
However, the prolonged absence of rainfall has threatened those expectations, with large sections of maize crops showing moisture stress. Farmers warn that if the dry spell continues, yields could decline significantly despite seasonal investments.
According to the Kenya Meteorological Department, rainfall is expected to resume from June 20. Farmers are now hoping the anticipated rains will arrive in time to salvage crops and reduce losses already incurred.