CGS Issues Caution Against Impacts of Flood Related Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security

By Calvin Awuora 

As part of the ongoing preparedness against heavy rains related disasters, the Chief Officer for Agriculture, Food Security, Livestock and Blue Economy – Mrs. Elizabeth Adongo has today led a Departmental team in Rarieda, Bondo and Alego Usonga to assess and collect data that will determine interventions towards mitigating adverse effects on Agricultural Sector.

The team from Agriculture, Livestock & Fisheries visited flood prone areas in Nyadorera, Farms & markets along Lake Victoria in Usenge, Panyako water pan and Kamariga Beach in West Uyoma where it was evident that crops have been washed away, road infrastructure destroyed, stunted growth in crops due to water clogging and disruption of other human activities.

Mrs. Adongo underscored the possibility of emergence of human/livestock zoonotic diseases, fungal diseases on crops, displacements and many other effects that lead to food insecurity and loss of income

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The Chief Officer concluded that through its extension officers, the County Government is scaling up sensitization on these effects and how residents can adopt coping mechanisms that would build resilience

She further encouraged that we should take advantage of the situation to invest on water harvesting to cushion against future dry spells as the Government also puts in motion long -term interventions that will ensure Siaya remains iron – still against future flood – related disasters