Maize farmers in the North Rift region are staring at huge losses following a prolonged dry spell that has persisted for more than a month, disrupting crop growth and raising fears of poor harvests.

The lack of rainfall has left many farms drying up at a critical stage of crop development, with farmers expressing concern over the potential impact on food production and household incomes.

The North Rift region, widely regarded as Kenya’s food basket, accounts for an estimated 80 percent of the country’s maize production. The ongoing dry conditions have therefore sparked concerns over national food security and the availability of maize in the coming months.

Farmers had anticipated a bumper harvest this season, largely due to the government’s subsidized fertilizer programme, which enabled many growers to access farm inputs at affordable prices and expand acreage under cultivation. The favourable start to the planting season had further raised expectations of increased production.

However, the prolonged absence of rainfall has threatened those expectations, with large sections of maize crops showing signs of moisture stress. Farmers warn that if the dry spell continues, yields could decline significantly despite the investments made at the beginning of the season.

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 the crops and reduce the losses already incurred.