Farmers from Nyandarua County, one of Kenya's largest food producers, are challenging the national government to collect excess food from them to deliver to starving Kenyans.
This is because fresh produce from the farm is going to waste as the county registers a bumper harvest.
Farmers, who spoke to the press, intimated that they were forced to sell the produce at throwaway prices due to a lack of demand.
"There is a lot of food going to waste at our farms due to lack of demand," Reuben Kibwana, a farmer in Nyandarua county, stated.
Kibwana's sentiments reflected the plea from many farmers in Nyandarua who struggled to understand why the government allowed their produce to go to waste at a time when the country is reeling from one of the worst droughts in years.
"When we hear people go without food for days, we are dismayed. The government can easily bring trucks that can ferry loads of food to them. We understand that the economy is at an all-time high," Kibwana stated.
In a bid to extend a helping hand, the farmers stated that they would facilitate the transport of produce from one county to another. They, however, urged the government to in turn rehabilitate the poor state of roads in the area.
The county enjoys ample rainfall all year round, coupled with fertile soil hence making it possible for agriculture to thrive all year.
The county is known for growing potatoes, maize, carrots, cabbages and dairy farming.
According to the Kenya Economic Report 2020, Nyandarua was rated as the second fastest-growing county after Elgeyo-Marakwet. The county was also rated as the second-best in economic activities after Nakuru County.
The news came despite various parts of the country suffering from one of the worst droughts in years.
According to the World Food Program, 3.5 million Kenyans are facing the brink of starvation, signalling one of the worst droughts in the past four decades.
The government has since distributed relief food to various parts of Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) regions in a bid to mitigate the crisis.
