North Rift Farmers Push for Fresh Input Subsidies After Drought Wipes Out Maize Crop

Maize farmers across Kenya’s North Rift are urging the government to provide subsidized fertilizer and certified seed ahead of the September planting season after prolonged dry conditions destroyed large sections of this year’s crop, leaving many producers without harvests or income.

The appeal comes as thousands of farmers in Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Nandi, Bungoma and parts of Elgeyo Marakwet assess heavy losses following an unusually long dry spell that struck during the critical flowering and grain-filling stages of maize development. Agricultural experts warn that the reduced harvest could tighten domestic maize supplies and place additional pressure on food prices later this year.

Many growers who had invested in land preparation, fertilizer and improved seed now face the prospect of clearing withered crops to prepare for another planting window expected in September, provided adequate rainfall returns. Farmers say, however, that depleted savings and outstanding production loans have left them unable to finance another season without government support.

Agriculture stakeholders have called for an expanded subsidy programme covering fertilizer and quality seed to help farmers take advantage of the anticipated short rains. They argue that timely access to affordable inputs could improve recovery in one of Kenya’s most important maize-producing regions while reducing the country’s reliance on imports if production remains below normal.

The drought has reversed expectations of a bumper harvest after farmers planted early using subsidized fertilizer distributed under the government’s input support programme. Officials had anticipated strong production before rainfall declined sharply across several grain-growing counties.

The national government has already announced a series of emergency measures to cushion affected farmers. Among them is a plan to convert failed maize crops into livestock feed, allowing producers to recover part of their investment instead of abandoning damaged fields entirely. Authorities have also indicated they are preparing interventions to support farmers ahead of the expected El Niño-enhanced rains later in the year.

County governments are also encouraging farmers to diversify into drought-tolerant and early-maturing crops while expanding climate-smart farming practices. Agricultural officers say changing rainfall patterns are making it increasingly difficult to rely on traditional planting calendars, underscoring the need for improved water management, crop diversification and weather-informed farming decisions.

For many maize growers, however, the immediate priority remains securing affordable inputs before the next planting season begins. With households facing reduced incomes and concerns growing over national food supplies, farmers hope swift government intervention will give them another opportunity to restore production and prevent the current drought from triggering a deeper food security challenge in the months ahead.