Farmers in Garissa County have petitioned the County Assembly, seeking urgent intervention over recurring floods, inadequate funding for agriculture, shortage of extension officers and the poor state of farm machinery.
The petition was presented by the Garissa Farmers Network (GFN), whose members say the challenges have negatively affected agricultural production and the livelihoods of farmers across the county.
According to the farmers, recurring floods caused by the overflow of the Tana River and heavy seasonal rains have destroyed crops, damaged irrigation infrastructure and made some farmland unusable.
“Our farmers continue to suffer losses due to persistent flooding, which has greatly affected food production and household incomes,” said Garissa Farmers Network chairperson Abdullahi Abdi while presenting the petition.
The farmers also raised concerns over what they described as inadequate funding for the agricultural sector, saying the limited budget allocation has affected programmes meant to support farming activities and improve food security.
In addition, the network cited a shortage of agricultural extension officers, arguing that many farmers have been unable to access professional advice, modern farming techniques and climate-smart agricultural practices.
The petition further highlighted the poor condition of machinery under the Agricultural Machinery Services programme, with farmers claiming that many machines have broken down due to poor maintenance and neglect.
Receiving the petition, Garissa County Assembly Speaker Abdi Idle Gure assured farmers that the Assembly would consider their concerns.
“The County Assembly remains committed to ensuring that the voices of our farmers are heard and that issues affecting their livelihoods receive the attention they deserve,” said Gure.
The farmers have proposed increased funding for agriculture, recruitment of more extension officers, rehabilitation of farm access roads, repair of farm machinery and implementation of long-term measures to control flooding.
The petition will now be forwarded to the relevant committee of the County Assembly for consideration before recommendations are presented to the House.
