Business NewsNext to Onyango’s plantation in Ahero, William Otieno was also counting his losses after his rice field was hit by floods. “Now I have run out of money to buy seedlings from other farmers,” he lamented, removing dead seedlings from between his new rice plants. Kenya’s recent floods have ruined harvests in several rice production hubs - including Kisumu, Homa Bay and Busia counties - which Tanui said together supply up to 40% of all rice grown in the country. According to a 2014 report from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, rice is the “third most important” food staple in Kenya after maize and wheat. Next to Onyango’s plantation in Ahero, William Otieno was also counting his losses after his rice field was hit by floods.

Source: Standard Digital May 29, 2020 11:15 UTC