Garissa County Assembly Speaker Abdi Idle Gure has received a public petition from the Garissa Farmers Network (GFN), in which farmers are seeking the Assembly's intervention to address recurring floods, inadequate funding for agriculture, a shortage of extension officers and the breakdown of farm machinery.
The petition was presented by the network's chairperson, Abdullahi Abdi, who said the farming community continues to face challenges that have affected agricultural production and livelihoods.
According to the petition, recurring floods have continued to disrupt farming activities by washing away crops, damaging irrigation infrastructure, destroying access roads and leaving productive farmland unusable. The farmers argue that the situation has reduced food production, affected household incomes and increased food insecurity.
Garissa regularly experiences flooding following the overflow of the Tana River and periods of heavy seasonal rainfall. Although the floods help replenish grazing fields and water sources, they also destroy farmland, damage infrastructure and force families to leave their homes, making recovery difficult for affected communities.
The petition also states that agriculture has not received adequate budget allocations despite its contribution to the county's economy and food security. The farmers say limited funding has affected the implementation of programmes aimed at improving production and supporting farming activities.
The network further raises concern over the shortage of agricultural extension officers across the county, saying the lack of technical personnel has denied many farmers access to professional advice, improved farming methods, climate-smart practices and modern agricultural technologies that could help increase production and improve resilience to changing weather patterns.
The farmers also claim that machinery operating under the Agricultural Machinery Services programme is no longer serving them effectively because many of the machines have broken down after years of poor maintenance, vandalism and neglect.
According to the petition, the condition of the equipment has reduced access to mechanised farming services.
The petition notes that previous engagements with the county executive have not produced lasting solutions to the challenges facing the farming community, prompting the network to seek intervention through the County Assembly.
Among the proposals presented to the Assembly is the establishment of a comprehensive investigation into the recurring floods together with recommendations for permanent mitigation measures, including the construction and rehabilitation of dykes, improvement of drainage systems, protection of riverbanks and investment in irrigation infrastructure capable of withstanding climate-related shocks.
The farmers are also seeking increased funding for the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, rehabilitation of farm access roads, establishment of farmers' markets in different parts of the county, recruitment of additional extension officers and an assessment of Agricultural Machinery Services equipment to facilitate urgent repairs while safeguarding public assets.
While receiving the petition, Speaker Abdi Idle Gure said the Assembly would continue to uphold the constitutional right of residents to present petitions on matters affecting them.
"The County Assembly remains committed to ensuring that the voices of our farmers are heard and that matters affecting their livelihoods receive the attention they deserve," he said.
Deputy Speaker and Iftin MCA Mustafa Abdirashid called on the Assembly's Finance, Budget and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Damajale MCA Omar Abdi Hassan, to examine the concerns raised by the farmers during its review of the county budget estimates scheduled for tabling this week.
The Garissa Farmers Network is a cooperative and advocacy body representing about 1,700 members from different parts of the county. It works to support agricultural production, expand market opportunities and improve sustainable livelihoods for farmers.
The petition follows earlier consultations between officials of the Garissa Farmers Network and the County Assembly, during which members of the organisation were guided on the process of filing a public petition.
The Assembly is expected to forward the petition to the relevant committee for consideration. The committee will engage the petitioners and other stakeholders before preparing a report containing its findings and recommendations for debate by the House.
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