Food security Vs Insecurity: Which way Rongai?

Nakuru is among the counties in Kenya where vast fields of maize stretch as far as the eyes can see.

These are usually for commercial use and almost always for subsistence use.

But this is becoming an unsettling reality as criminals have decidedly made some of the plantations their crime scenes.

In the past month, dense maize fields in Rongai sub-county have become hideouts and staging grounds for illicit activities and killings, which have transformed the farmlands into zones of danger.

This is a blow for local farmers who for decades have relied on these crops to feed their families and sustain their livelihoods.

As this situation progressively becomes the norm, farmers are facing an impossible choice between maintaining their crucial food source and ensuring their safety.

They are also now faced with the difficult decision to cut down almost a cumulative 20 acres of maize following a directive from a Baraza they held late last week, following the merciless killings of two women and a child in the area.

The Chairman Baraka Lower Kiamunyi Estate, in Rongai sub-county, Adams Amdavi, notes that the directive is to help curb some of the insecurities and criminal activities that happen in the area owing to the maize, including robberies, phone snatching and killings.

“We cannot restrict anyone from planting, just not tall crops that contribute to such crimes. As such, after this season, farmers will be required to plant low crops and not anything above the knee height.”

Mtaa Wangu sought an expert's opinion to delve deeper into this complex issue. We aimed to explore which concern should take precedence- food security or physical security, and how to prioritize these competing needs in such challenging circumstances.

Professor Paul Kimurto, a Crop Science Expert, Researcher, and Lecturer at Egerton University, notes that there's a complex relationship between food production and security in such areas.

“When maize fields become associated with insecurity, it creates a problematic indirect link between a staple crop and danger. This association can have several consequences, such as security agents demanding that even unripe maize be removed from fields to eliminate potential hiding spots for criminals,” explains the crop science expert.

“The community might also begin to view mature maize in the fields as a security risk and as a result, there's increasing pressure on maize farmers from both authorities and fellow community members to harvest their crops prematurely.”

This he notes can significantly impact both the quantity and quality of the maize produced, thereby threatening food security in the region, although minimal.

Additionally, Prof.  Kimurto says the situation creates socio-cultural and economic tensions, sometimes sparking conflicts among community members.

This is particularly evident in urban centres near these plantations, where criminals exploit the dense maize fields as hideouts.

This is not new in Nakuru as just three years ago, the National government put out a ban on maize farming in three villages in Njoro sub-county owing to rising levels of insecurity and claimed that maize fields provided perfect cover for assailants, in the then rampant ethnic attacks.

“When some farming communities are forced to plant non maize crops against their will due to insecurity, this affects their household food security especially the low income families who grow food along the roads or in their small portions of land are affected,” says Prof. Kimurto.

According to the expert, we need to be cautious about associating any crop with insecurity. When we threaten food security in the name of combating insecurity, instead of protecting farming communities, we create a significant threat to farmers' livelihoods

“The focus should be on eliminating criminal elements rather than compromising agricultural production. Maize, being a staple crop, shouldn't be vilified simply because its dense growth provides potential hiding spots for criminals. Instead, efforts should be directed towards enhancing security measures in these areas,” he says.