High prevalence of stunted growth in children in Siaya County has been blamed on lack of prioritization of family nutritional needs.
The worrying trend is as a result of families in the region opting to sell all their farm produce to make money while neglecting their nutritional needs.
Siaya County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture Sylvester Kokoth, speaking during World Food Day fete in Bondo town, noted that while the county has made significant steps in ensuring food production, nutritional levels are still low leading to high levels of stunted growth among children.
According to 2023 Kenya Demographic Health Survey, the county’s stunting growth levels caused by malnutrition is at 19%, ranking above the national average of 18%.
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“We have many reported case of farmers producing chicken, eggs, milk , fish and other horticultural produce here in Siaya but sell all their produce to make money yet their own children are totally forgotten and do not consume the products. This is what is affecting our nutritional status as a county, leading to a high number of children with stunted growth,” Kokoth stated.
He therefore called upon extension officers and the health department through their Community Health Volunteers to spearhead sensitization campaigns on nutrition among families in the county with the view of transforming the nutritional status.
“Food security is not all about production; we must also consume what we produce to be food secure. I call upon all extension officers and Community Health volunteers to undertake nutritional campaigns and ensure our people set aside adequate food for consumption before selling the excess to make money. This is the only way we will transform our nutritional status as a county,” he stated.
He observed that unlike before when the county relied heavily on food produced in neighbouring counties, efforts by the county government to provide support to farmers through subsidy programmes and provision of recommended seeds has borne fruits with growth recorded in crop production, animal husbandry and aquaculture.
“The number of lories bringing food from neighbouring counties into Siaya has significantly reduced, an indicator that we have made significant strides in improving our food production,” he stated.
By Erick Nyayiera
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