For years, farmer Reckadiuse Owino watched monkeys raid his maize fields in Got Osimbo, Kenya, destroying crops and threatening his family’s food supply. The problem became so severe that he eventually abandoned his farm. But a shift towards indigenous crops, including finger millet, sorghum and groundnuts, has given him a way to farm with fewer wildlife losses. His experience reflects a wider change among farmers in Siaya County, where traditional crops are also being used to cope with increasingly unpredictable rainfall and climate shocks.
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How the Kenyan Monkeys turned maize farming into a daily battle
Owino’s maize fields became a regular target for monkeys searching for food. He told Citizen Digital that habitat loss, including the cutting of trees along riverbanks and surrounding forests, had pushed the animals towards farms and homesteads. Growing maize meant he had to remain in his field from morning until evening simply to chase the monkeys away. Even then, the animals could destroy the crop at different stages, from after planting through to harvest. The repeated losses eventually forced Owino to abandon the farm, leaving his family more exposed to food insecurity.
Indigenous crops are reducing wildlife conflict
Owino found a different approach when he began growing indigenous crops such as finger millet, sorghum and groundnuts. Unlike his maize fields, the new crops have so far attracted far less attention from the monkeys. His finger millet was approaching harvest and Owino said he no longer needed to spend his days guarding the farm. The change has therefore reduced more than crop damage. It has also freed farmers from constantly monitoring their fields and demonstrated how choosing crops suited to local conditions could provide an alternative to simply trying to keep wildlife away.
Traditional crops are proving more resilient to changing rainfall
The benefits extend beyond wildlife conflict. Farmers in the area have noticed that rainfall patterns have become less predictable, with rains sometimes beginning and ending before crops have enough time to mature. Owino said indigenous crops had performed better during shortened rainy seasons than hybrid varieties requiring more rainfall. Another farmer, Risper Agutu, also adopted climate-smart farming practices after receiving training. She told Citizen Digital that her maize harvest improved substantially despite insufficient rainfall. Her methods include raising seedlings before transplanting and using organic manure made from livestock waste to improve crop growth.
A community seed bank is protecting indigenous varieties
Farmers in Got Osimbo are also working to preserve the seeds behind these traditional crops. The community established a seed bank and gene bank with support from development partners, storing varieties including sorghum, finger millet, groundnuts, vegetables, cassava, yams and maize. The seed bank has around 200 members, who can borrow seeds and return twice the amount after harvesting. Lawrence Odipo, a seed bank record keeper, said the initiative was created to preserve indigenous seeds and cultural heritage while helping farmers respond to unpredictable rainfall. Local agricultural officials are also encouraging farmers to use resilient varieties and improve their knowledge of changing weather patterns.
