Narok County, Kenya – the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has issued a warning to local farmers against the use of uncertified seeds during the current planting season. This advisory aims to combat the spread of Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND), a significant threat to maize crops in the region.
According to Kenya News Agency, an inspector at KEPHIS, the organization’s officers have been actively engaging with farmers across the county. These efforts include educating them on the importance of selecting certified seeds to maximize yield and profitability. The KEPHIS team has visited various areas known for maize cultivation, including Ntulele, Nkaretta, Sogoo, Nkosuani, Ololulunga, and Suswa. Their mission extends to both farmers and sellers at 67 different selling points, ensuring that all parties involved are dealing with approved seed varieties.
Sitenei emphasized the necessity for farmers to be vigilant in verifying the authenticity of seed packages. Each certified seed package comes with a unique code that can be used to confirm its quality directly with KEPHIS. “Certified seeds have a label. Farmers can scratch the label and get a number that they can confirm whether the seeds are genuine or not. Planting the right seeds will help farmers get the best results,” he stated.
Additionally, the KEPHIS inspector advised on the practice of crop rotation as a strategy to mitigate the impact of MLND. He recommended alternating maize with other crops like beans, sorghum, and potatoes. This approach not only helps in controlling MLND but also promotes healthier farming practices and potentially better harvests.
Sitenei also reported a decline in MLND cases, attributing this trend to the prolonged rainfall in the country. He noted that MLND typically thrives in prolonged dry spells. The disease, first identified in the county in 2011, is known for causing symptoms such as yellowing and drying of maize leaves, dwarfing, premature aging of plants, and eventual plant death.
Murang’a County – Farmers in the lower parts of Murang’a County are gearing up for a potentially lucrative sorghum harvest, following a beneficial agreement with East African Breweries Limited (EABL). This anticipation is buoyed by last season’s high rainfall and an MoU signed last year, promising a ready market for their sorghum crop.
According to Kenya News Agency, led by Governor Irungu Kang’ata, the farmers received over 6,000 kgs of certified sorghum seeds from EABL. This initiative, encompassing around 2,000 farmers from Maragua, Ithanga, and Gatanga Sub-counties, aims to support livelihoods in the region, which typically experiences minimal rainfall.
The County Executive for Trade and Cooperatives, Kimani Mugo, affirmed the farmers’ expectations of a bumper harvest during his recent visit to the sorghum farms. EABL has pledged to purchase the entire harvest at Sh.48 per kilo. Mugo highlighted that one acre of sorghum could yield over seven 90-kilo sacks, potentially earning a farmer over Sh30,000.
This project is set to benefit not only the sorghum growers in the lower region but also dairy farmers in the upper parts of Murang’a, who can use the sorghum stalks as feed for their animals. Eva Muthoni, the aggregator assigned by EABL, confirmed that payments to farmers will be made immediately upon collection of the sorghum.
Local farmer Cherryl Mbatha, representing the lower Murang’a Co-operative, expressed satisfaction with the initiative. She noted the significance of sorghum farming in the semi-arid area, where conventional crops often fail due to unreliable rainfall.
EABL’s Head of Agribusiness, Gerald Gicheru, explained the company’s commitment to local sourcing of raw materials, a practice ongoing for the last 13 years. The program supports drought-resistant sorghum farming and provides a guaranteed market. Gicheru stated that EABL has supplied farmers with free certified seeds and provided extension officers to maximize production. He also mentioned the role of an aggregator in facilitating the transportation of sorghum from farmers to the brewer.
Currently, the contractual farming program involves about 30,000 active farmers across Kenya, with prospects for future expansion due to increasing demand.