Principal Secretary (PS) State Department for Agriculture Dr. Paul Ronoh has revealed Kenya is expected to experience increased maize production this year following the successful national government fertiliser subsidy programme.
Ronoh praised the government’s initiative as a timely intervention to address the country’s food scarcity.
Maize seed growers contracted by the Kenya Seed Company have seen an increase in productivity of more than twice what was harvested last year.
The government has distributed over 25 million bags of crop-specific and region-specific fertilisers to 15 million farmers in the two years since the program was introduced.
Plans are underway to ensure National Cereals and Produce Board stores are ready to receive maize produce from farmers.
The government has distributed 100 mobile driers across the country to minimize post-harvest losses.
“We have enough certified-quality maize seeds for long and short seasons. Certified seeds for long rains will be distributed early in November for the next planting season. We have put in place teams to inspect the quality of fertilisers and conduct distribution exercises to ensure farmers get quality and timely service,” said Dr. Ronoh.
The PS assured farmers that the government has put in place strategies to procure excess maize and ensure that only certified seeds are available for planting next year.
He also highlighted the challenge of maize crop theft facing both Kenya Seed and Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) farms and warned that those found culpable will be prosecuted.
Ronoh encouraged farmers to consider planting sunflower crops to ensure their farms are not idle after maize harvest.
