Some 57,975 farmers in Murang’a County are set to benefit with certified maize seed and fertilizer from the local county administration ahead of the short rains expected to start in the third week of October.
Murang’a county government will start distribution of seed to registered farmers in various parts within their respective wards from next week.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata noted that inability to afford certified seed has been a major bottleneck to achieving food security in the county.
Through a press release, he said the county administration has procured certified maize seed from Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KARLO) and Simlaw Seed Company, firms owned by the government.
Kang’ata said the distribution of certified seed would also help in countering the sale of fake seed in the county, which has in the past affected production.
He noted that the provision of certified seed and fertilizer would boost commercialization of maize production citing the partnership the county government had entered with a local miller, which will see farmers sell their maize produce to the miller at not less than Sh3, 500 per sack of 90 kilos.
“We want farmers to have genuine seed to plant in the expected short rains. With certified seed, the production is expected to be high thus contributing towards food security,” he stated.
The seed and fertilizer distribution exercise will run from September 23 to October 12. Farmers were notified that the seed and fertilizer will only be available to those who are registered and their names verified between August 26 and 28, 2024.
Each farmer is set to get one packet of 2-kilos of certified maize seed, eight kilos of planting fertilizer and another eight kilos of top dressing fertilizer.
“Farmers are requested to carry a gunny sack at the time of collecting the seed and fertilizer,” read part of a public notice from the county government.
The maize seed varieties will be distributed according to various climate zones in the county. Lower parts of Murang’a will get early maturing seeds from KARLO while the upper parts will get a variety from Simlaw.
A week ago, the Meteorology Department advised farmers in the county to plant early maturing crops saying the region would receive depressed rainfall during the short rain season.
The onset of the short rains is expected to be between October 15 and 22 with the rainfall forecasted to range between 250 mm in lower parts and 700 mm in upper zones of the county.
By Bernard Munyao
