More than 57, 000 farmers in Murang’a County have started to receive certified maize seeds and fertilizer from the county administration.
In a programme funded at Sh88 million, each farmer is slated to get one packet of 2-kilo seeds and a total of 16 kilos of fertilizer.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata said only registered and verified farmers will benefit from the seeds and fertilizer which will be distributed in various parts of the county till October 10, ahead of short rains.
Kang'ata said Murang'a has the potential to produce maize for commercial purposes and what hinders high production is lack of quality seeds and poor farming methods.
He said the county has dispatched trained officers to help the farmers embrace the best ways of planting and nurturing their crops.
“The county government has committed Sh33m to produce certified maize seeds and Sh50m for fertilizer. Each farmer is expected to get eight kilos of plating fertilizer and another same quantity for top dressing," Kang'ata said.
“We have partnered with the KARLO and Simlaw seed companies which are government institutions to supply us with the certified seeds. The fertilizer is sourced from the National Cereal and Produce Board (NCPB).”
The county boss said the seed distribution exercise will be spearheaded by subcounty maize farmers’ representatives drawn from all 35 wards.
“The representatives have been taken through procedures on how to ensure all the registered farmers get the seeds and fertilizer,” he said.
Kang’ata underscored the initiative saying it aims to enhance food production, commercialise maize farming and boost farmers’ income in the county.
He said the seeds are drought-resistant and are categorised in accordance with different ecological zones in the county.
“Middle and lower ecological zones of the county which receive minimal rainfall will get fast maturing and drought resistant seeds while those in upper zones will get hybrid seeds,” he said.
The chairperson of the County Assembly Committee for Agriculture Pauline Njeri said they will support bills aimed to support food production in the county.
She said the seed distribution programme is backed by a policy that was tabled and passed in the county assembly.
“The county assembly assures farmers all policies aimed to boost production and price stability will be passed as we aspire to attain food security,” she said.
A section of farmers lauded the initiative but asked the relevant government agencies that deal with wild animals to come up with measures that will protect their maize crops from invasion from velvet monkeys.
The primates are said to have destroyed crops leading to low food production in the region.
