Farmers advised to rotate crops to curb disease

MLN disease in maize in Bomet

Kenya Seed Company Managing Director Azariah Soi has asked farmers to practise crop rotation to control crop diseases affecting maize.

The MD said the farming technique would help reduce chances of diseases including the head smut that has affected maize production in parts of Elgeyo Marakwet and Nandi counties.

Mr Azariah asked farmers to embrace field hygiene by ensuring crops infected by fungal diseases are destroyed and burned. Addressing journalists at Mbegu Plaza in Kitale, the MD expressed concern over rising cases of the disease.

“As a company, we are concerned about the effects of head smut and we encourage farmers to destroy the infected crop instead of feeding it to livestock,” said Azariah. He asked farmers to alert the relevant authorities once they detect diseased crops.

- Osinde Obare