State to legalise disease-resistant maize varieties

The Government may soon legalise seven maize seed varieties said to be resistant to maize lethal necrosis disease.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe yesterday said the seven varieties were in the trial stage. He was speaking at the county headquarters when he met Governor Isaac Ruto and County Commissioner Bernard Leparmarai.

He revealed that various players from State agencies and the private sector both locally and globally had shown great interest in managing the disease.

Dr Lesiyampe said the discovery of any new maize seed variety deemed resistant to the disease would be subject to Government approval since some researchers were making money by selling research seeds which had not been approved.

On food security, Lesiyampe said there were serious challenges especially due to the outbreak of maize lethal necrosis disease, which affected crop production. He told farmers to be cautious of unscrupulous traders who were purchasing subsidised fertilisers from the Government and later repackaging and selling them at exorbitant prices.

Lesiyampe urged the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service to work closely with the country's security officers to arrest traders selling uncertified seeds to farmers. Mr Ruto said his administration is collaborating with the government on agriculture.