Shortage of affordable certified seeds and fertiliser has frustrated farming in arable land in Kieni, Nyeri County.
A report by the National Drought Management Agency (NDMA) says many farmers have not cleared their plots for planting even as the long rains started because they can’t afford certified seeds and farm inputs especially fertilisers.
The report says certified seeds are either out of stock or in most cases retailing at prohibitive prices.
“There was general outcry as private dealers sold a 50 kilogramme bag of DAP fertiliser for Sh4,500 compared to the subsidised one which normally goes for Sh2,500,” says the report.
Farmer Peter Mureithi of Kiamahuri area said he had only cleared two of his four acres of land for planting maize and beans as he could not afford enough seeds and fertiliser for his total land holding.
“You scratch where you hand can reach,” said Mureithi adding there was also a marked increase in price of seeds for crops such as cabbages, onions and carrots.
Nyeri County Drought Information Officer Kiragu Kariuki said in a monthly bulletin covering last month that maize and beans were retailing at Sh40 and Sh80, respectively.
Meanwhile, Kieni livestock farmers have been advised to shun roadside cattle grazing, which is blamed for increased cases of livestock blindness.
The report says by last month many farmers had taken to roadside grazing after depleting pastures in their farms.
“Depletion of pastures at household level has increased cases of roadside grazing consisting mostly of ‘Magutian’ grass which has contributed immensely to livestock blindness especially for cows,” says the drought officer.
The hard magutian grass is being blamed for piercing cattle eyes as they try to reach greener pastures underneath.
The officer also said livestock movements in search of pasture triggers disease outbreaks.
