Companies urged to check on broken seed grains

Maize seed producing companies have been urged to ensure quality and guarantee farmers germination percentages on their products.

Farmers had raised concerns over some broken seeds in certified seed packages.

Uasin Gishu Agriculture Executive Samuel Yego said: “Companies that produce and package certified seeds should remove the broken seed grains. This affects performance since most of the broken seeds do not germinate.”

He added: “We have noticed some broken seeds in some products. When farmers do dry planting, such seeds rot instead of germinating. Quality seeds can last up to 40 days when planted under dry conditions.”

A majority of farmers in the county are waiting for this season's crop to germinate following heavy rains that pounded the region in the last few days. Farmers started planting in mid-March but the region witnessed a prolonged dry spell.

Yego spoke when he toured farms in Moiben and Soy.

Christopher Kiptum, a large-scale farmer, said he planted in early March adding that light rains in some areas had led to uneven germination.

“Because of the light rains after planting, germination was poor and I was prompted to re-plant about 70 acres of the farm,” he said.

Mr Kiptum said the light rains made the soil humid causing some seeds to germinate but could not sprout due to a prolonged dry spell.