Diversification of crops will improve diet and income

Nicholas Kishor (Right) and his friends harvest green maize at Kapkoros village in Nandi County. Farmers have opted to sale the green maize in their farms owing to the profitability over dried maize, avoiding attack from fall army worms and creating space to plant short season crops like beans. 28-07-2017. [PHOTO: KEVIN TUNOI]

Crop diversification remains key to solving problems facing maize farmers in parts of Rift Valley. The farmers have been demotivated by poor prices due to liberalisation of the economy, compounded by the opening up of the East African Community (EAC), which has exposed them to unfair competition. Some traders import maize from Uganda, which is harvested before Kenya, and keep it awaiting the National Cereals Produce Board (NCPB) to start buying the grain.