KALRO to develop resistant seeds for arid areas

The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) is in the process of developing drought-resistant seed varieties that will be distributed to Arid and Semi-Arid (Asal) areas.

The move will see counties that have predominantly depended on relief food given seeds that are resistant to harsh weather in a bid to boost food production.

Already KALRO has come up with several maize varieties that have been developed through modern technologies that will be distributed to the counties for planting.

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According to KALRO Director-General Dr. Eliud Kireger, the initiative was part of wider plans to relieve counties known as food baskets while diversifying on new and modern varieties.

Kireger said Asal counties had the potential to become the next frontiers of food production if supported in new farming technology.

He termed the changes in climate coupled with global warming as a challenge that required all sectors to work together to make sure Kenyans had been fed on healthy and available food.

Kireger said a study conducted by KALRO indicated that the soil in Asal counties is fertile and only required water to produce food, a commodity that was scarce.

"We are planning to introduce irrigation to these counties that account for 80 per cent of the country and this will herald a new beginning in food production,” he said.

Kireger was addressing the press during a meeting with farmers and extension officers from Asal counties on the new technological changes they intend to make at KALRO station in Naivasha.

He said apart from developing drought-resistant crops like green grams, they are also working on developing beef and dairy cattle breeds that will produce high yields to farmers.

Kireger said as part of improving livestock production they were cross-breeding Sahiwals with Zebu breeds for beef production.

"The new breeds being cross-bred at our Naivasha station will add more money to our farmers as the animals will feed less, compared to what it is currently," he said.

On her part, the director of crops system in KALRO Dr. Lusike Wasilwa said they had embarked on a six-month plan to train farmers in selected counties on new farming technologies.

“Under this programme we shall be training trainers of trainers who will disseminate this knowledge to farmers and we are also keen to connect farmers with our researchers,” she said.