County faces head smart maize crop disease

Nyandarua is going to lose 15 percent of its maize produce this year due to the outbreak of the head smart disease in the area, County officials have admitted.

But the County Executive for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Dr. James Karitu said there is no cause for alarm since the loss will not be a threat to food security in the area because Nyandarua is not large scale maize growing County.

“The head smart maize disease is not a serious issue in Nyandarua… it is not extremely serious. The climatic condition in the County has limited the spread and that is why the effects are patchy,” Dr. Karitu said.

Chief Officer in the department, Dr. Daniel Gikaara said they were investigating the cause of the disease to establish if it had something to do with the seeds.

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He said the disease appears to have affected farms where maize was planted before the onset of rains.

“The maize that was planted when the rains were on, have not been affected because that is a not conducive environment for the fungus,” Dr. Gikaara said.

He said the weather pattern was conducive for head smart fungus to ravage maize crops. The year started with a dry period before the onset of rains.

Dr. Gikaara said the most affected areas were those in warmer parts of the County where maize is grown in plenty. Dr. Gikaara ruled out seeds saying the patchy effect of the disease shows it did not emanate from inputs. He, however, said it is likely to affect between 15 percent and 20 percent of maize production in the County this year.

Nyandarua is a potato growing County where the crop is planted for both commercial and consumption.

Jane Wanjiku said she tried to save her crop by slashing those affected by the disease but it continued spreading to other crops.

A young farmer, David Njoroge said the disease has dampened his hope of getting a good harvest this year. He grows maize on a three-acre plot in Gatimu ward, Ol Joroorok sub-county.

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