Ministry of Agriculture develops maize seed resistant to lethal Necrosis disease

By Charles Ngeno
NAROK, KENYA: The ministry of Agriculture has developed three varieties of maize seed that are resistant to the Lethal Necrosis disease that has ravaged several acres of maize farms in the North and South Rift.
Newly appointed Cabinet Secretary in charge of Agriculture Felix Koskei said his ministry was exploring ways of minimizing the loss that farmers have incurred for the last two years.
Koskei maintained he will prioritize farming as a way of guaranteeing food security in the country.
“KARI has been carrying out research since the disease was reported with the aim of alleviating the suffering that maize farmers have had to undergo. Kenya Seed Company has also been asked to dress their seed with chemicals that have high resistance to this disease,” said Koskei.
He made the remarks when he visited Narok South district on a fact finding mission to establish how much the maize has been affected by the disease.
“My ministry has also identified a chemical that can be applied on affected farms to reduce its spread,” he said.
Reacting to farmers’ fears on delay in delivering subsidized farm inputs, the cabinet secretary assured them that they will hence be delivered two months before the onset of the planting season.
“As a way of reducing the cost farmers normally incur when looking for farm inputs at National Cereals and Produce Board Depots, the ministry is looking for distribution channels in form of agents in every sub-location. This will ease farmers’ access to farm inputs,” said Koskei.
Noting that there are few field extension officers, Koskei said that his ministry will liaise with county governments on how to hire and post them to areas with deficit.
“We are in talks with the ministry of Education on ways of developing a curriculum that will make agriculture be taught at all classes in our schools,” said Koskei.
Narok Deputy Governor Everlyne Aruasa, who had accompanied the cabinet secretary, said the county government has set aside funds to hire the extension officers.
“We have talked with Maasai Mara University to develop capacity to train farmers. We are investing heavily in agriculture since Narok is the largest producer of wheat, maize and barley in the region,”  said Aruasa who added that they have initiated talks with commercial banks to extend credit facilities to farmers so that they are not tempted to sell their produce to brokers at a throw away price.
On his part, Narok West Member of National Assembly Patrick Ntutu appealed to farmers to heed the advice of the extension officers. He challenged provincial administration to hold barazas so as to sensitize farmers on modern farming methods.
He pleaded with the government to give relief food to farmers who he said have incurred huge losses for the last two consecutive years.