12 | NEWSFOCUS October 16, 2018 www.mygov.go.ke Researchers project bumper maize yield Over 46 million bags are projected to be harvested by maize farmers across the country management of the grain as early as now to ensure food security,” she advised adding that that climate change can also affect the productivity prospects of a good year thus the need to pay attention to a possibility of losing a good harvest. Last year the window of maize imports was not restricted affecting inflows,” said Dr Kirimi. Dr. Kirimi warned of masBY WANGARI NDIRANGU KNA-NAIROBI E gerton University’s agricultural policy and development institute (TEGEMEO) is projecting a bumper maize harvest this year. According to a senior research fellow at the institute Dr. Lilian Kirimi over 46 million bags are projected to be harvested by maize farmers across the country. “We need to start developing post-harvest, storage and This project will create a stronger local economy and job opportunities at our county level besides alleviating poverty among our people – Governor Granton Samboja Tissue culture technology used to get quality seeds Shortage of certified seeds has seen farmers opt for low quality seeds that do not yield much sistant potato varieties suited for different climatic zones. Speaking at a Potato Field Day held in Ngobit ward in Laikipia County Thursday, the director encouraged farmers to plant certified seeds that could give up to 50 tonnes of the tubers per hectare. She also revealed that KEPHIS was also using potato cuttings to regenerate in laboratories and the seedlings given to farmers for onward planting. “The current price of a BY MARTIN MUNYI KNA-NANYUKI T he government is employing tissue culture technology in generating certified potato seeds for distribution to farmers across the country. Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) Managing Director Dr. Esther Kimani said the move was necessitated by shortage of certified seeds in the country that has seen farmers opt for low quality seeds that do not yield much. Dr. Kimani further added that KEPHIS had developed more than 10 new high yielding disease and pest re50-kilogram bag of potato is selling at between Sh1,700 to Sh3,000 so if our farmers embrace the best farming techniques of planting certified seeds, they stand to reap maximum profits,” Dr. Kimani said. She added that her organisation was also encouraging farmers to grow certified seeds and become seed merchants in order to sell to others as a way of ensuring that maximum yields for food security in the country in line with the Big 4 agenda set by President Uhuru Kenyatta. The director said her organisation was working closely with county governments in distributing the certified seeds and sensitisation on the need to embrace them when growing potatoes. A farmer in the area Joseph Kariuki said that he had discovered that potato farming was profitable after he started using certified seeds on his six-acre farm. “A 50-kilogram sack does A 50-kilogram bag of potato is selling at between Sh1,700 to Sh3,000 not sell below Sh2, 000 and since potatoes mature within two months, I decided to do away with planting other crops such as maize that takes months to mature and most time end up being affected by drought,” he said. sive post-harvest losses if farmer’s storage facilities were not secured and improved. “We estimate 12 percent of post-harvest losses of our total production 5.4 million bags and this is a huge amount that is even higher than what we are thinking we would get from the short rains,” she said. A research fellow at the Institute, Dr. Timothy Njagi, said this year the cost of production of maize, Irish potatoes and rice came down to Sh1,700 per 90kg bag, an improvement from last year’s Sh2,083. The improvement, he said, is attributed to good weather and ample rainfall and also there were no major attacks of pests and disease. Irish potato yields unfortunately declined because of excessive rain which is a particular challenge for tubers. On rice, he said the yield and prices were good but farmers experienced losses especially because of rains dur46m ing the harvest period. Overall, Dr. Njagi said Irish potato and rice are emerging as an important staple food that is highly consumed in urban areas despite some challenges. “We do import Irish potatoes from Tanzania and but if you look at official statistics published by government this is not captured. Cross border trade is not being recorded at customs thus it’s hard to establish how much we are importing,” he said. For rice, Dr. Njagi said, it is Bags of maize projected to be harvested by maize farmers across the country unfortunate that by last year Kenya was still importing and the country currently is importing 90 percent of what is consumed. “This country has the capacity to improve rice production through land under irrigation and promoting upland rice,” he said noting that government is working towards this through improvement in irrigation and infrastructure such as dam construction in order to increase area of rice production that can help farmers do a double crop instead of the currently one crop. New water retention innovation is launched Water and Soils Limited has piloted the technology in Nyangati village in Mwea BY IRUNGU MWANGI KNA- KERUGOYA A Hungarian farm input manufacturing company has introduced a water retention technology for horticultural production in areas with water problems. Water and Soils Limited has piloted the technology in Nyangati village in Mwea which if approved by the government standardisation agencies will be introduced into the local market. KEPHIS Inspector Mellon Kabole, said an inter-government meeting is scheduled for a final meeting either before the end of this year or early next year where the foreign Officials from the Hungary Embassy at Kimbimbi where they had come for the presentation of the Hungarian water retention technology soon to be introduced to farmers in the dry areas company will be issued with the relevant documents. “For now, we can just say the field trials are successful but the final word is yet to come after the inter government agents hold their meeting soon,” Kabole said. The Company’s Managing Director Richard Vatty said the product has no poisonous substances due to its organic nature. Hungarian Deputy Minister for Agriculture said his government was committed to ensuring good agricultural practices were in place in the country. He said Kirinyaga County having been selected for the field trials was enough testimony of the commitment his government has on Kenyan people. Accompanied by the Hungarian Ambassador to Kenya Laszlo Eduard, the minister also said than the trade ties the two countries are bound together by other mutual interests. The product is set for commercial launching once the final certification is done while it will be distributed by Twiga Chemical Industries.
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