30 Tonnes Hybrid Maize Seeds For Laikipia East Farmers
Updated on: Oct 07, 2020
Fifteen thousand farmers from Laikipia East have benefited from high yield maize seeds from Bayer Global and Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa AGRA, under an initiative dubbed" Better Farms, Better Lives initiative".
The thirty tonnes consignment was flagged off by Deputy Governor HE John Mwaniki and will be distributed by Laikipia County extension officers from the Department of Agriculture.
In this partnership, Bayer Global and AGRA will provide the high yield seeds; the County Department of Agriculture will distribute the seeds and offer extension services to farmers; and Cereal Growers Sacco CGA will offer timely advisories to farmers through bulk messages.
John Kanyingi, the Territory manager Kenya, explained that in every two kilograms of Bayer Seeds, expected yields is eight to ten bags per acre - saying the hybrid seeds are designed to support smallholder farmers to increase yield and farmers income.
Appreciating the partnership between Bayer Global, AGRA, CGA and Department of Agriculture, the Deputy Governor tasked the Department of Agriculture with crafting means to track and assess seeds sold to farmers by local Agrovets to guarantee genuine seeds.
"We also urge our farmers to embrace smart farming and new farming technology to maximise on their yields. For instance, if you harvest 10 bags from an acre, and sell at Ksh 2500, that translates to Ksh 25, 000, compared with normal seeds with yield of 4-6 bags per acre, "the DG implored.
The County Assemblys Agriculture Committee Chair Hon. Simon Kanyutu welcomed the partnership saying it was timely for farmers especially now with the economic strains caused by COVID-19.
"Laikipia West should not feel left out, their maize seeds are coming in two months times after they harvest the current maize in the farms already. Farmers from Laikipia East have their seeds because their planting season starts October," CO Agriculture clarified.
Laikipia farmers are among 120,000 smallholder farmers from targeted 15 Counties that will benefit from this partnership, all in effort to combat the looming food crisis that might be occasioned by COVID-19 global pandemic.
The thirty tonnes consignment was flagged off by Deputy Governor HE John Mwaniki and will be distributed by Laikipia County extension officers from the Department of Agriculture.
In this partnership, Bayer Global and AGRA will provide the high yield seeds; the County Department of Agriculture will distribute the seeds and offer extension services to farmers; and Cereal Growers Sacco CGA will offer timely advisories to farmers through bulk messages.
John Kanyingi, the Territory manager Kenya, explained that in every two kilograms of Bayer Seeds, expected yields is eight to ten bags per acre - saying the hybrid seeds are designed to support smallholder farmers to increase yield and farmers income.
Appreciating the partnership between Bayer Global, AGRA, CGA and Department of Agriculture, the Deputy Governor tasked the Department of Agriculture with crafting means to track and assess seeds sold to farmers by local Agrovets to guarantee genuine seeds.
"We also urge our farmers to embrace smart farming and new farming technology to maximise on their yields. For instance, if you harvest 10 bags from an acre, and sell at Ksh 2500, that translates to Ksh 25, 000, compared with normal seeds with yield of 4-6 bags per acre, "the DG implored.
The County Assemblys Agriculture Committee Chair Hon. Simon Kanyutu welcomed the partnership saying it was timely for farmers especially now with the economic strains caused by COVID-19.
"Laikipia West should not feel left out, their maize seeds are coming in two months times after they harvest the current maize in the farms already. Farmers from Laikipia East have their seeds because their planting season starts October," CO Agriculture clarified.
Laikipia farmers are among 120,000 smallholder farmers from targeted 15 Counties that will benefit from this partnership, all in effort to combat the looming food crisis that might be occasioned by COVID-19 global pandemic.
