KENYA – The Kenya Seeds Company (KSC), the leading seed producer and supplier in Kenya and Eastern Africa region has embarked on its activities to ensure adequate and quality input in the coming seasons.
The company targets to increase acreage under maize seed production from 36,000 to more than 41,000 acres to meet the growing national demand from farmers.
This is an equivalent of 50 million kilograms of maize seed to be produced annually.
“The demand for seed in the country and the East African region is higher than the supply, and we are working on meeting the deficit in the next year,” said company Managing Director Sammy Chepsiror.
Chepsiror noted that maize seed sales in the current season had surpassed last year’s demand by 2 million kilograms hence the need to enhance stocks.
“Last year, our company sold 20 million kilograms of maize seed. However, this year’s demand has soared past 22 million kilograms,” he said.
The demand for maize seed has seen long queues of farmers at KSC branches nationwide. Sources hinted that farmers flock to KSC for inputs owing to fears of fake seeds.
The KSC boss attributed the seed demand to the government’s campaign on the importance of food security and self-sufficiency.
He revealed that the company has invested in new security technology as it increases vigilance to protect the market from unscrupulous suppliers involved in the sale and distribution of fake seeds.
He urged farmers to always ensure they buy certified seeds bearing the KEBs quality mark from its branches and authorized licensed dealers, agents, and stockists.
Farmers receive free maize seed
Meanwhile, over 3600 households in Wanjohi Ward, Kipipiri Sub-County in Nyandarua County have received free maize seeds from the county administration for planting during the ongoing rains.
Speaking while overseeing the exercise, Mr. Francis Miringu, County Executive Committee member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries said that the move was aimed at ensuring food sufficiency and fostering growth among the farming community.
“Provision of free maize seeds is a testament to the county administration’s dedication to transforming the farming communities, an initiative that will help farmers, especially with the current heavy rains,” he noted.
While calling for farmers to join cooperative societies to access vital government services, the CECM noted that only farmers drawn from cooperatives in the area were receiving the free maize seeds.
The Executive added that once farmers join a cooperative society, they can have bargaining power and collective strength to navigate the challenges of the agricultural sector.
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