ELDORET, Kenya — Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has assured Kenyans that the country will remain food secure despite prolonged drought affecting maize production in parts of the country, saying the Government is implementing measures to cushion farmers and safeguard food supplies.
Kagwe spoke after an assessment tour of Eldoret, Nandi and Trans Nzoia counties, where he acknowledged that changing weather patterns had negatively affected maize production in some areas.
The CS said the Government would not abandon farmers whose crops had been affected by drought, noting that maize producers play a critical role in feeding the country and supporting the wider economy.
“We will not allow Kenyans to suffer from hunger because of the current weather conditions,” Kagwe said.
He said the Government was implementing interventions aimed at preventing food shortages, maintaining stable prices of essential food commodities and strengthening agricultural production despite the effects of climate change.
Government targets counterfeit seed trade
Kagwe also warned farmers against counterfeit seeds, describing the illegal trade as a major threat to agricultural production and household incomes.
He said some farmers only discover that they have purchased fake seeds five or six months after planting, when their crops fail and their investments have already been lost.
The CS directed security agencies to intensify the crackdown on dealers involved in the sale of counterfeit seeds.
He also urged Members of Parliament to support legislation that would classify the sale of fake seeds as an economic crime, arguing that stronger enforcement was necessary to protect farmers from losses.
Kagwe urged farmers to verify both seed sellers and sources before making purchases and to obtain certified seeds from recognised institutions, including Kenya Seed Company and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO).
Kenya has sufficient seed stocks
Kenya Seed Company Chief Executive Officer Sammy Chepsiror assured farmers that the country has adequate seed stocks despite the prevailing drought.
Chepsiror said the country’s commercial maize harvest last year reached nearly 70 million 90-kilogram bags, demonstrating the production capacity of the agricultural sector.
He said this year’s crop had initially shown greater potential before drought affected several major maize-growing regions.
Chepsiror attributed part of the increased planting and production to the Government’s subsidy programme, which he said had enabled more farmers to access inputs and expand cultivation.
He expressed confidence that planned Government interventions would help cushion farmers affected by drought and protect national food security.
The assurances come as farmers in parts of the country contend with increasingly unpredictable weather patterns that are affecting crop production.
