Kakamega County has recorded an increase in maize production from 2.8 million (90 kg) bags in 2022 to 3.5 million (90 kg) bags in 2025.
The County Executive for Agriculture Mophat Mandela attributed the increase in production to various interventions by the county government after the county realised there were only 1.8 million (90 kg) bags of maize in 2018.
In a speech read on his behalf by County Director of Irrigation, Engineer Alex Agala during an Agri-SME expo organised by the ASK Kakamega, the CECM said the county government distributed 25 kilograms of planting fertiliser, 25 kg of top dressing fertiliser and 2 packets of maize seeds to farmers under the Farm Input Subsidy programme across the county.
“We also embarked on promotion of drought-tolerant and early-maturing maize and other crop varieties to cope with unpredictable weather patterns,” he added.
The Kenya Seed Company Kakamega Branch Manager, Elizabeth Cherop, advised farmers to always observe the right agronomical practices to realise maximum maize yields.
She said that farmers need to do soil testing to understand the right type of fertiliser for their farm, prepare their land early, prepare well and ensure that they observe proper spacing for their maize.
“We recommend spacing of 75 centimetres between the lines for maize and 30 centimetres between the planted maize seeds. For Kenya Seed Maize you plant one seed per hole. Another thing you need to consider is to make sure your farm is free from weeds; try to weed twice or thrice,” she explained.
Cherop also urged farmers to always plant at the right time noting that when they plant off-season, the crop will face attacks from pests and diseases leading to low yields.
She said Kenya Seed company has come up with a new maize variety known as Hybrid 533 that is high yielding, produces double cobs, is very sweet and is suitable for western region counties of Kakamega, Vihiga, Siaya and Bungoma and parts of Busia.
By Moses Wekesa
