By S, KNA
Embu County Government has commenced distribution of free certified seeds to farmers with the long rains season seen to commence earlier in order to boost food production and household incomes.
The seed distribution program that commenced involves supplying quality certified seeds across all the 20 Wards in the county based on climatic conditions of each area to maximize crop survival and farm yields.
Governor Cecily Mbaire, said that this year, her government plans to distribute 200 tons of seeds to approximately 100,000 farmers across the entire county.
Farmers in the upper parts of Embu including Manyatta and Runyenjes Constituencies, will receive varieties of hybrid maize seeds favouring their climatic conditions while farmers in the drier parts of Mbeere North and South Constituencies will receive cowpeas and green grams that are drought tolerant.
Speaking on Friday while launching distribution of maize seeds at Kithimu Market in Manyatta Constituencies, Governor Mbarire said they hope to wind up the exercise in a week’s time so that farmers can plant early and take advantage of the early rains.
She revealed that the county has also trained farmers on the need to match seed varieties to the local climatic conditions to maximize yields.
“This year we have done things differently by first training our farmers on the importance of picking the right seeds depending on environmental conditions of their areas to avoid crop failure and losses,” she said.
County Director for Agriculture, Patrick Njeru, asked farmers to continue planting following a revision by the Kenya Meteorological Department of the weather outlook confirming that the long rains had commenced earlier than anticipated.
“Following the review of the weather forecast, we are advising our farmers to go ahead and plant to utilize the rains effectively for optimal yields,” he said.
Farmers welcome the initiative, while expressing optimism of a good harvest this year with distribution of quality seeds that coincided with timely rainfall.