Farmers in Kisii county have been urged to check for quality marks and sticker labels from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) on seed packets to avoid purchasing counterfeit seeds.
Speaking after a sensitisation forum and the launch of a national promotion campaign that rewards farmers for purchasing certified seeds in Kisii town, Bayer East Africa Managing Director John Kanyingi noted that using uncertified seeds would translate to low yields, thereby leading to food insecurity in the country.
“When a farmer pays money to buy counterfeit seed and it fails to perform, it means the productivity of the farm is much lower leading to financial loss,” he noted.
Kanyingi said that unlike previous years where farmers would plant multiple seeds in one hole to increase the chances of survival, the institution was providing farmers with one quality seed that can germinate and form a healthy crop.
The Managing Director pointed out that the production and supply of hybrid seeds had cushioned farmers against poor yields that occurred as a result of unpredictable weather patterns in the last few years.
“This adaptability of our hybrid seed means that farmers from the lower eastern where rains are short can be able to get a harvest even with the short rains and farmers in Kisii can be able to get a crop even with the moderate rains,” he stressed.
In addition to providing the farmers with hybrid maize seeds, Kanyingi added they were supplying small scale farmers with fertilisers and other farm inputs to increase the production of maize which is a staple food in Kenya.
Bayer’s Nyanza and South Rift Distributor Relationship Manager Calvin Nyaberi said the company had partnered with distributors across more than 10 counties to distribute seed varieties that can withstand harsh environments.
“We are producing varieties which are highly productive in terms of quality and can be able to withstand drought and protect themselves against diseases,” said Nyaberi.
Catherine Manoti, a smallholder farmer and field service coordinator from Bobasi Constituency, noted that her crop yields had significantly increased through her collaboration with Bayer.
Manoti said she has been purchasing the DK 777 hybrid maize variety from a certified Agrovet and gets 40 sacks of maize per one acre, thereby being able to sustain her family.
“I have also been able to train other farmers on the best cultivation methods and how to optimize their harvest,” she added.
By Mercy Osongo
