The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr. Andrew Karanja has reaffirmed the government's dedication to enhancing agricultural productivity through the promotion of climate-resilient seeds.
Speaking at the Kenya Seed Company’s annual research field day in Trans Nzoia County, Dr. Karanja highlighted the critical role of these seeds in bolstering food security and driving economic growth.
"I commend the Kenya Seed company’s efforts, alongside the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) in ensuring the availability of certified maize seeds," he spoke at the Elgon Downs farm.
Dr. Karanja emphasized that the Kenya Seed Company has successfully produced an adequate supply of certified maize seeds for the upcoming planting season.
"I’m projecting a harvest of around 70 million 90kg bags of maize this year, thanks to the government’s fertilizer subsidy program, quality seed production, favorable climatic conditions, and effective governance," he said.
He also underscored the importance of ongoing research and innovation in agriculture, pointing to the new seed varieties showcased at the event.
Dr. Karanja urged county governments to increase their investment in agriculture, particularly through initiatives like the distribution of subsidized fertilizers.
He highlighted the importance of making these fertilizers more accessible to farmers by reducing transportation costs through the establishment of more last-mile distribution depots.
The Cabinet Secretary assured farmers of the timely availability of fertilizers for the next planting season.
"The distribution of subsidized fertilizers for the short rains planting season will commence in the next two weeks, further supporting our farmers in achieving higher crop yields," he announced.
Dr. Karanja reaffirmed the government's commitment to building a more sustainable and productive agricultural sector, ultimately improving farmers’ livelihoods and contributing to the nation’s economic growth.