Farmers have been urged to plant drought resistant crops due to climate change.
Several drought seeds have been produced to withstand climatic change and also be productive.
Water
Efficient Maize for Africa(WEMA) has over 52 hybrid varieties-and not
Genetically Modified Organisms.WE4141,WE3106,SC Duma.
Physics
Maina a farmer at South Ngariama in Mwea East is categorized as an Arid
and Semi arid zone planted WE 4141 as a trial farming-the three acres
has given her approximately 150 bags.
She said this will be th3 best season ever-the last time the area received enough rainfall was three years ago.
Mrs
Maina has however told farmers not to shy away or even doubt any trial
seed saying while others are complaining that they did not have the best
harvest-She is smiling.
"
I urge farmers to grab the opportunity of trials of new seeds,if I
doubted I would be complaining like other farmers-I risked and today I am
going to have over 100 bags in my three acres that has WE4141"she said
WE
3106 is a variety for the Highlands-the seed needs water thus not the
best for ASAL areas like Murinduko,South Ngariama or dry areas.
Eunice
Ngure a farmer from Thanju-Murang'a county and a dry area also tool the
advantage of the seeds-though doubted by the family members it has
turned to be the best crop for years.
She also vented in rice farming and also got a variety Kwamboka from Icoseed that has also produced well.
"My
relationship with Icoseed is bearing fruits,I will continue being its
member so as to be food secure,I have produced very many nags of rice as
well as Maize,farmers grab the opportunity"said Mrs Ngure.
WE 4141 is a variety that needs little or no rain as long as their is moisture.
Researcher
Doctor Murenga Mwemari who works for Kenya Agricultural and Livestock
Research(KARLO) in Machakos said that with climate change being
experienced in Kenya,Kenya needs to have seeds that can withstand harsh
climatic conditions,pests,diseases and not wither also matures faster.
Mugo Makanga one of the directors at ICOSEED said that there is need for useful methods of Farming to improve production.
Richard
Muriuki the Executive director ICOSEED urged Kirinyaga farmers to also
expect Cotton farming be done in a large scale as demand is high.
The BT Cotton variety is in demand and we need to also diversify our farming.
ends...
