North Rift maize farmers want compensation for losses
Mrs Mary Korir, a maize farmer in Nandi County, in her farm where her maize crop is currently in poor state after planting using N.P.K 23:23:0 fertilizer. Maize farmers in the region have asked the government to compensate them for losses they have incurred as their crop has been damaged by the fertiliser. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Farmers said yesterday they have incurred extra costs running into millions of shillings in top-dressing their withered and yellowed crop.
- Agriculture Permanent Secretary ruled out a possible link between the subsidised fertiliser and discoloured crops.
- Farmers also took issue with state agricultural research institutions for taking too long to explain the phenomenon.
North Rift maize farmers have asked the government to compensate them for losses they incurred when their crop was damaged ostensibly by subsidised fertiliser.
The farmers said yesterday they have incurred extra costs running into millions of shillings in top-dressing their withered and yellowed crop to minimise losses caused by the adulterated fertiliser.
“The government needs to shoulder responsibility for the losses for withholding vital information that led to uneven germination and yellowing and stunting of the crop,” said Mr Wilson Kosgei.
MAIZE YIELD EXPECTED TO DROP
He said maize yield is expected to drop in the region this season as a result of application of the sub-standard fertiliser.
While on tour of Uasin Gishu last month, the Agriculture Permanent Secretary, Dr Richard Lesiyambe, ruled out a possible link between the subsidised fertiliser and discoloured crops.
He instead blamed heavy rains that caused waterlogging and slow release of the NPK 23:23 fertiliser’s nutrients to the roots of the germinating maize.
Farmers also castigated state agricultural research institutions for taking too long to explain the phenomenon.
