In Summary
•The Kenya Agriculture Research Institute (Kari) opened an Sh80 million research centre in Naivasha to monitor the disease which has cost farmers dearly, particularly in Bomet County where the disease was first identified.
By FRANCIS MUREITHI
Maize farmers in the South Rift will get seeds resistant the lethal maize lethal necrosis disease in time for the next planting season.
Farmers lost more than 650,000 bags of maize worth more than Sh2 billion following the devastating outbreak that swept the region for two consecutive planting seasons – in 2011 and 2012.
Researchers are yet to find a defence against the viral disease that turns maize plants yellow, which later dry up.
The Kenya Agriculture Research Institute (Kari) opened an Sh80 million research centre in Naivasha to monitor the disease which has cost farmers dearly, particularly in Bomet County where the disease was first identified.
In addition to monitoring the disease, the Naivasha centre will also be used to conduct research on future varieties for various altitudes in the country, according to Kari Director Dr Ephraim Mukisari.
Dr Mukisari said the centre is expected to produce its first variety of resistant maize seed in 2014.
And to ensure the disease does not spread to other regions, Kari also opened another research centre at Kari Kiboko in Makueni County.
A Narok farmer, Hugo Wood, who has grown maize, wheat and barley for the last 40 years is among those contracted to produce the new seed variety.
Mr Wood, who has been growing commercial seeds for the last seven years, has been contracted by the Africa Agricultural Technology Foundation to supplement efforts by Kari in countering the disease. He has planted the new variety on a 3.3 hectare piece of land.
Speaking to Sunday Nation at his Olerai Farm in Narok Town last week, Mr Wood said the seeds will be in the market by January.
“Harvesting begins this month, after which we will dress and pack it for distribution to farmers’ outlets in the region,” said Mr Wood. “We just hope it will be resistant.”