Rose Rono has lived and farmed in Limuru, Kiambu County, in Central Kenya for the last 10 years.In a good season, she says she harvests 10 bags of corn weighing from her two-acre maize farm. Each bag weighs 90 kilograms.But for the last three seasons, she has realized dismal harvests because of failed rains.“This season is the worst. I will not harvest any corn as I’m planning to sell these stalks to livestock farmers so that I can at least get something from my farm,” says Mrs Rono.She is not alone.Corn stalks are wiltingWilting maize crops on a farm in Limuru, Central Kenya. [Godfrey Ombogo]Across many fields in the Red Hill area of Limuru, livestock farmers are having a field day, cutting down corn stalks that are wilting to turn them into animal feed.They buy the stalks at throw-away prices from farmers who fear losing everything to the drought.John Njoroge, 57, who was born and bred in Limuru, says he has never seen the area so dry.Confined field trials showing the insect
I conducted some random research on the acceptability of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Kenya.I called some farmers I know and asked them if they would plant GM corn if given seeds by the government. More than 95 percent of my respondents were categorical that they would not.Across the country, people have formed a negative attitude towards GMOs based on unfounded claims that have been spread by politicians.But why? I was curious. “We were told by our Members of Parliament that those things are bad,” came the innocent answer from one elderly farmer in Siaya County, where I come from. Across the country, people have formed a negative attitude towards GMOs based on unfounded claims that have been spread by politicians. Some Kenyans would rather go to bed hungry than eat GM foods.
African countries should promote the adoption of new agricultural technologies in order to boost food production, scientists said Tuesday. Canisius Kanangire, executive director of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), said that farmers and food production systems in the continent are currently facing numerous challenges. "There is a need for…