By Timothy Njagi Maize is the cheapest source of calories among the cereal grains, making up about 65 percent of the total food calories consumed by households in Kenya. To meet this demand, maize is produced on 40 percent of the total crop area—mainly by smallholders. Kenya’s annual production target has been 40 million bags or approximately 3.6 million tonnes. However, over the past decade,…
Farmers in the breadbasket of North Rift have been urged to grow wheat, barley, and fodder this season following failed rains that have derailed the March planting season amid the worst drought in 38 years. Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Andrew Tuimur said any farmer who will plant maize when the rains eventually come will incur losses. If growers heed to the…
Still waters run deep. This is the term that best describes Vincent Chelule, the farmer we chose to feature in this quarter’s issue of The Sower. Chelule as he is popularly referred to as hails from Chesoton village in Njoro sub-county, Nakuru County. At forty-five years of age, he remains an inspiration to not just his neighbors, but to farmers around the country that he…
