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Wednesday, 15 August 2012

MAIZE FARMING SUCCESS STORY FROM WESTERN KENYA


I read today that there is a looming food crisis- again. Good news is that there is a way to curb food shortage in Kenya! And it is practical too.
Farmers in western Kenya are celebrating a bumper harvest thanks to efforts by the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).
So what exactly are these farmers doing?
Can it be replicated throughout the country?  I believe they can.

These farmers in Western Kenya have been taught how to combine timely and appropriate fertilizer use together with the application of manure to increase their maize yields.
Now they have tripled their harvest, for the first time ever. I believe that if a farmer is willing to learn, he too can increase their yield significantly.

An increased harvest no doubt causes a ripple effect.  It means lower food prices, and that means that food will become more affordable to all. More affordability means more money for the farmer. This also means that farmers are economically independent and become entrepreneurs. The rest of us have money left to take care of our other economic needs. In the end, our country’s economy will grow significantly. 

Maize is our staple food, served in a variety of ways from Ugali to Githeri to Mukimo. Now, if more farmers can copy this new way of farming throughout the country, I think we are looking at sustainable food security.  

Look at photos of the recently harvested maize. Notice how healthy and
enormous they are.

Now, compare how the farm on the left has healthier and taller maize than the one on the far right.  The farm on the left used the ‘intergarated soil management system’ while the one on the right did not. What this simply means is a combination of fertilizer use, weeding, manure application and thinning.


The maize plants are almost 3 times the height of this man and has twice the number of maize cobs as ordinary maize plant!



Now, the maize has been harvested. Follow me next week Monday 20th and find out how much the farmers harvested and what they think about the project!

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