Maize seed producers in Kenya have scaled up innovation and research in order to come up with suitable varieties that will enable farmers overcome effects of climate change.
Due to the climate change phenomena farmers in many regions face the risk of heavy losses but the seed production companies have moved to save the farmers from huge losses that have already been experienced this year.
Due to failed rains many crops especially maize in high producing areas dried up and farmers have lost over 60 percent of their crop.
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The Western Kenya seed company has unveiled a new generation of drought-mitigation maize seeds which farmers will use to avoid heavy losses due to depressed rains.
Working closely with Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organisation Kalro, the company has released to the market atleast seven varieties, braving weather challenges and increase production.
With the current situation that has seen Kenyans farmers incur huge losses after maize field were struck with drought, the company said it has invested heavily in innovations and research to produce early maturity hybrids.
Tarek Albalah, the commercial lead at Western seed company said through innovations, the company has been able to bred varities that are line with Kenya's ecologies.
He said some of the varieties favourable to locally soils includes AMINIKA WH505 that matures within 90 days.
" The WH505 is utra- early breed that needs 250mm rain and matures before dry spell hits and suitable in dryland regions such as Turkana, Kitui, Makueni and Baringo counties," Albalah told stakeholders during Kitale National Show breakfast forum.
Compared to traditional varities that need 800mm rain, the new hybrids requires less than 350 mm rains to mature.
Other faster maturing varities by the company currently in the market includes, HARAKA WH 101, WH 301, WH 401, WH 507 and WH 508.
"We have bred maize seed that are either escape drought in 90 days and tolerates 21 days without water at flowering,''said
Albalah.
Albalah disclosed that the company has expanded it's operation to Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.
Simon Kipngetich, the senior technician at Western seed company said the firm increased from 7 million kilos to 12 million kilos after embracing irrigation farming.
Kenya seed company said the new varities H6506, H675 and H6507 take between 90 and 110 days to mature with 350 mm rain.
Unlike old hybrids H614 and H625 varieties require 800mm rains and takes 180 days.
To curb the seed from pest attack, the companies have introduced 4- layer coating.
