Due to the high cost of production and market unreliability, central Kenya farmers are shifting from maize farming to other crops. Most of them are opting to grow bananas, cassava and sweet potatoes while the area under maize crop has been declining since 2011.
According to cereals farming advisory officer Wallace Wambua, the region no longer relies on its own maize production to meet its consumption needs: “Full maize production potential for the region is 15 million bags but currently we are doing on average 150,000 bags per season. Banana production has shot from 10 tonnes in 2011 to the current 120 tonnes.
Cassava production has increased to 15 tonnes from six tonnes in 2011 whereas sweet potatoes rose to 30 tonnes from 10 tonnes in 2011.”
Wambua told the Business Daily: “Farmers are disillusioned with maize production”. He also claimed that, based on farmers’ feedback, cost of producing maize on has increased from an average of Sh20,000 to 35,000 per acre in the past five years.
“They say land tilling charges, furrowing, seed costs and fertiliser have been going up steadily over the period. They also argue that market opportunities for maize have been dwindling.” Wambua added that farmers are unable to benefit from government subsidised seed and fertiliser. “Most of them cite corruption as a hindrance to access and one of the key factors that have led to the collapse of the programme.”
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