KITALE ADC FARMS COUNT LOSSES By Teddy Chiriswa Maize crops worth Shs 38 million belonging to Agricultural Development Corporation farms in Trans Nzoia County have been destroyed following a recent severe storm in the area. The corporation’s technical officer in charge of crops Mr. John Kimego said nearly 204 hectares of the crop were ravaged by hailstones which pelted Chorlim, Olngatongo and Sabwani farms in Endebess. Mr. Kimego explained that the damaged maize crop had been grown for seeds, commercial and silage purposes noting that the most affected were seeds. He disclosed that ADC farms in the county produce over 50 per cent of seeds for Kenya Seed Company which is sold to farmers all over the country. “A hectare of the ADC farms can yield a total of four tons of seeds and a kilogram of the seeds is sold at 62 shillings to Kenya Seed Company,” he explained. Mr. Kimego lamented that the loss will cause a shortage of seeds in the next planting season next year. However, Kenya Seed’s production manager Mr. Hosea Sirma dispelled fears that there would be a shortage next year. He said that the company harvested 35,000 tons of maize seed last financial year against farmers’ demand of 28, 000 tons annually.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 19:42:00 +0000