By MKT Correspondent
Agriculture experts are urging Kenyan farmers to adopt chemical farming as a viable alternative to traditional weeding methods.
Maize, a staple food in Sub-Saharan Africa, has the lowest yield worldwide, averaging only 1.5 metric tonnes per hectare.
Maize farmers face challenges such as weed infestations, insect attacks, and disease pathogens. Chemical farming can effectively manage these challenges.
In Kenya, hand weeding is the most common method used by small-scale maize farmers, but labour shortages during the early stages can lead to delayed weeding, resulting in significant losses. Prolonged weed competition can cause even higher losses.
The adoption of chemical farming has been slow among small-scale farmers due to ignorance and a lack of awareness about the availability of affordable herbicides.
Pamela Odhiambo, a small-scale maize farmer in Suna East, Migori County, attributes this slow adoption to ignorance and a lack of awareness about the availability of affordable herbicides.
According to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), effective weed control through herbicides can have significant benefits, such as improving maize yield.
Herbicides suppress weed competition, allowing maize plants to access vital nutrients, water, and sunlight, leading to healthier and more productive crops.
They also offer time- and labour-saving advantages, allowing farmers to focus on other essential farming activities.
By embracing chemical farming, farmers in Migori can enhance their agricultural practices and optimise maize production.
