Edwin Osoro, a commercial maize farmer inspecting maize crop affected by the head smut disease at his leased farm at Olkiriaine in Narok South. [Robert Kiplagat, Standard]A section of maize farmers in Narok South is staring at losses worth millions in crop yields following the outbreak of head smut disease suspected to be linked with fake seeds. According to Edwin Osoro, a large-scale maize farmer at Olkiriaine in Ololung’a area, his crop was lush in the initial stages up to the production stage when he realised that the cobs had been affected by the head smut disease. I went with my lorry and picked the consignment at the Narok Kenya Seed yard but from these yields, I doubt the seed quality,” narrated Osoro. Raphael Keiwa, who owns a 10-acre maize farm, is also experiencing the same problem.

Source: Standard Digital June 06, 2021 21:00 UTC