Maize farmers in key production areas such as Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia counties have been predicting a bumper harvest on account of adequate rain and fertiliser subsidy. Farming, especially in the era of climate change, with the weather unpredictable and the price of inputs rising, is not for the faint-hearted. Farmers suffer losses season after season, especially because of poor rains or the invasion of insects and crop diseases. The proposed price, they argue, will motivate them to dedicate even more acreage to maize, and wheat, in the next planting season. The mop-up will guarantee that the price of a packet of unga should not be the subject of a national socioeconomic debate and also cushion the poor millions from erratic price fluctuations and food inflation.

Source: Daily Nation August 01, 2023 09:58 UTC