Drought-hit farmers wary of replanting

Many farmers whose maize was destroyed by drought are reluctant to plant early-maturing and climate-resilient crops in the coming short rains season despite the government pumping billions of shillings into subsidised inputs.

It is a wait-and-see situation in maize-growing zones in the North Rift as farmers are doubtful about returning to production after the government reduced the prices of fertiliser and certified maize seed, a move aimed at cushioning them from losses and encouraging them to replant.

“Crop production is not all about lowering the cost of fertiliser and seed. There are other factors like high fuel costs for land preparation, herbicides and labour. We are witnessing unpredictable weather and planting a similar crop for a second time in a season could be risky,” said Mr William Kosgei from Ziwa in Uasin Gishu County.

Farmers in the North Rift plant maize once a year. It is the first time in a long time for some of them to replant in the same year after their crop was ravaged by drought and diseases.

“Farmers are not sure whether to plant or wait until the next season. Unpredictable weather conditions have caused panic among farmers who are not ready to incur more losses,” said Kenya Farmers Association Director Kipkorir Menjo.

He added that many farmers are repaying loans they secured to plant the crop that was later damaged and lack capital to reinvest in the second crop.

“Those who secured seasonal crop loans from the Agricultural Finance Corporation and other institutions face difficulties in repaying and investing in another crop,” Mr Menjo added.

According to Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, the price of a 50-kilogramme bag of fertiliser has been reduced to Sh2,000 from Sh2,500.

The government will also meet 50 per cent of the cost of certified maize seed, reducing the price from Sh300 to Sh150 per kilo.

The new seed prices mean a two-kilogramme pack of certified maize seed will now cost Sh300, from Sh600, while a 10-kilogramme pack will retail at Sh1,500 from Sh3,000.

A 25-kilogramme pack will cost Sh3,750 instead of Sh7,000.

It is the third time in three years that the government has lowered the price of fertiliser under the subsidy programme.

Before September 2022, a 50kg bag of fertiliser retailed at Sh7,500.

The National Fertiliser Subsidy Programme brought the price to Sh3,500 in September 2022 and then Sh2,500 in August the following year.

Mr Kagwe said about 33.55 million 50-kg bags of subsidised fertiliser have been distributed since 2022, reaching around 1.98 million farmers.

Government support under the programme amounts to Sh78.79 billion, the CS said.

“Kenya has recorded gains in agricultural production in the same period. Maize harvests increased from 34.3 million 90-kilogramme bags in 2022 to 73 million bags in 2025, while imports declined by more than 66.5 per cent over the same period,” the minister added.

The supply of the subsidised inputs is limited to digitally registered farmers.

However, the gains are now under threat following drought that affected key maize-producing counties, including Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia, leaving farmers counting losses.

Mr Kagwe said the progress made through the decision to subsidise production instead of consumption should not be reversed by the drought.

“At the heart of this intervention is a simple principle: a farmer who has lost a crop to drought must not also lose the ability to plant the next crop because fertiliser and seed are beyond reach,” he said.

According to the Kenya Meteorological Department, warmer-than-normal temperatures are expected to increase evaporation and soil moisture loss, leaving crops under greater moisture stress and raising livestock water requirements.

“There is need for the farmers to monitor weather updates and observe guidance from agricultural extension officers to support timely decisions,” said the agency in the August Agrometeorological Monthly Bulletin.

But as maize farmers prepare to plant the short-term crops, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) wants farmers to seek technical support to cushion them against losses.

“There is need for farmers to adopt certified, early-maturing and drought-resistant seed varieties that suit their agro-ecological zones,” Kalro Director-General Patrick Ketiem said.

The Ministry of Agriculture is working with the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service; the Agriculture and Food Authority; the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation; the Kenya Seed Company and other stakeholders to empower farmers to shift to crop varieties that can withstand shorter and less reliable rainfall seasons.

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