Banana farmers in Kiambu county have been asked to plant hardened tissue culture banana varieties that are resistant to diseases.
Simon Mwangi, an agriculturist from Kamwangi town observed on Monday in Kamwangi that most indigenous banana suckers were prone to diseases like panama disease which reduced harvests.
"We have amazing banana suckers which are rarely affected by diseases. They also grow easily as their maturity duration and yields are good as well," he said.
"Tissue culture banana planting materials are not only resistant to diseases, but also mature faster. Farmers should avoid planting banana plants that are severely affected by dry weather season considering that we are in January," he said.
He said that yields registered by the hardened tissue culture varieties were also better than the indigenous to the advantage of the farmer.
He further noted that Kiambu county had conducive weather where commercial banana farmers can easily grow their crops.
Mwangi advised farmers to go for better seedlings in recommended nurseries premises where agricultural officers in the area had surveyed.
"We have a farmer’s doctor right here in Gatundu where farmers can go and purchase their seedlings. These seedlings in Karitho have been inspected and recommended by agricultural officers. They suit the weather of this area and do not require a lot of water to mature," he said.