Machakos Farmers Cooperative Union in partnership with Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) is set to distribute drought resistant seeds to more than a thousand member farmers.
Speaking on Monday during a press conference outside the cooperative headquarters in Machakos Town, Martin Malila, an officer at the cooperative said they have already gathered and prepared more than six hundred kilograms of maize, beans, sorghum and other drought resistant seeds, which will be issued to farmers from semi-arid areas.
Malila said they were targeting farmers from Isesini, Katangi, Mekilingi and Mwala Sub-Counties.
"We have set up demonstrations with the assistance of KARI, whereby we have performed experiments to assure our farmers that the seeds we are issuing will be able to yield under semi-arid climates,” said Malila.
He also said they will be educating farmers on good cultivation methods especially with the prevailing heavy rains.
He however warned farmers against cooking and consuming the seeds as they are coated with pesticides and other agricultural chemicals.