Thika West sub-county Deputy Agricultural Officer Beatrice Mugo has called on farmers in the area to make use of the established plant clinics to reduce losses.
Mugo observed that pests, diseases and nutrient deficiencies are potential threats to food security and household income which need to be addressed.
Speaking from her office today on Wednesday, the officer said four plant clinics have been established in Thika West sub-county and would be extended to the other three sub-counties.
"The establishment of such plant clinics is to help farmers increase food security and improve their livelihoods by reducing crop losses to pests and diseases," she said.
The officer added that: "The clinics are manned by trained plant doctors and will be able to diagnose for pests and diseases on the spot at no cost when the farmer produces the sample of the affected plants."
She observed that response by farmers to attend plant clinics is still low, saying this has made some farmers lose their crops to the diseases and pests and challenged them to be reporting any signs of diseases or pests to plant clinics.
Mugo mentioned that black rot, maize lethal necrosis disease, blight, stalk borer, aphids, spider mite among others as the most notorious diseases and pests in the sub-county.
She added that the diseases and pests affect crops like maize, beans, cabbages, irish potatoes, kales and tomatoes.