The government has introduced new wheat and cassava varieties to improve food security in the country.
Two new wheat varieties are meant to make the crop resistant to wheat rust. The government plans to establish two cassava centres in Kilifi and Busia to focus on improving access to clean and high yielding cassava varieties.
The two wheat varieties are Robin and Eagle 10 and were produced in a project spearheaded by the East Africa Agricultural Productivity (EAAP). The project has also seen the making of a fabricated wheat thresher and a seed dresser that will be distributed to farmers all over the country.
Speaking at the Dairy Training Institute in Naivasha, EAAP seed specialist Joseph Kamau said the seeds are available at the Kenya Seed Company.
“We have also produced 14 tons of breeder seeds and 605 tons of certified seeds which are in the market. They were produced with the farmers groups all over the country,” he said.
He noted that wheat productivity has increased from an average of 3.2 tons per hectare in 2012 to 4.5 tons from the new varieties.
“Over 2,800 hectares are now under the new wheat varieties with small and large-scale farmers.”
Kamau said the cassava centres will produce at least two million cuttings for both animal and human consumption.
“We are targeting companies that manufacture cassava flour for consumption, both by people and animals. Also, we are targeting companies that produce cassava chips,” he added.