Farmers in Subukia Sub-County who have planted maize have been urged to continue spraying their crop with pesticides.
The spraying is meant to prevent the plantations from attack by the lethal viral maize disease, Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND).
While scouting some farms in Subukia on Friday, sub-county agricultural officer Kenneth Muiruri said that though the maize looks green and healthy, farmers should continue spraying them with pesticides because once the virus infects the plants, it will be difficult to control it.
There are unconfirmed reports that in some parts of Nakuru, Kericho and Bomet counties, symptoms of the disease have been spotted.
“We have seen no symptoms of the disease during our scouting in various farms and the plants look very green and healthy. However, this does not mean the plants are free from attack. Farmers should continue spraying systematic pesticides at least three to four times until the plants pass the dangerous stage of infection,” Muiruri said.
He added: “If they follow this advice, they are sure of getting good harvests.”
The agricultural officer said farmers must diversify their farming after incurring heavy losses last year following the attack by the maize disease.
Mbogoini division was worst affected by maize necrosis in the sub-county.
“From our records, this year there is a decrease of 2,500 of acreage under maize which stands at 7500 acres. Normally, Subukia has 9,500 acres under maize cultivation. The 2,500 acres are under wheat, barley potatoes and beans,” he asserts.
This, he added, is a clear indication that farmers have heeded our call they reduce the acreage of maize plantations as a way of containing the viral disease.