Molo MP Jacob Macharia has urged the government and researchers to advise farmers over the widespread of the lethal maize disease that has reduced maize yields in the Rift Valley.

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The lawmaker said the country will be faced with acute food shortage due to the Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease that has decimated maize harvest in many productive areas.

During the maize harvest assessment in Molo constituency, the legislator said Molo, which produces 800,000kg of maize annually, will experience a decline of about 30,000kg this year.

He said farmers in the region were counting losses following the outbreak of the dangerous disease that affected maize during the period of April to October, leaving some farms without any maize crop standing. 

Several farmers claimed that the disease has affected their annual fortune, calling on the government to move in speed to avert them from hunger.

The MP said the government should send experts in all affected areas to train farmers and create awareness on ways to tame the destructive maize disease.

“I urge the government to supply farmers with certified maize seed and inputs during the planting season as a way to curb the viral disease. Agriculture extension officers are also supposed to visit and advice farmers to avoid such losses,” he said.

During the planting season, a section of farmers accused some maize seed merchant of selling contaminated seeds to unsuspecting farmers to make a kill.

Paul Kamiri, a maize farmer in Kapsita, called on the government to screen all commercial maize varieties and smoke out sellers of fake seeds. 

“If there is shortage of certified hybrid maize seeds during the planting season, a shortage that attracted quacks who process and packaging counterfeit seeds laced with red oxide chemical, the government must respond,” said Kamiri.

The MP said samples of soils and affected maize plants had been taken for laboratory tests, expressing confidence that the disease will be tamed to restore food security in the country.