Residents of Borabu constituency have challenged agricultural experts to solve the adverse impacts of Rift Valley Fever that has led to dismal performance of maize crop for three years in a row.
Speaking during a farmers' annual general meeting organised by the Ministry of Agriculture at Chepilat on Tuesday, speaker after speaker urged experts to do further soil tests to ascertain the reason behind the dismal performance of maize, despite elimination of RVF that paralysed maize farming in Rift Valley.
They said since 2011, most of them have not been getting convincing yields and the symptoms of RVF have been eminent given the dwarf growth of maize crops.
“The past three years have been hell for most of us. The maize crop is not really doing well and I suspect the effects of RVF are still there. Even though it affected the Great Rift Valley, its effects have spread to our region,” said Dominic Ondieki.
“If you are keen, the maize plant experiences stunted growth and dwarf which are actually symptoms of the disease,” he added.
They asked agricultural experts from across the country to carry out further analysis on the soil to ascertain the real reason behind their predicaments but insisted that the condition has close connection with RVF.
“Of course soil test should be carried out but the main important thing, experts should look it from the perspective of RVF if at all they want to provide long-term solutions to our farming,” said Simon Nyakundi.