In a bid to achieve Jubilee government's 'Big Four agenda' of food security, farmers should embrace safe farming practices.
Here are five safe practices every farmer should consider:
Avoid farming along the river banks
Farming along the river bank puts fertile soils at a risk of being swept away by the rains leaving farms bare.Instead, farmers should plant trees on the lower sides of their farms to help in preventing soil erosion.
Apply fertilizers at appropriate moments and in adequate doses.
Farmers should apply fertilizers only when the plants need it. Excessive use of fertilizers depletes the quality of soil and hence low yields will be registered by farmers. Adequate doses are also needed to ensure that the plants record high yields.
Buy quality hybrid seedlings from certified dealers
This enables a farmer to get 90 percent germination, high yields, high pest and disease resistance. Ensure you check if the dealer is licensed to avoid being sold fake seeds.
Check Manufacturing dates for seeds.
This is very paramount because overstayed seeds have low chances of germination. In many instances, dealers will try to make illegal profits by selling overstayed seeds to unsuspecting farmers. Farmers are advised to exercise caution so that they don't fall prey.
Maintain soil structure
Farmers are advised to maintain the soil structure by limiting heavy tillage practices as it affects the soil fertility negatively. Soil fertility is mostly damaged by heavy tillage meaning a farmer is likely to register nutrient imbalance hence low crop yield.