Farmers in Kisii and Homabay Counties have been urged to embrace new technology method of banana farming which has more yields than the traditional method.
Speaking to our reporter, Fred Omoke, a former agriculture officer and a farmer said that the bananas of tissue culture method have less maturity period as compared to the other method of farming.
He added that the method has high yields and it is resistant to diseases, which are caused by soil.
“The method is safe since soil diseases cannot affect the plant. The traditional way where farmers are used to transfer diseases from one place to another through suckers has made many farmers quit banana farming after incurring huge losses,” said Omoke.
He said that after his retirement from KARI, he decided to do banana farming but was not getting as much as he expected, but after the introduction of tissue culture banana-farming method the venture looks promising.
“What I admire most in this farming is that the plants are gotten from the laboratory and this is a way which assures you that the plant is safe from diseases,” added Omoke.
He urged farmers in the counties to embrace this farming method since the area has been highly affected by diseases which often destroy their plants and they will be experiencing higher yields.
According to Africa Harvest Project Manager Wangari Kiragu, the area is producing 16-18 tonnes of bananas, as compared to others who are producing 35-40 tonnes and that is what they are targeting with this new technology.