The Nakuru County Chairman of Agriculture Committee Mwangi Waithaka has revealed that the government will pass a law that will ensure that legal action is taken against farmers who neglect agricultural advice they are given.
Waithaka said that the bill, which will be tabled before the County Assembly, will see any farmer who does not put to practice the advice given to them by the Ministry of Agriculture arrested and charged before court of law.
Waithaka, who is also the Kabazi MCA, cited that the maize lethal necrosis disease would have been contained if the residents had paid attention to the advice which had been issued earlier on. He was speaking in Kabazi area in Subukia where he lamented that farmers had chosen to ignore the pleas by the Ministry of Agriculture not to plant maize this season to contain the disease.
“This new law will also help in creating better agricultural practices which will enhance better yields for farmers,” said Waithaka.
He cited that officials from the Ministry will soon start site visits to farms to offer free advice on farming.
“We have already received Sh1.2 million from the national government for the repair of machinery that will enable us to dry and store grains,” added Waithaka. The machine, which broke down five years ago, will see farmers store their grains at a better temperature as it removes moisture from the grains.