Farmers in Nakuru County have been cautioned against use of acidic fertilizers their farms, as it will result into poor yields and affect soil fertility.
An official from Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), George Onyango, said the warning had been necessitated, following concerns raised by soil experts, who said the soil in the region was acidic with a very high concentration.
Onyango was speaking to farmers.in Naivasha sub-county over the weekend, where he noted that frequent use of the artificial acidic fertilizers in the region had concentrated the soil acidity, making it lose the important nutrients for growth of healthy crops.
He said it was important for farmers to take up the advise, as this will guarantee good harvest, and go a long way to ensure reliable food security for residents and even more for export.
Onyango stated that the soil experts collected samples from the region and conducted the tests, where PH concentration was said to be above the standard soil rates, thus encouraging farmers to use basic fertilizers.
He urged farmers to take their soil for testing, as the county agriculture department will be conducting soil taste workshops to sensitize farmers on the issue of soil acidity, and also get proper information on the proper fertilizers to use and correct way of crop rotation to neutralize the soil.
The advice comes after the launch of the new banana value chain project, which was launched to encourage farmers to take up Banana farming and boost the sale of the crop.