Maize crops. Government to replace low yielding crop varieties with new ones. [Photo: agronewsng.com]The Ministry of Agriculture has announced plans to phase out crop varieties that have in been in the market for more than 10 years.Agriculture Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe has said that the new policy will start to be implemented in January 2018  with an aim to improve production.The new and high yielding crop varieties which are tolerant to both diseases and drought will replace the existing old ones."We will be working with our research institution like Kalro and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service to phase out varieties which are not adding value to farmers," Lesiyampe told the press.He added: "It will be done systemically. There will be capacity building and awareness creation so that farmers are informed on the varieties that will no longer be availed in the market."According to the Star,  Some hybrid maize varieties, like the H614, have been in the market since 1940 when it was first developed and should be phased out. Other to be phased out include H622, H511, H614, H611, H612D, Kat CB and H513.Lesiyampe, however, said that there will be no timeline for the phase-out.Kenya Seed Company managing director Azariah Soi said they will identify, for replacement, maize varieties that have been in production for too long and whose yields have decreased.Soi said they will also identify areas that are ideal for each variety for maximum yield."This will be a great policy if it is implemented so that farmers are able to cope with the emerging challenges like diseases and drought," Soi said.

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