Linturi urges farmers to embrace drought resistant crops

Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi tours a stand during the opening of the Kenya Seed depot in Bomet County. [Gilbert Kimutai, Standard]

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has urged farmers to embrace drought-resistant crops to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The CS assured that the ministry is committed to helping farmers curb the challenges of agricultural production.

"To mitigate the challenge of climate change we encourage farmers to use drought tolerant crops, other early maturing crops and construction of water dams," said Linturi.

He spoke on Wednesday during the African Seed Trade Association Conference (AFSTA) in Mombasa.

"My Ministry also proposes that farmers should undertake to diversify into other crops that will combat the realities of climate change such as drought, pests, floods and heat," Linturi said.

The CS said other challenges such as fall armyworms, pests in maize, Tomato Leaf Minor (Tuta absoluta) and Maize Lethal Narcosis Disease (MLN) have led to a cumulative loss of up to 80 per cent.

The conference brought together more than 200 delegates who represented the global seed sector. The discussion at the conference centred on counterfeit seeds.

"I urge you to take advantage and learn what the 2024 African Seed Trade Association Congress has offered in terms of new technologies for seeds that can be adopted to improve our productivity and hence improved food and nutrition security," Linturi said.

The CS encouraged farmers to consider the Comesa Variety Catalogue, trade among members and invest in seed businesses that will stimulate breeding and availability of improved seed varieties.

"Increase access to existing varieties in the member states and stimulate the breeding and availability of improved seed varieties resulting in increased variety choices for all farmers," he said.

Linturi noted that seed certification, variety testing and release regulations have been restricting seed trade in Africa but harmonisation of the regional trade blocs seed regulations improved the situation.

"Harmonise phytosanitary measures for seed in order to facilitate the safe movement of seed within member states, in a transparent manner and without dissemination of any pest of quarantine importance," he said.

The CS further said that the 16 per cent VAT imposed on vegetable seed makes the seed business unattractive but they are going to work with the East Africa Community member states to tackle taxation.

"I am aware of the challenges posed by 16 per cent VAT on vegetable seed which continues to make the seed business unattractive as compared to our neighbours. We will work with East Africa Community 11 member states to address this taxation so as to ensure that our farmers have access to affordable agricultural inputs," he said.

Linturi argued that one of the factors that make the seed sector in Kenya stand out is the fact that they are a signatory to the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

"These organisations ensure that we maintain excellent seed trade and movement - protecting 12 Intellectual Property and issues of phytosanitary matters. Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (Kephis) is our centre of excellence," he said.

The CS asked regional economic communities to finalise their tripartite agreement with Comesa, SADC and EAC to ease seed movement to ensure farmers access quality certified seeds.

"Seed companies should take advantage of the harmonised seed regulations to widen and promote competitive and sustainable markets for crop seeds within their regions," he noted.