Kirinyaga trains 2,000 farmers on high-yielding maize varieties ahead of expected El Niño rains

More than 2,000 farmers in Kirinyaga County have been trained on high-yielding maize varieties and climate-smart farming practices as the county prepares for the anticipated El Niño rains and seeks to increase maize production.

The training, conducted by the County Government of Kirinyaga in partnership with Bayer East Africa Limited, focused on helping farmers select maize seed varieties suited to different ecological zones and seasons, while also promoting practices aimed at improving productivity and strengthening dairy farming.

Farmers were introduced to improved maize varieties, including DK777, DK8031, DKC8033, DKC9089 and the newly promoted DK7500, a yellow maize variety recommended for both grain production and silage.

The programme forms part of the county's Masomo Mkulima Mashinani initiative, which delivers agricultural extension services directly to farmers through field demonstrations and practical training.

Governor Anne Waiguru said the initiative is intended to strengthen smallholder farming by improving production and connecting farmers to markets.

> "This support is part of the Wezesha Kirinyaga programme, which aims at rewriting the story of the smallholder farmer by supporting households engaged in multiple agricultural value chains to increase production and market their produce," she said.

Waiguru said the county would continue investing in value addition, post-harvest handling and market access to help farmers secure better returns and reduce losses.

> "Our next phase is about sustainability — ensuring every farmer continues to grow their income and every village becomes part of the agricultural success story," she said.

County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture Dr. John Gachara said the programme is supported by 147 extension officers deployed across all sub-locations to provide technical support, monitor crop performance and collect field data to improve extension services.

He said the county introduced Masomo Mkulima Mashinani after finding that many farmers were unable to travel to the Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) Centre at Kamweti in Karumandi Ward for training.

According to Gachara, the Kangai Tomato Propagation Centre was later established to bring practical agricultural training closer to farmers.

He added that the county is monitoring maize performance across different parts of Kirinyaga to identify the most suitable varieties and production practices for different ecological zones, with the findings expected to inform future extension programmes.

Bayer East Africa trainer Peter Kibure said the sessions were designed to help farmers understand the characteristics of different maize varieties and select seed based on seasonal conditions and intended use.

He said the newly introduced DK7500 contains about 12 per cent protein, making it suitable for dairy silage as well as grain production. The variety also contains beta-carotene and has shown strong performance under favourable rainfall conditions.

Kibure said the expected El Niño rains present an opportunity for farmers to increase production by planting varieties suited to wetter conditions.

Farmers who attended the training said the programme had equipped them with practical skills to improve maize production.

Christopher Wanjohi said the training would help farmers increase yields and improve household incomes.

Jane Wambui from Kerugoya Ward said county agricultural training programmes had improved her maize production since 2022 after she adopted higher-yielding seed varieties in place of lower-performing ones. She expressed optimism that the newly introduced DK7500 would further boost production for farmers across the county.