The Cabinet Secretary (CS), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Andrew Mwihia Karanja, has urged agriculture stakeholders and organizations to develop strategies to improve the quality of seeds to enable them to withstand climate variability.
Speaking while inaugurating the first International Seed Quality Conference at the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) headquarters in Nairobi yesterday, the CS revealed that quality seeds and inputs were crucial for agricultural productivity and would lay the foundation for successful and sustainable agriculture in the country.
“Seed certification is a robust process that plays a pivotal role in promoting crop productivity, maintaining genetic integrity and fostering market confidence, considering that Kenya and other African countries have invested heavily in seed production, infrastructure, and services over the last two decades,” he said.
The CS further asserted that the government under the leadership of President Ruto is determined to enhance the production of certified seeds and combat counterfeit seeds to improve the affordability of certified seeds.
At the same time, the Principal Secretary (PS), State Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Dr. Rono Kiprono discouraged farmers across the country from recycling seeds as there are plenty of seeds that will ensure increased food production.
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“We have adequate supply of seeds of suitable varieties for marginal areas as a result, I discourage the tendency of Kenyan farmers to recycle seeds during planting seasons, a phenomenon that has seen a decrease in food production,” the PS said.
KEPHIS Managing Director, Prof Theophilus M. Mutui, said that the institution has invested in automation of procedures and integration with other existing government systems to streamline trading activities and reduce the cost of doing business.
The conference, which kicked off on August 19 themed: ‘Seed Quality Assurance and Technological Advances for Climate Change Adaptation towards Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security’, will come to an end tomorrow.
By Vostine Ratemo
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