Firm develops kit to weed out fake seeds

The Kenya Seed Company has developed a technology that can identify counterfeit seed.

“The technology, that will be operational next year, will ensure farmers plant certified seed and increase production,” managing director Willy Bett said.

It can distinguish fake seed sold by unscrupulous traders in the company’s packaging, Mr Bett said.

He at the same time said the company had launched a new chemical to contain the spread of Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease that ravaged parts of the country last season.

He said the chemical, Caberderzine, is effective for six weeks after which a farmer is expected to apply preventive chemicals to the crop.

Mr Bett said the chemical had cost the company Sh240 million and this had resulted in an increase in the cost of maize seed.

“The cost of the chemical has forced us to review the price of maize seed upwards,” he said.

A 2-kg bag will henceforth cost Sh360, up from Sh300 while 10kg will sell for Sh1,800, up from Sh1,500. A 25kg will be retailing at Sh4,500, up from Sh3,750.

ADEQUATE SEED SUPPLY

Mr Bett assured farmers that there were adequate maize seed supplies for the planting season. He said that surveillance had been intensified to contain distribution of counterfeit seeds.

He also said the company was developing a new seed variety resistant to the disease. “Research is in progress to come up with a disease- resistant maize seed variety,” he said.

He advised farmers to rotate their crops to break the cycle of disease.

The Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease is caused by a combination of two viruses — the sugarcane mosaic virus and maize chlorotic mottle virus — which are transmitted by aphids and thrips.