Seed and farm input companies are luring farmers in Kenya's Central Province to invest in new crops that do not have value or guaranteed markets, agricultural officials have claimed.
They said this at a farmers' meeting in Murang'a North District recently and further blamed food shortages in the area on the production of new and untested crops such as aloe vera and mushrooms.
District agricultural officer Francis Musavi said such crops may not be suitable for the region's climate and also lacked markets. He advised farmers to sign marketing contracts with firms promoting new crops before jumping "headlong into production."
"The promoters of these new crops are unwilling to enter into any contracts with the farmers. Why are they not ready to sign agreements if they are sure of the market," posed Musavi.
The forum was told that farmers were abandoning major cash crops to invest in new ones, lured by promises of good sales .
This year, Muranga North District may suffer a 50 per cent maize deficit, with 350,000 bags required for local consumption, said Musavi. The situation is similar for beans, with the district requiring 175,000 bags a year. But he noted that the food security situation had improved in the last two years.
Business Daily
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June 22, 2007
Kenyan farmers warned not to rush into new crops without markets
Categories diversification, Kenya, markets
