Nairobi: More than 2,000 farmers in Kirinyaga County have been trained on high-yielding maize varieties under a county government programme aimed at increasing maize production, strengthening dairy farming, and preparing farmers to take advantage of the anticipated El Ni±o rains.
According to Kenya News Agency, the training, conducted in partnership with Bayer East Africa Limited, equipped farmers with practical knowledge on selecting maize varieties suited to different ecological zones and planting seasons, climate-smart farming practices, and available market opportunities to improve productivity and household incomes. The initiative is being implemented under Governor Anne Waiguru’s Masomo Mkulima Mashinani programme, which delivers agricultural extension and advisory services directly to farmers across the county.
Speaking during the training, Governor Waiguru said the programme enables extension officers to conduct practical demonstrations on crop and livestock value chains, helping farmers adopt modern technologies that enhance productivity, resilience, and profitability. ‘This support is part of the Wezesha Kirinyaga programme, which seeks to transform the lives of smallholder farmers by supporting households engaged in various agricultural value chains to increase production and access better markets,’ she said. Waiguru emphasized the county government’s commitment to investing in value addition, post-harvest handling, and market access to protect farmers from price fluctuations and exploitation by middlemen.
During the training, 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 to support dairy farming. County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture Dr. John Gachara said the programme is supported by 147 agricultural extension officers deployed across all sub-locations to provide technical support, monitor crop performance, and collect field data to strengthen extension services.
Dr. Gachara explained that the county introduced the Masomo Mkulima Mashinani programme after realizing 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. To bridge that gap, the county established the Kangai Tomato Propagation Centre as an extension of the Kamweti facility, enabling farmers to access practical training closer to their homes.
Bayer East Africa trainer Peter Kibure said the training was designed to help farmers understand the characteristics of different maize varieties and select seed best suited to prevailing weather conditions and intended use. He said farmers were introduced to DK7500, a high-yielding yellow maize variety containing about 12 percent protein, making it suitable for both grain production and silage for dairy cattle. The variety also contains beta-carotene and has demonstrated strong performance under favourable rainfall conditions.
Farmers who attended the training welcomed the initiative, saying it had equipped them with practical skills to improve production and increase incomes. Christopher Wanjohi said the programme had provided valuable knowledge that would enable farmers to achieve higher yields and improve their livelihoods. Jane Wambui of Kerugoya Ward said the county’s agricultural training programmes had transformed her maize farming since 2022 by helping her adopt improved seed varieties with better yields. She expressed confidence that the newly introduced DK7500 would further improve maize production across the county.
