Speaking after visiting millet farmers at Asing’e in Teso South Sub-County on Friday, an official from Centre for Behaviour Change and Communication Emmanuel Eshitemi said the organisation is determined to change millet farming by using improved seed variety to enable farmers to increase in production.

“We are working with KALRO (Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation) and KEPHIS (Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service) to ensure that the seeds are of required quality and are available to the farmers. We are educating our farmers on the importance of the improved seeds. The seed takes three months and is ready for harvesting,” he said.

Eshitemi explained that millet production that still uses traditional seeds result to low farm yields and take long before harvesting

“These new varieties are drought tolerant and can do well in all-weather conditions. Many farmers do not understand the issue of climate change and that’s why they need the seeds that are tolerant to climate change so that farmers can be cushioned from losses. The improved variety has high yields after a short period. The seeds can be recycled twice after which we encourage farmers to get new variety,” he explained.

He further said they are currently in Teso South where farmers have received the seeds adding that they are determined to reach all farmers in the county.

“We want to reach all farmers so that they can benefit from our training and even getting the seeds. We have several improved varieties including U-15/Maridadi, Kakamega Wimbi 2 and Kakamega Wimbi 3 and they are all available at Youth and Women quality centres in Busia,” he said.

Millet farmers led by Marygoret  Omodia expressed joy how their yields have improved after using the improved variety and using the correct ways of planting.

“If you follow all the instructions, the yielding per acre is approximately 10 bags of 90 kilogramme from one acre. I want all millet farmers to embrace these new ways of millet farming so that we can increase the production of millet in the county.”

She added that millet is useful to people with diabetes and children porridge as it makes them be healthy. Mary Awala, another farmer, said through the improved variety, she can plant three times a year, thereby increasing her production.

“The traditional seed was taking 6 months but with the improved variety, it takes three months and with that l can plant three times per year through crop rotation. This has helped me to pay school fees for my children and my livelihood,” said Awala

She also said the modern ways of planting which includes planting the millet in a line make it easy for weeding unlike the traditional ways which involved random planting.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Rodgers Omondi