This archive report was first published on 10 September 2019.
On September 8, 2019, Joel Chege, a farmer from Gacuhi village in Lare, showed affected maize that had been ravaged by head-smut, a disease that attacks ears and tassels of a maize plant, replacing them with thick-walled spores filled with soot.
The disease, caused by the fungus Sphacelotheca reiliana, has left farmers in the area with little hope of a good harvest. According to Chege, nearly all the maize in Gacuhi village had been attacked by the disease, with the ears and tassels destroyed.
“We started noticing a few affected plants two weeks ago. Today, nearly all the maize in Gacuhi village have been attacked by the disease,” said Mr. Chege.
The farmers had grown the maize on an average of two acres of land, and the disease has left them with significant losses. They accused seed producers of selling them substandard seeds, which are prone to fungal attacks.
Nakuru County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture Immaculate Maina said her docket was carrying out tests on some maize samples, and a team of experts had visited the farms to assess the situation.
“A team of experts has visited the farms. We are taking this matter seriously since we want our county to be food secure,” said Dr. Maina.
