Murang'a: The county government of Murang'a is set to distribute certified maize seeds and fertilizer to registered farmers, ahead of the October-December 2025 short rain season. The programme, which was launched last year to support farmers, aims to boost food security and commercialize maize farming to uplift household incomes.
According to Kenya News Agency, Governor Irungu Kang'ata noted in a public notice that the programme has already yielded results since its introduction. The average maize harvest per acre has increased from one bag to more than three bags. The intervention, which includes linking farmers to milling companies as buyers, has also improved farmers' earnings with maize prices stabilizing at a minimum of Sh3,700 per 90-kilogramme bag, compared to Sh2,000 before the county rolled out the programme.
To qualify for this programme, farmers must meet a few requirements, including a single household registration, formal application through forms vetted by multi-stakeholder committees, and listing in the National Government Digital Farmers' Register (KIEMIS), which proves that one is a duly recognized farmer.
The governor confirmed that the official date for distribution of the seeds has been set for October 4, 2025, beginning at 8.00 am at the Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) sections of the nearest primary schools. Only duly registered and vetted farmers will be served. Qualified beneficiaries will be notified via text message by September 30, 2025, and will be required to present the message before receiving their allocation of seeds and fertilizer.
Kang'ata urged farmers to take full advantage of the program, emphasizing that it is part of the county's broader agenda to empower residents, strengthen food security, and fulfill his administration's development manifesto. Meanwhile, some of the companies that partnered with the county administration have commenced buying maize from farmers. The companies have deployed teams to various wards to buy maize at an agreed price of Sh3,700 per 90-kilograms bag with payment made on delivery.