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{
    "id": 1473952,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1473952/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 158,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Maize is the national staple food in Kenya. It has been identified as a priority value chain by the Kenya Kwanza Government. The Government’s push on the implementation of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) on agricultural transformation has deliberately focused on initiatives and plans to increase the national production of maize in the pursuit of addressing food security. Due to the Government interventions geared towards increasing production of maize, many farmers have been registered and supported to engage in maize farming. The National Government initiative such as the subsidised fertiliser programme to enhance maize production has triggered increased demand for maize seeds, among other types of seeds. The national maize seeds requirement for the 2024 long rains period is 40,000 metric tonnes. The seeds stock supplied by seed companies for the period is 35,833,900 metric tonnes. There is maize seeds deficit of approximately 5 million kilos for the period 2024 long rains season. The 35,833,900 kilograms of maize seeds can approximately be planted on 3.5 million acres of land against the Government target of 4 million acres. The North Rift Region is the main maize growing zone in Kenya. The region has also experienced shortage of maize seeds. Kenya Seed Company has established distribution networks to enhance availability and access of maize seeds by farmers. It has registered about 400 seeds distributors across the North Rift. Supply of maize seeds to the distributors has been rationed because some of them are holding and selling the seeds to farmers at exorbitant prices. This year's distribution of maize seeds to the North Rift Region has surpassed last year's by more than 400 metric tonnes."
}