Governor George Natembeya has launched a Ksh 139 million seed maize distribution programme aimed at benefiting 231,000 small-scale farmers across Trans Nzoia County.
The 30-day initiative is designed to bolster food security, which the Governor noted has improved significantly over the last three years due to consistent government support.
Fighting hunger remains a primary pillar of the current administration’s development agenda.
Governor Natembeya urged farmers to exercise patience and wait for reliable rainfall before planting, noting that current weather patterns are too unpredictable for long-term maize production.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has indicated that the March-May long rains season is expected to start towards the end of March 2026.
According to the season’s outlook, several parts are expected to receive near-average to below average rainfall.
They include Lake Victoria Basin, highlands west and east of the Rift Valley, and North Western Kenya.
Meanwhile, to further increase yields, the county government of Trans Nzoia plans to expand its agricultural support through food diversification programmes and the distribution of additional farm inputs.
Trans Nzoia is one of the country’s food basket.
Data from the Ministry of Agriculture show that maize production in the county is about 4.98 million 90-kg bags, making it the top maize-producing counties in Kenya alongside Uasin Gishu.
The maize production has however been fluctuating to as low as 3.8 million bags due to poor rainfall, armyworm invasion as well as soil degradation from overuse if synthetic chemicals.
