Samples of soils tested in Kakamega have confirmed the presence of high acidity, especially in soils collected from Mumias Sub County. The Director of Tumaini Veterinary Services, a USAID-funded Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems (KCDMS) implementing local partner of the Soil Health Hygiene Programme in Kakamega, Dr. Winston Wanjala, said soil analysis conducted also showed low levels of phosphorus and potassium among the samples tested. He said phosphorus is a nutrient responsible for root development, with its low quantity making roots weak and unable to absorb other essential nutrients from the soil. Speaking in Likuyani during the soil testing campaign, Dr. Wanjala said high soil acidity causes some nutrients to increase or decrease to abnormal levels. He said the optimal level of soil PH is 7, urging farmers to conduct soil tests and use lime fertilisers to maintain soil health and hygiene. The director noted that poor soil health hygiene, which lacks essential minerals for plant growth, is the reason for dwindling and poor harvests among farmers in Kakamega. The soil testing and hygiene programme was launched on Monday, September 28, and will go on until September 15. Tumaini Veterinary Services, which is implementing the programme in Kakamega, is targeting to collect and test about 10,000 soil samples from the county for free by the end of the testing campaign. Selected village-based networks in Kakamega have been given a testing tool where farmers can take their soils for testing even after the end of the free testing campaign period. Dr. Wanjala noted that they will then share the results of the tests with the Kakamega County Government to be used in making decisions to improve farming practices in the county. He urged the county government to work with fertiliser manufacturers to produce fertiliser with essential nutrients that is suitable for specific places in the county. He also asked the county government to ensure they support farmers in testing their soils and availing themselves of the necessary fertiliser before planting. The County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Benjamin Andama, said that despite farmers in Kakamega working hard on their farms, little has been achieved due to poor farming practices. ‘We expect that after farmers know the status of their soils, they will go ahead and treat their soils by using appropriate fertilisers,’ he noted.
Source: Kenya News Agency