“What you lack in talent can be made up with desire, hustle and giving 110% all the time.”

Don Zimmer

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

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Contents

News Round upPg.1- Pg.2

CGA ActivitiesPg.3

Mebers CornerPg.4

Farmers have threatened to abandon wheat growing, accusing the national government of favouring importers.Cereal Growers Association National Chairman Farnie Kruger said the Kenyan market had been flooded with imported wheat, which he added, compromised quality. “Drastic measures should be taken as the wheat and maize sector is

Governors will be required to buy cereals directly from farmers and store them if a Bill seeking to cushion the growers from losses is passed by the Senate. According to the proposed law, governors will now be required to buy cereals directly from farmers.

This would be done through county cereals and produce committees. The draft law is sponsored by nominated Senator Zipporah Kittony and is to be tabled in the Senate for the third reading

Editorial Team

the backbone of this country’s economy. We need to preserve the future of these crops for the sake of the country and farmers,” the association’s chairman said. “The low prices have discouraged farmers who are threatening to abandon wheat growing. If the government does not address the matter, it would lead to food insecurity. Livelihoods will also be seriously threatened,” the CEO Cereal Growers Association, Mr. Anthony Kioko

said. The Association, which has a membership of 30,000, is proposing that the government revises the import duty to 35 per cent in order to stabilise the market for the wheat sub-sector.

h t t p : / / a l l a f r i c a . c o m /stories/201512310031.html

once it resumes its sessions in February. At the same time, maize farmers in the North Rift region have petitioned the Government to cut down the acreage under the Galana-Kulalu Irrigation Scheme at the Coast to reduce an oversupply of grain, and stabilise market prices.

http://www.nat ion.co.ke/count ies/Governors - se t - to -buy-gra in - f rom-farmers/-/1107872/3053134/-/fy5h6t/-/index.html

News RoundupWelcome to this month’s edition of the Cereal Notebook.

This is a monthly publication by CGA that gives you quick highlight/update of issues that have an implication to the cereal subsector.

The newsletter will also keep you informed of any CGA upcoming events and activities plus news from around the various counties.

We welcome your feedback on how we can improve the publication to serve you better.

Anthony M. Kioko

akioko@cga.co.ke+254 722 236 175Laurette Abuya

labuya@cga.co.ke+254 725 409 503Jeanette Oromo

joromo@cga.co.ke+254 723 133 422Creative Design:

Peter Too

Wheat Farmers Threaten to Down Tools Over Low Prices

Governors set to buy grainfrom farmers

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Cereal

A monthly e-publication of Cereal Growers Association

A quaterly publication of Cereal Growers Association

State sanctions sale of local biotech maize, sorghum varieties

NEWS ROUND UPelcome to this month’s edition of the Cereal Note-book.This is a monthly publica-

tion by CGA that gives you quick highlights/updates of issues that have an implica-tion to the cereal subsector. The newsletter will also keep you informed of any CGA upcoming events and activities, plus news from around the various counties. We welcome your feedback on how we can improve the publication to serve you better.

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Anthony M. Kiokoakioko@cga.co.ke

+254 722 236 175Laurette Abuyalabuya@cga.co.ke

+254 725 409 503Jeanette Oromojoromo@cga.co.ke

+254 723 133 422

Design & LayoutMbesa Kioko

Editorial Team

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he government has finally sanctioned the sale of locally devel-oped biotech maize

and sorghum varieties that are drought- and pest-re-sistant, to post high yields. Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) acting ManagingDdirector

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http://www.nation.co.ke/business/New-maize-varieties-get-approval-for-sale/-/996/3224532/-/cmx12gz/-/index.html

Source:

JUNE

Esther Kimani said the 17 maize varieties would now be sold to farmers for commercial use after a rigorous process showed the varieties were also weed-resist-ant. The notice published in the latest

Kenya Gazette said five fast-maturing varieties named Kalro Katumani, jointly developed by the Nairobi-based African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (Cimmyt), Monsanto Company and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation were suitable for eastern, Nyanza and central regions. Its special attributes include proven resistance to drought, major leaf diseases and maize streak virus, where the yields were estimated at between six to seven tonnes per hectare.

Extreme weather increasing level of toxins in food, scientists warn

armers in the North Rift have asked the National Assembly to investigate the importation of poor quality fertiliser, which is threatening food

security in the country's grain basket. In their petition addressed to the Agriculture Committee, the aggrieved farmers also want it to establish whether the relevant state agencies certified the subsidised fertiliser, which is blamed for uneven germination and colourisation of

maize in the region. The petitioners are also demanding an assessment of the impact of losses to the affected farmers and how they can be compensated. The worst-hit areas are Moi's Bridge, Ziwa, Moiben, Turbo and Soy, on the outskirts of Eldoret Town, which is in Uasin Gishu County. The government has since moved to stem the rampant theft of subsidised fertiliser with the suspen-sion of more than 20 NCPB officers.

s they struggle to deal with more extreme weather, a range of food crops are generating

more of chemical compounds that can cause health problems for people and livestock who eat them, scientists have warned. A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says that crops such as wheat and maize are generating more potential toxins as a reaction to protect themselves from extreme weather. But these chemical compounds are harmful to people and animals if consumed for a prolonged period of time, according to a report released during a United Nations Environment Assembly meeting in Nairobi. "Crops are responding to drought conditions and increases in temperature just like humans do when faced with a stressful situation," explained Jacqueline McGlade, chief scientist and director of the Division of Early Warning and Assessment at UNEP.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2000203586/extreme-weather-increasing-level-of-toxins-in-food-scientists-warn

http://allafrica.com/stories/201605250168.htmlSource :

he construction of a Sh6 million factory in Vihiga County that will produce fertiliser from rabbit urine is set to begin next month told the Nation that the factory will

be ready in October. "The urine will be collected from residents who rear rabbits. The factory will then turn the waste into fertiliser to be used by farmers for planting and

Fertiliser From Rabbit Urine On the Way

Source :

http://allafrica.com/stories/201605240084.htmlSource :

FFarmers Urge Ministry to Probe Fertiliser as Maize Withers

topdressing," said County Woman Represent-ative Dorcas Kedogo. The plan to build the factory comes after the lawmaker launched a campaign in the region for the residents to venture into rabbit keeping.

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Panic As Maize Flour Price Rises Despite Bumper Harvest

oncern is growing over the sharp rise in the price of maize flour as industry operators point fingers at each other even as the cost of the country's staple food goes beyond the reach of many Kenyans. A

two-kilogramme packet of maize flour was selling at between Sh103 and Sh110 in major supermarkets, up from Sh95 at the beginning of the month. This is despite the recent food security report by the ministry of Agricul-ture which indicated that the country has a surplus of seven million bags of maize following the heavy rains that resulted in a bumper harvest. Farmers, however, accuse influential individuals in government and millers for engaging in "a cartel-like behaviour" to influence prices both on the supply and production side so as to benefit from the excess supply of

http://allafrica.com/stories/201605290017.htmlSource :

http://www.kilimo.go.ke/index.php/2016/05/10/kbc-ministry-of-agriculture-clinch-deal-to-promote-agriculture/Source :

KBC, Ministry of agriculture, clinch deal to promote agriculture

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grain. They say the situation is forcing them to seek markets in Tanzania where better prices are being offered. Information from Regional Agricultural Trade Intelli-gence Network shows that a 90 kg bag of maize currently retails at Sh5,000 in Dar es Salaam, Sh2,600 in Kampala, Sh4,500 in Bujumbura and just Sh2,700 in Nairobi. National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) is selling the same quantity at a lower price of Sh2,300 in order to stabilise the market but has been unsuccessful so far.

The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) will devote more air time to promote programmes that support agriculture as its contribution to the realization of national food and nutrition security. , Managing Director Waithaka Waihenya said that as a State broadcaster and the media house with the widest reach in the country, KBC was best placed to facilitate achievement of Kenyans’ aspirations especially those that touch on rural communi-ties. The MD was speaking when he received Agricul-ture Principal Secetary Dr. Richard Lesiyampe who paid him a courtesy call to discuss areas of cooperation between the Ministry and KBC in promoting agriculture. During the meeting, it was agreed that the popular Sikio la Mkulima radio programme that had dominated KBC’s airwaves for decades and and which stalled in 2014, would be revived before end of May 2016.

For inquiries on CGA or the CGA Newsletter, please contact us on:Cereal Growers AssociationMountain View Estate, Hse No. 268,

labuya@cga.co.ke www.cga.co.ke+254 700 299 998 +254 737 513 358 +254 20 2354175 +254 725 409 503

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CGA Narok Field DAY attracts over 2000 farmers as companies showcase Innovative agricultural products

UPDATE ON CGA ACTIVITIES

he much anticipated field day happened on 26th May 2016 at Olerai Farm, Narok. The field day was attended by over 2000 farmers and 37 companies

who showcased their products and services. With the theme “Innovative Technologies for Enhanced Agricul-tural Productivity”, the field day proved that we lived in an era of unprecedented technological advancement. Bayer East Africa Limited, our gold sponsors introduced their new product Andego, a residual and foliar herbicide family that combats annual grasses and broad leaved weeds in maize. The herbicide protects maize from more than 80 different broadleaf and grassy weeds. They also showcased the mobile seed grader/-cleaner/ which is used for the for the accurate and reliable application of treatments to seed. The exhibitors (input suppliers, Machinery, banks, insurance, agrochem-icals) also showcased their products and services and gave farmers a chance to openly discuss their problems as they provided solutions. The Chief Guest Hon. Samuel Tunai, Governor of Narok applauded CGA for the good work they were doing in his county and encouraged the farmers to continue farming despite the many challenges they were facing. He noted that the county government was launching various sensitization and training programmes for each subsector crop to reach the farmers at the grassroots level. The CGA field day always emphasizes on the importance of the farmers’ capacity to access and use information for innovation. The field day gives farmers a platform to learn on improved crop production technolo-gies that would increase their yields and help their crops perform better. They also give the farmers a chance to discuss openly with the service providers on the solutions offered to them and give feedback and experi-ence on their products and services

The CGA team is busy preparing for the next �eld day in Timau, Mt. Kenya on 29th-30th July 2016. For more information on how to participate, kindly contact:

Jeanette on 0723133422 or email joromo@cga.co.ke

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Hon. Samuel Tunai, Governor, Narok and Anthony Kioko, CEO CGA.

FARMING PROFILE

Location of farm

Personal background

County: Uasin GishuWard/Constituency: TurboSosiani Settlement Scheme

Agricultural Economist Retired form NCPB in April 2016 Freelance Consultant specializing in agricultural marketing Other areas of expertise in agriculture - strategy formulation, policy development, project planning and implementation

JAMES CHERUIYOT BOIT

Main farming activities on small to medium scaleMaizeDairyAgro-Forestry

Simba Corporation Ltd is a leading regional corporation with diversi�ed interests in automo-tive and power distribution, services and solutions, as well as in real estate and hospitali-ty. Founded in 1948 by the late Mr. Abdul Karim Popat as a modest used-car selling enterprise, the company is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya and has grown to a large integrated multi-sector business group representing international brands and franchises such as Mitsubishi, FUSO, BMW, Mahindra, Renault, AVIS, SAME tractors, AKSA and GE generators. Simba's hospitality properties include the Olare Mara and Villa Rosa managed by world leading hoteliers, Kempinski and Acacia Premier Kisumu.

MEMBERS CORNER

CGA would like to introduce two new members, Simba Corporation Ltd and a mediun-large scale farmer James Cheruiyot Boit,

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