A farmer in Chemichemi village of Mautuma Ward in Lugari Sub-County is counting losses after his maize crops started wilting as a result of the use of excess pesticide.
The hardworking farmer, Sikuku Omasete, said his son, Justice Atago, sprayed overabundance of a combination of Duduthrin and folia fertilizer on his 1.5 acres of maize.
Omasete noticed the change in appearance of his once lush and green crops when he woke up in the morning the following day. The leaves of the maize were turning yellow even after applying folia.
“I asked him, and he said he used the pesticide in excess,” the heartbroken farmer lamented.
The highest recommended amount of Duduthrin for every 20 liters is 65 ml, but Mzee Omasete said his son exceeded the amount by far and sprayed on the crops while the liquid was too concentrated.
Mr. Omasete is now contemplating a loss of about Sh50,000 that he had anticipated from the harvest upon maturity.
He now clings to beans as his only hope this season.
“I was not counting on beans so much because of the prevailing weather conditions. I had so much hope for maize,” he said.
Farmers are advised to use biological means of combating pests in their crops, such as parasitoids for fall armyworms.
Tom Lutali is a seasoned scribe based in Lugari Sub-County in Kakamega County who writes human interest stories and sports for WKT.