As smallholder farmers in most parts of Kenya grapple with
shortage of fodder options for their livestock, Daniel Karanja is hoping to get
them to adopt silage making, which he says can easily be achieved by a
fast-growing crop of yellow maize.
Karanja, who sells yellow-maize seeds at KSh150 per Kg, says
that yellow maize takes 72 days
for the their corn ears to reach the milk stage, the best for making silage.
“Here, the sugar content is quickly converted into starch when stored
and the sugar helps retain its quality longer than standard maize,” said
Karanja.
More benefits
In addition, Karanja notes that the breed of maize is resistant to most of
the diseases affecting maize and Has large ears and tender kernels than
standard maize.
“You, therefore, harvest more fodder for your animals, which is a rich source
of vitamins and minerals. The stored starch promotes rumen bacterial growth and
enhances forage digestibility, rumen cycling and subsequent feed intake,” he
said.
It requires 10Kg of seeds to cover one acre of land, with the variety
preferring warmer climatic conditions, although Karanja confirms that it can
grow in most regions of Kenya.
For a pure crop of yellow maize, the Ministry of Agriculture recommends a spacing of between 75cm by 30cm yielding a a total population of about 44,000 plants per acre.
Where to buy the seed
Daniel Karanja can be reached through 0724776484