By Wagaluka Dick

Mama Millers Limited, a major buyer of grain and seed in western Kenya, is pushing farmers to rotate maize with sunflower to lift harvests to the levels seen in Uganda and Tanzania.

Christine, the company’s correspondence officer, said the shift followed research showing Kenya’s maize yields trailing those in neighbouring countries. “We realised that locally, maize production is low compared to the demand from our milling plants,” said Christine. “So we sent a team to Uganda and Tanzania to study their practices. In Tanzania, farmers were harvesting about 25 bags per acre, while in Kenya, most farmers averaged only 15.”

Continuous maize cultivation strips soils of nitrogen and phosphorus, raises acidity, weakens root growth, and creates conditions for witch weed, which can cut harvests by up to 80 per cent. Sunflower’s deep taproot breaks hard layers, improves air and water movement, and pulls up nutrients from below, leaving richer topsoil after the crop residues break down.

“Sunflower helps improve soil structure, reduces acidity, and interrupts the life cycle of Striga,” said Christine. “That’s why we’re encouraging farmers to plant maize in one season and sunflower in the next, both during long and short rains.”

KALRO studies show this rotation can raise maize yields by 20–30 per cent and naturally suppress weeds. But rotation only works for farmers if both crops pay, so Mama Millers moved into edible-oil processing to buy the sunflower output. “When farmers started growing sunflower, they complained about the market,” said Christine. “So we set up an edible oil processing factory to absorb their produce.”

Through its Farm to Market Alliance, the company has set up aggregation centres with county governments to guarantee quick payment. “We liaise with sub counties to create aggregation centres where farmers are paid instantly,” she said. “This motivates them, unlike before when many struggled with delayed payments from other buyers.”

Mama Millers now runs oil aggregation centres in Rodi, Homa Bay, and in Uasin Gishu. Maize aggregation in Uasin Gishu began in 2007, and sunflower aggregation started three months ago in Homa Bay.

To secure quality seed, Mama Millers works with the Seed Growers Association and local lead farmers under contracts witnessed by agricultural officers. “The county governments have also partnered with the Agricultural Food Authority (AFA) to ensure seed supply,” said Christine. “In case of shortages, we intervene by selling Kenya Seed Company’s Kenya Fedha variety at KSh 385 per kilogram.”

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The national government, through AFA, is rolling out a programme to expand sunflower growing and reduce reliance on imported oils. “Sunflower production is a national programme being implemented by AFA through county governments,” said Kenneth, her colleague. “The demand for sunflower in Kenya is huge because most of our edible oils, especially palm oil, are imported.”

Mama Millers uses about 10–15 per cent of the sunflower available nationally, roughly 1,000 tonnes, with demand far higher. “There’s an ambitious plan by the government to reduce edible oil imports by 20%. Supporting local sunflower farmers is key to achieving that,” he said.

Based in Thika near Makongeni, Mama Millers is widening its role from flour processing to oil production and seed supply, using partnerships and science-based farming to help raise yields across western Kenya.