1. Start with Quality Seeds
Invest in certified hybrid seeds from trusted suppliers. High-yielding varieties like DH04, H6213, and Pioneer hybrids offer better disease resistance and bigger harvests.
2. Test Your Soil
Conduct a soil test before planting. Understanding your soil’s nutrient needs allows you to apply the right fertilisers, which boosts productivity significantly.
3. Embrace Mechanization
Use tractors for land preparation and planters for sowing. Mechanized farming reduces labour costs, increases efficiency, and ensures uniform planting.
4. Adopt Modern Farming Practices
Apply fertilizer at the right time, control weeds early, and monitor for pests like fall armyworm. Precision in farming leads to higher yields.
5. Practice Crop Rotation
Rotate maize with legumes like beans or soybeans to replenish soil nutrients and reduce disease buildup.
6. Irrigate Smartly
In areas with unpredictable rainfall, invest in drip or sprinkler irrigation. Reliable water supply can allow for two harvests a year — doubling income.
7. Invest in Storage
Proper storage facilities prevent post-harvest losses from weevils and mold. Use hermetic bags or silos to preserve grain quality and sell when prices rise.
8. Add Value
Don’t just sell raw maize. Mill it into flour or make animal feed. Value addition increases profits by up to 50%.
9. Access Affordable Financing
Use agribusiness loans or government subsidies like the e-voucher programme to scale your operations without straining your cash flow.
10. Know Your Market
Research and connect directly with bulk buyers such as millers, schools, or relief agencies. Bypass brokers to get better prices.
With these strategies, Kenyan farmers can turn maize into a golden opportunity — and build multi-million-shilling aribusinesses from the ground up.
