Kisii farmers cautioned over ‘acidic’ soils
Experts in Kisii have issued a warning that over 60 percent of the region’s soils are acidic.
A study conducted by Enochem Agrovet in collaboration with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (Kalro), among other stakeholders in the agricultural sector earlier this year, reveals that most farms in the region are acidic.
Enochem Agrovet, one of the leading farm input suppliers in Kisii, Nyamira, Migori, Homa Bay, Kericho, and some parts of Trans Mara, deployed experts to examine the soil’s status.
The study found that about 66 percent of Kisii’s soil has a pH of 5.5, while 36.7 percent falls between 5.5 6.5 pH.
These statistics indicate a deterioration in the region’s soils, Dr Enock Monda, the founder of Enochem explains.
Dr Monda attributes the blame to poor farming practices, particularly the use of fertilisers with hazardous chemicals.
“The degradation of soil status and health has led to low agricultural production,” he says.
He warns that the situation observed in Kisii Region is a reflection of other parts of the country.
Soil pH is a measure used to assess the level of acidity or alkalinity in the component for restoration.
It is a scale measured from 0 to 14, with 7 being the neutral level.
A soil element with a pH below 6.5 indicates acidity, while that above 7.5 pH is alkaline.
Dr Monda advocates for the use of agricultural lime to restore soil health.
The proprietor of Enochem Agro Vet provides capacity-building programs and training to the farmers he serves.
He has also adopted a digital system where he generates messages for the initiative and sends them to farmers through text messages.
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