Editorial

In our last issue, we promised to address factors that affect agricultural production and to lay emphasis on the farmer. This Issue has done just that and takes a look at new strides In research on which maize variety grows where, calliandra - a home grown fodder tree, soil testing, maize and bean intercropping and safe use of agrochemicals among others.

As we all know agriculture is quite dynamic and new innovations are continuously replacing old ones with the main objective of achieving food self-sufficiency while maintaining sustainability of production. The use of agrochemicals is an old age innovation and has become an integral part of agricultural production, however new agrochemicals are constantly coming up in the market. Benefits accruing from the use of agrochemicals are undisputed and indeed efforts to achieve increased food production without using them have been less impressive. It is however no secret that If not properly handled agrochemicals can be harmful and even fatal to the users. Industrialised countries use up to 80% of the world’s agrochemicals but 99% of deaths from acute agrochemical poisoning occur in developing countries. Why? A majority of farmers in developing countries are not aware of the dangers posed to their health and the environment by improper handling of these chemicals. Serious campaigns on the safe use of agrochemicals therefore need to be mounted among the farming communities of the developing countries.

Turning to Agro-industries, we take this opportunity to thank most sincerely all the firms whose products have been advertised in this Issue. Please continue with the kind gesture as it enables us to reach your client, the farmer. We hope this will be a challenge to firms who are still considering the move.

We would also like to thank the out going Editor of this Newsletter for doing a commendable job and hope that the incoming one will follow closely in his footsteps.

Lastly, the Editor welcomes articles from the readers, comments and criticisms. In our next issue, we shall have a letters to the Editor Column’. Feel free to write to us.

Editor

You can reach us by writing to

Editor
Kilimo News
Agricultural Information Centre
P.O. Box 14733,
Telephone: 446464, 446467, 442127/8
Nairobi, Kenya.