Kenya's President William Ruto predicted that this year the East African nation will produce the largest maize harvest ever.
"Experts have already agreed that we have a much better harvest. In fact, this year we may have the best harvest in Kenya's history," Ruto noted.
The president attributed the success of the current campaign in increasing the yield of the important staple food to the fact that farmers have inexpensive availability of fertilizer from the government.
According to the leader, so far authorities have released four million bags of subsidized fertilizer. Ruto urged farmers to actively use the distributed fertilizers to ensure abundant harvests.
The government's support, according to the Kenyan head of state, is intended to address the "shameful" rise in cases of hunger in the East African country, which Ruto has vowed to prevent.
Another reason for assisting local produce is to save the government money on possible food imports.
"My aim is to ensure that we double the production of food crops in Kenya. What is the need of using Ksh.500 billion [about $4 billion] every year to borrow food that we can grow at home?" Ruto remarked. "We cannot be complaining about hunger 60 years after independence and our farmers are ready to produce."
Kenya's fertilizer subsidy program was established last September. As disclosed by the country's Ministry of Agriculture, Ksh.3.5 billion ($240 million) has been allocated for its development to subsidize 71,000 tons of fertilizer.
Maize provides the staple diet for millions of people in Kenya, but its production has not caught up with population growth, according to the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization.