Mkulima today the country is suffering from the effects of lockdown as a result of the COVID – 19 pandemic. Many farmers could not get their products to market while others we reluctant to farm as a result of the lockdown.Bayer East Africa launches Ksh93 million covid-19 crop relief aid

The government together with other organizations are working hard to kickstart the economy after lifting lockdown.

One of the organizations working to boost the economy through agriculture is Bayer East Africa.

Bayer East Africa

Bayer East Africa Ltd is a subsidiary of Bayer AG, which is a global innovation enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of agriculture and health care.

Bayer AG has a base and registration in Germany with the global headquarters in Leverkusen.

As a company, it sets trends in research-intensive areas.

Bayer’s products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life and create value through innovation, growth, and high earning power.Bayer East Africa launches Ksh93 million covid-19 crop relief aid

History

Bayer East Africa Ltd. is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya where its operations were founded back in 1968.

However, its earlier years go back to 1934 in Kenya, when Bayer AG, with Hansing & Co (E.A), introduced Bayer pharmaceutical products and Agfa films into the market.

In the ensuing years,  extended to  Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.

Currently, Bayer has over 185 employees working in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania with main divisions of

  • Crop Science
  • Pharmaceuticals and Consumer Health

Crop relief

With the news of the relief fund  200,000 Kenyan small-scale farmers stand to benefit from a crop relief.

The  programme will provide maize and vegetable seeds to farmers facing economic constraints because of Covid-19.

The first consignment of 300 tonnes of hybrid Bayer’s Dekalb maize and vegetable seeds will be distributed in Tana River, Machakos, Kitui, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Kilifi, Kwale, and Laikipia East.

The Seminis vegetable seeds will be given out in Bungoma, Narok, and Uasin Gishu counties.

The first phase targets the eastern belt counties that receive the short rains in October.

Farmers will also get extension services from professionals based on their crop seasons.

Better farms better lives

The initiative dubbed, ‘Better farms, better lives’, will also be rolled out in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Mozambique to aid 700,000 smallholders between 2020-2022.

To reach the farmers, Bayer is working with the government and some NGOs.

Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (Agra) will liaise with the 47 county governments to distribute the seeds.

Distribution will be done through its model of Village-Based Advisors (VBAs) .

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