In this Issue

Volume 33 July - September

Pg.2 Onion Mercedes F1, Word from ManagementPg.3 Field Day in Uganda Pg.4 Early Butternut F1, Red Knight Pepper F1

Pg.5 DK8031 in KisumuPg.6 Purple Blotch Disease of OnionPg.7 Field Day Pictorial, Onion Bhajia recipePg.8 Farm+Plus Agrovet, Mombasa

A Healthy Crop ... A Good HarvestCrop Management By Nathan Koskei & Erastus Matete

Water ManagementSoils - To cultivate a healthy shamba, one must study the soil well. Soils hold varying amounts of water depending upon the percentage of silt, sand and organic matter. Soils with a greater amount of clay and silt have a finer texture and hence hold more water. Water is absorbed very slowly through clay soils, hence watering should be done less frequently. On the other hand, water seeps in very fast through sandy soils; therefore, organic content should be added to improve water holding capacity.

Evaporation- Avoiding excessive evaporation is another important aspect of water management. Ideally, watering should be done in the morning or evening, as evaporation rate is at its highest in the afternoon. Watering should be avoided under windy conditions as strong winds increase the rate of evaporation too. Digging furrows around the plants helps in reducing water loss through evaporation.

Irrigation - It is very important to decide what irrigation system to use depending on water availability and evaporation rate. There are many types of irrigation systems these include: micro-spray, sprinklers, drip systems, soaker hoses and furrows.

Rainfall- Rain is an important factor that should be considered before implementing water management procedures. Watering should not be done before or after the rain to avoid overwatering and root rot in plants.

Crop ProtectionHere we mainly dwell on pests and diseases and their management. In protecting a crop, a farmer may use chemical, biological, mechanical and cultural control methods.

Pests and Diseases ManagementAlways scout for pests and diseases in the morning •Control pests and diseases to ensure that they are kept in check and do not reach economic •injury levelCommon crop pests include; Aphids, thrips, whiteflies, cutworms, bollworms, leaf miners, •spider mites and nematodes.Common diseases include: Wilts, Blight, Rots, Leaf spots and Mildews.•For the control of pests, cultural methods such as clean weeding, use of certified seed and •destroying alternate hosts are best.

Carry out preventive spraying in accordance to weather conditions and •chemical label. Do not wait till the pest or disease symptoms begin to

show.For diseases such as mildews and blight, copper-•

based or sulphur-based fungicides are used. It is very important to note

the Active Ingredient (AI) so as to avoid doing one kind of spray every time.

Viral diseases such as the mosaics and •leaf curls have no cure. When dealing with these viral diseases, vectors ought to be controlled because they are the key transmitters of these diseases. Key vectors include aphids, thrips, and whiteflies.

Nutrient ManagementNutrient management is critical because it varies depending on the stage of the plant, deficiency symptoms and the soil analysis results.

The plant should constantly be fed •because it is continuously growing and producing. Top dress at the 3rd week with the appropriate fertilizers and repeat it after every 6 weeks.Foliar feeds should only be used in cases •where top dressing was delayed or where an urgent deficiency symptom is at hand.

Continued on pg. 3 ...

In the

Newsfrom MONSANTO

Our Uganda Field Days took place in May in Luweero and Mukono Districts.

Monsanto Vegetable Seed had a demonstration plot to display its hybrid tomatoes which included Assila F1, Eden F1 and outdoor Anna F1. These products attracted farmers who were particularly drawn by the products’ high yield as well as their tolerance to Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (for Assila F1), verticilum wilt and fusarium wilts.

The Tukole Bukozi Limited sales team was invited to sell Monsanto Vegetable Seeds over the desk. Farmers who had seen the crop were keen on acquiring the seed and this made for good sales.

Though this was exclusively a tomato show, farmers expressed their wish to have other Monsanto varieties including Cabbages Blue Dynasty F1 and Victoria F1, Pepper Red Knight F1, and Squash Early Butternut F1 and Ambassador F1.

. . .continued from pg 1

Out in the Field in Uganda

By Nathan Koskei

Management

Kobus Burger

(See PAGE 6 for more field-day pictures)

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NPK are the major critical nutrients. P - Phosphorous is for root development, •K - Potassium for fruit development and N - Nitrogen for the vegetative growth.Nutrient deficiency should not be confused for disease symptoms. It usually leads to •physiological disorders.Avoid excessive Nitrogen; it leads to excess vegetative growth, poor fruit set, smaller •fruits, hollow fruits and poor keeping quality.

Weed ControlWeeds are unwanted plants in gardens that compete with crops; they reduce available moisture, nutrients, sunlight and growing space needed by crop plants. Their presence can reduce crop growth, quality and yield. In addition, they can make harvest difficult. Weeds also serve as a host for diseases, insects and animals (rodents, snakes, etc.). Garden weeds are hard to control because they grow rapidly, produce vast numbers of seeds, and spread aggressively by vegetative structures and/or seeds. In a vegetable ‘shamba’, weeds should never be allowed to grow to a level that can cause economic injury. There are several methods that should be used in a combined, coordinated effort to control weeds. They include cultural methods such as crop rotation as well as mechanical and chemical methods (e.g. herbicides).

HarvestingMost vegetables are harvested just before full maturity for maximum flavour and the most pleasant texture. The following are vegetable harvesting criteria for judging whether your crops are ready for picking:

TomatoesA tomato is ready for picking once it starts breaking colour. Tomatoes that are picked when showing any orange or red color will be superior.

OnionsOnions can be harvested at any stage. When the tops fall over they should be dug and dried until the skin starts to peel off, then stored in a net bag.

CarrotsCarrots can be hard to judge. The tops of the carrot will show at the soil line and you can gauge when the diameter looks right for your variety. If the diameter looks good, chances are the length is fine too. But you will need to pull one to be certain. Small carrots are the sweetest, but it’s best to leave them in the ground until you need them so they won’t dry out.

CabbageHeads are ready to harvest when they are firm and heavy. If left too long they will split. Split heads are edible, but difficult to deal with in the kitchen.

BroccoliHarvest broccoli while the head is still tight. Once the buds begin to spread it will soon flower.

PeasHarvest before the individual peas begin to touch inside the pods. They become starchy and tasteless if left for too long.

CucumberHarvest before the seeds inside swell.

UGANDA FIELD DAY

ur new variety Mercedes F1 is a yellow early maturing tropical type which produces large, globe-shaped bulbs with a golden colour which are uniform and firm.

Attributes:Good bolting tolerance1. Very uniform bulbs2. Yield potential of 23tonnes/acre3. Early maturity of 90 days after transplanting4. Good scale retention 5.

Resistances: Highly Resistant to Pink Rot (Phoma terrestri) and Fusarium Basal Rot (FBR).

Plant spacing: Depending on bulb sizes required spacing can be 8x10cm or 10x15cm, for export market use a density from 500,000 to 600,000 plants per hectare.

“Farmers have now got an early maturing ‘Grano-type’ hybrid onion”

Benefits:Long shelf life 1. Easy to sell bulbs2. High returns3. Excellent grade-out4. High yielding5. Low crop protection cost6.

Introducing the New Onion Mercedes F1 By David Ndung’u

O

SPOTLIGHT

>>> Monsanto Crop Developers in a field of Mercedes F1 >>> INSET: A Mercedes F1 bulb

Since September 2009, Monsanto has been working on consolidating and integrating its different vegetable seeds companies into one unique operation. The companies De Ruiter Seeds, Seminis, Royal Sluis, Petoseed and Asgrow Seeds, are merging into one unique integrated Monsanto Vegetable Seeds Division.

To continue serving you better, we have adopted a global brand strategy and enhanced our packaging quality. We have done this by branding all our products as Seminis for outdoor varieties and De Ruiter for Indoor products for ease of identification.

Therefore Royal Sluis and Peto seeds will disappear as product brands from September 2010 - the product portfolio will remain the same, only the brand and packaging will change. This means that what we used to sell under Royal Sluis or Peto seeds brand will be commercialized under the SEMINIS brand for open field varieties and DE RUITER SEEDS for protected varieties. Our ability to supply you with the highest quality varieties and hybrids which contribute to your success will thus be reinforced.

The Royal Sluis or Peto seed branded products already in the pipeline will continue and only our supplies from the mentioned date will be in the new branded packaging. Please note that the products remain the same.

Also, to ensure continued growth in farming in the region, we have introduced two new innovative products, Onion Mercedes F1 and Pepper Tycoon F1, which are currently available commercially.

As we anticipate the short rains, we would like to thank you for your continued support. We value your business and wish to maintain a successful relationship moving forward. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact our offices.

Same QualitySame varieties

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Kisumu Farmer Beats Weather with DK8031n Chulaimbo division in Kisumu district, farmers harvest as little as 2 bags of maize per acre; but Mr

Peter Olango, a farmer in this area, harvested 8 bags of maize from the quarter acre of his farm planted with Monsanto’s DK8031 maize hybrid.

It is now several planting seasons since he discovered Monsanto’s hybrid maize seed and farming has never quite been the same for Mr. Olango who is full of praise for Monsanto’s DK8031. “I am able to store 5 bags of grain for my family and earn some income from the sale of the remaining bags.”

Mr. Olango planted his DK8031 crop on 12th of March 2010 and by 28th May the crop had reached physiological maturity.In total, the crop took 3 months from planting to physiological maturity, which is characteristic of DK8031. It’s early maturity means farmers in the medium altitude zones with warm temperatures can plant and harvest two crops a year.

DK8031 is also known for its ability to withstand dry periods during its growth stages therefore guaranteeing farmers a yield. “In the past we have had farmers planting in the month of February with the early rainfalls only for the rains to subside leading to crop failures. Farmers often have to replant their fields leading to increased costs of production,” says Mr Olango. He observes that with DK8031, even in the worst weather conditions, farmers will always have a harvest. This is one of the features of DK8031 most valued by the farmers.

Another attribute of DK8031, as can be seen from the crop on Mr Olango’s farm (see picture), is its very strong stalks which enable the crop to withstand strong winds, thus reducing crop losses that result from logging of the crop.

Mr Olango has made some of his own calculations on yield expectations from DK8031, and shares these with us:

From one acre of DK8031 a farmer can expect a plant population of 21,000 plants. Therefore, if a farmer is targeting the green maize market and sells 1 cob per plant at Ksh 5, he is likely to

By Mr Peter Olango with Sammy Okita

“ I am able to store 5 bags of grain for my family and earn some income from the sale of the remaining bags”

Iver since they began growing it in 2004, you are always sure to find a thriving crop of Monsanto’s Early Butternut F1 squash at

Kiboko River Farm.

The farm is located along Mombasa road near Kiboko market. It grows a wide range of horticultural crops throughout the year.

“Initially, we began by planting small areas under Early Butternut F1 on experimental basis as we were unsure of the market,” says the farm manager, Mr. Maria Ndolo. They wanted to find out whether the local market as well as consumers in Nairobi and Mombasa would take to the product, especially since they were used to the local pumpkin. “To our amazement the adoption was very fast and orders started flowing from the local community as well as from the major towns,” says Ndolo.

Now, the farm plants one acre every month which ensures continuous cash flow throughout the year. And with increasing demand for the squash, they are planning on increasing this area to two acres

“To our amazement the adoption was very fast and orders started flowing from the local community as well as from the major towns,”

Kibwezi River Farm Discovers Early Butternut F1By Mr Maria Ndolo with Daniel Musyoka

every month.

Asked why everybody prefers the Early Butternut hybrid as compared the local pumpkin or other varieties, he had this to say, “It’s a sweet and high-yielding variety - producing upto 27 tonnes per acre, it is also early maturing.”

With these excellent qualities, Ndolo wonders why the farmers in the drier areas are not planting Early Butternut F1 which they will be sure of harvesting even with little rainfall, unlike the local pumpkin whose failure rate is very high due to the current unpredictable rainfall patterns.

The manager’s humble request to Monsanto was not to think of withdrawing this variety from the market.

E

“I have been growing this product for the last six years and it seems as though it has been improved on every time I grow it. This is what first comes to mind for Mr. Martin Swinchact when asked about the Red Knight F1 pepper. Mr Swinchact is the Chief Fund-raiser at Pendekezo Letu Children’s Home situated in Thika.

Why grow it for all these years? Martin says the variety has all the qualities and attributes any serious farmer and red capsicum consumer would be looking for. He outlines them very freely as follows:

Very attractive green colour for •the green market and very deep red shiny colour for the consumers who

like that way,Has blocky shaped fruits which are uniform in size at maturity,•The fruits are firm and hence very good shelf life,•Fruits are quick to ripen – 10 days after maturity with uniform •colour change,Early maturity of 70 days for green and 80 days for red,•High yielding – upto 30 tonnes/acre under greenhouse. High •production is because the plant has short internodes. Highly demanded in the market because of its sweet taste and •aroma.

The above mentioned excellent qualities leave one with no alternative but to grow Red Knight F1.

SpeakGROWERS

I Recommend Red Knight F1

“ I have been growing this product for the last six years and it seems as though it has been improved on every time I grow it”

realise Ksh 105,000 from the one acre. This income is only possible with good crop management practises.

If the farmer is targeting the dry grain market and harvests the expected yield of 32 bags per acre with prevailing price of Ksh 1500 per 90kg bag then the farmer is likely to realise Ksh 48,000.

However, Mr Olango cautions farmers on the importance of harvesting in good time.“Harvest when the cobs are fully mature to avoid early infestation of weevils at farm level.”

Additional Facts on DK8031

• It grows best in mid to low altitude zones of Kenya. • Ittakesupto3monthstoreachphysiologicalmaturityinwarmenvironments.• Itcanbegrowninbothlongandshortrainseasonsinareaswith2seasons.

>>> Peter Olango in his field of DK8031

>>> Carol Wanjiku, Farm Manager at Pendekezo Letu Childrens’ Home

By Mr. Martin Swinchact with Daniel Musyoka

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QUESTIONSAnswered

Your

By Isaac Nzuka

What is it?Purple blotch is a fungal infection that attacks onions, leeks and shallots. It causes onion leaves to become blighted and die prematurely. It is caused by Alternaria porri, a fungus closely related to Alternaria solani, which causes early blight on potatoes and tomatoes.

The fungus causing “Purple Blotch” is a wound parasite; it usually affects leaves that have already been attacked by other infections or insects.

What are the Symptoms?About 1-4 days after infection occurs, the symptoms become visible; they begin as small water-soaked brownish lesions that usually have a white centre.

In general older leaves are more susceptible than younger leaves. However, when plants are infested by onion thrips, younger leaves are also susceptible and severity of the disease is much higher compared to those plants not infected by thrips.

As the lesions enlarge, the edges of lesions turn reddish-brown to purple. With time, dark brown to black concentric rings form throughout the lesions. In moist weather, a dense purplish-black mold growth covers the diseased areas.

If conditions remain favourable for disease development, lesions may affect the entire leaf or stem causing it to eventually collapse and die.

During harvest or storage the fungus can enter through the neck of the buld via injuries sustained during harvest. If the fungus invades the bulb, the infected area is initially bright yellow but eventually turns a characteristic wine red colour.

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How can I blot out

What are the Conditions for development?Purple blotch requires three conditions for infection:

The disease is present in the field1. Water is present to allow for spore germination and2. Temperatures ranging between 13 – 343. OC, with an optimum temperature of 25oC for growth.

The purple blotch fungus overwinters in mycelium found in leaf debris. Spores are formed

during humid nights and leaf wetness periods greater than 12 hours. As the morning dews dries, spores become airborne, they are then carried to susceptible onion plants by wind, rain and farm equipment. One to four days are needed for symptoms to develop after infection. Disease development is greatest during prolonged periods of leaf wetness.

Purple Blotch ?

How can you control purple blotch?

A fungicide spray program utilizing wetness monitoring •and a broad spectrum protective fungicide applied prior to infection can provide good protection. Keep moisture levels low by using surface rather than •sprinkler irrigation, good field drainageAllow for good air circulation by ensuring correct •plant spacing to reduce overcrowding and disease development. A rotation out of Allium (onion-related) to unrelated •crops for several years can reduce disease as well.Harvest onions during dry weather and ensure that •the tops are dry to prevent introduction into storage.

Ingredients* 2 large tbps of plain flour (if possible use gram flour)

* 1 large Onion peeled and chopped into fine strips

* Vegetable Oil for deep frying

* 1/2 tsp Turmeric

* 1/2 tsp Ground cumin

* 1/2 tsp Garam Masala

* Pinch of Salt (adjust to your taste)

MethodPut the flour, salt and spices into a bowl.

1. Add enough cold water, mix well to make a thick

2. paste.

Add Onion strips to the mixture - mix them well. 3.

Optional4. - Add finely chopped green chillies or mint

leaves or coriander for extra flavour. Mix well.

Heat oil until a small piece of bread can turn brown 5.

quickly.

Drop egg-sized balls of the mixture into the hot oil. 6.

MER

U A

SK S

HO

W

onion bhajias

LOIT

OKI

TOK

FIE

LD D

AY

Allow balls to cook until golden brown. 8-10 mins. 7.

Remove with a slotted spoon so that oil can be drained.8.

Additional TipsOnion Bhajia goes very well with Mango Chutney or Mint

Yoghurt Chutney.

IMAGES: How

ard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

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By Nashone Mukabane

CLIENTSMeet our

arm+Plus Agrovet is in Mombasa City along Jomo Kenyatta Avenue

and opposite the Coast Bus office. The business was started in the year 2000 at Kongowea Market before moving to its present location in 2006.

“Who said good farming, cannot be done at the Coast?” Before she begun the business, Farm+Plus proprietor, Mrs. Asya Mnjalla had once asked herself this question and this later became the key motivation for her venture. As the name suggests, the main aim of the business was to add value to the farms and

Farm+Plus AgrovetWho said good farming can’t be done at the coast?

F

Event Venue Date

Field Days Wambugu ATC July

Marigat July

Kirinyaga Technical Institute July

Waruhiu ATC - Githunguri July

KEPHIS, Samia, Busia district July

Mabanga ATC July

CGA - Nyamira July

Kerio Valley - Kibendo/Anin August

Agricultural Shows

Mombasa ASK August

Nane Nane show-Tanzania August

EVENTSMONSANTO KENYA LTD,

TUSKYS HEAD OFFICE COMPLEXMOMBASA RD.

P.O. Box 47686, 00100, NAIROBI, KENYATel: 254 20 2060922/44, 3574301/4,

Fax: 254 20 823086, 3574300Mobile: 254 722 205594, 722 205294,

722 205529, 254 733 600468, 733 629414www.monsantoafrica. com

farmers in the coastal region.

Farm+Plus has since grown and has a wide network covering Kwale, Shimba-hills, Malindi, Kilifi, Tanzania, Zanzibar and serves over 37 stockists and most NGO’s (Non Governmental Organisations) at the coast. Currently the business is exploring new markets in Mpeketoni, Voi and Wudanyi.

Farm+Plus is a major distributor of seeds, agro-chemicals, animal health products and fertilizers. The business boasts an

Farm + Plus personnel (L-R) Claire Achieng, Beatice Chepkemoi and the M.D. Mrs. Asya Mnjalla.

excellent arrangement and display of products and prides itself in good customer relations, one of the factors that has seen it grow to its present size.

In the past, the shop distributed our vegetable seeds under the Regina Seeds banner and now continue to sell our products as Monsanto Vegetable Seeds. The change of brand names has not affected consumption of the seeds. Mrs. Mnjalla agrees with this, saying that though there may be a change in name, the quality is unchanged. “Farmers have no problem with the new branding once they are assured that the products are the same,” she says.

The range of Monsanto products on sale here are Anna F1, Eden F1 and

Onyx tomatoes; Squash Ambassador F1; Blue dynasty F1 and Oxylus F1 cabbage varieties; our sugar baby Melon; Yolo Wonder capsicum; Red Creole Onion, Cucumber Ashley and Early Butternut F1 squash. Farm+Plus now plans on stocking Monsanto’s hybrid maize, DK 8031. The wish of the business is to sell more of the hybrids because apart from their high returns, farmers are sure of producing and selling high quality products from their farms and can comfortably buy more seeds.

In closing, Mrs Mnjalla says, “We are proud to be associated with Monsanto and its high quality products because you begun with us, stood by us as we grew and you are still with us – long live Monsanto.”