mkulima magazine kenya- april 2016

How to add Value to Sweet Potatoes

for maximum earnings

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Feeding Blunders That Affect The

Quality And Quantity Of Poultry Production

pg 2

A to Z of growing finest onions in the market

pg3

Conducive Conditions For Growing

Bananas pg 5

pg 7

Dairy farmers milk county’s empowerment

project pg14

Dairy Farming Banana Farming Onion GrowingPoultry Care

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Empowering Farmers


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Empowering Farmers


Reasons Why Your Hens May Stop Laying Eggs

1

eclining day lengthDHens are sensitive to day length, and particularly to the direction in which day length is changing, when it comes to laying eggs. Declining day lengths discourage egg production. It is not unusual for a flock owner to have hens go out of production in the latter part of summer and in the fall because the days are getting shorter. Commercial egg producers avoid this problem and maintain egg production year round by using artificial lighting to give hens a long day length no matter what the season.

A backyard flock owner can do much the same thing if the flock roosts inside a building by keeping lights on long enough to simulate an appropriately long day length. A good rule of thumb is that the total length of light per day, both artificial and natural, should be no shorter than the longest natural day length the hens will experience. Therefore, the amount of artificial light needed will be minimal in summer and greatest in winter.Improper nutrition

Hens need a balanced and adequate diet to maintain egg production. Each egg contains significant amounts of protein and energy, which must first be consumed by the hen as

part of its daily food intake. Too little dietary energy or an imbalance of amino acids can cause depressed egg production. Many backyard flock owners don’t realize how much calcium a hen needs. The shell of each egg contains roughly 2 grams of calcium.

Since the skeleton of a typical modern egg-laying breed of hen only contains about 20 grams of calcium, each egg represents 10% of the hen’s total bodily calcium. While the hen’s skeleton acts as a calcium reserve to supply the demands of egg production, this reserve is rapidly depleted in the absence of an abundant calcium source in the feed eaten by the bird. In such a situation the hen will stop laying eggs.

To maintain egg production, flock owners should feed

o n l y a prepared l a y e r

ration balanced to meet a hen’s n u t r i t i o n a l requirements, or at least provide a p a r t i c u l a t e s o u r c e o f calcium, e .g. suitably sized g r o u n d l imes tone o r oyster shell, that the birds can eat s e l e c t i v e l y acco rd ing to

their needs. The layer ration or calcium source should be available from a local feed supply store.

Occasionally, a feed mixing error causes important nutrients like salt to be left out of the diet. Insufficient dietary salt will depress egg production. Conversely, in some regions, well water may have too much dissolved sodium, which also will depress egg production. If water quality is suspected to be a problem, a water mineral analysis can be obtained through your county extension office, but be sure to contact the office for instructions before drawing the water sample.Broodiness

Some breeds of hens are prone to become broody, meaning that they will try to incubate eggs to make

them hatch. When this happens, they stop laying eggs. They are more likely to become broody if they are allowed to accumulate eggs in a nest. The problem is most prevalent during spring under natural daylight as the hens come into production due to the stimulating effects of increasing day

length. To avoid this problem, it is best to pick up eggs at least once a day to prevent the hen from building a clutch. Daily egg gathering is also an important practice to preserve the safety and quality of eggs for human consumption. If the housing facilities permit, hens can be moved to different living quarters periodically to disrupt their attachment to specific nesting sites.Molt

After a hen has been producing eggs for several months, she becomes increasingly likely to molt. Molting and egg production are not mutually compatible, so when molting occurs, egg production ceases. The rest from egg laying allows the hen to restore its plumage condition by shedding old feathers and growing new ones. At the same time, the hen’s reproductive tract is rejuvenated, allowing it to increase its rate of egg production and produce higher quality eggs when it returns to lay. Under natural day lengths, molting tends to coincide with the change in season so that hens molt in the fall after they cease egg production due to declining day lengths. In these circumstances, it is normal for all the hens in a flock to go out of production and molt more or less in synchrony. However, if artificial lighting is provided, a hen may molt at any time of year and not in synchrony with other hens. If this happens, she should return to lay in several weeks.Age

A hen can live for many years. It is not unusual for a backyard flock owner to keep several generations of birds and lose track of how old some hens are. Much as in other species, an aging hen eventually will lose its ability to be reproductively active and stop producing eggs.Disease

Many poultry diseases will affect egg production. Often the birds will show symptoms of illness, but sometimes they will not. If a disease is suspected, it is important to consult a poultry veterinarian without delay. A timely diagnosis may allow effective treatment for some diseases. In the case of certain virulent diseases such as highly pathogenic Avian Influenza, a speedy diagnosis may prevent losses of whole flocks in entire regions, and minimize the risk of zoonotic transmission of deadly disease from chickens to humans, e.g., bird flu.

A backyard flock owner can do

much the same thing if the flock

roosts inside a building by keeping

lights on long enough to simulate

an appropriately long day length

Feeding Blunders That Affect The Quality And Quantity Of Poultry Production

2

utritional deficiencies are a relatively rare problem for a flock of backyard chickens, Nducks, or other poultry. Of greater nutritional

concern are the following five easily avoidable mistakes commonly made in feeding poultry.

1. Inadequate Water

The most important thing to remember about what to

feed chickens is water, and water deprivation is a serious matter. Yet most of us don’t think much about water quality and availability unless a problem arises.You’ll become expert in raising chickens when you download our FREE handbook, ? Best Backyard Chickens: Facts about Chickens, Best Chickens for Eggs, Raising Meat Chicken Breeds, What to Feed Chickens & Easy Chicken Coops to Build.

Deprivation can occur for a number of reasons. In warm weather, your flock’s water needs go up, but if the amount of water you furnish remains the same, some birds may not get enough. Even when the amount of water is sufficient, if the water is too warm, your birds may not drink it. Putting out extra drinkers, keeping them in the shade, and frequently furnishing fresh, cool water solves this problem.

Water deprivation can also occur in winter when the water supply freezes. To solve this problem, a number of different water-warming devices are available from farm stores and online livestock suppliers. Another solution is to bring your birds warm (not steaming hot) water at least twice a day.

Unpalatable water can cause water deprivation by discouraging drinking. The best solution is to furnish your birds only water you would drink yourself.

2. Inappropriate Ration

One of the most common errors in feeding poultry is to use a ration that is inappropriate for the flocks’ species, stage of growth, or level of production. For instance, what do ducks eat? What do chickens eat? The nutritional needs of ducks differ from those of chickens. And the needs of baby birds of any species differ from those of laying hens, which differ again from the needs of a breeder flock.

Furnishing an appropriate ration is easy if you purchase ready-mixed feed from the farm store, since most brands print essential information on the bag or on the label. If you choose to mix your own rations, you will need to thoroughly research your facts about chickens and your other poultry for the nutritional needs at each stage of their lives.

3. Old Or Stale Ration

From the moment a ration is mixed, it starts losing nutritional value through oxidation and other aging processes. Feed that sits around too long goes stale, loses nutrients, and becomes unpalatable. In a warm storage area, the process speeds up.

Ideally, any prepared feed should be used within about 4 weeks of being milled. Allowing a week or 2 for transport and storage at the farm store, buy only as much as you can use within a couple of weeks. During cold weather, you can stretch the storage time, as I often do during the months when winter storms threaten to make our rural roads impassable. Storing feed in a cool place, and in a closed container, slows the rate at which it gets stale.

If you mix your own rations, it’s good to know that a vitamin premix has a maximum shelf-life of about 6 months. Purchasing a premix in bulk is therefore not a money-saving option for a small flock. Either purchase premix in quantities small enough to feed out without 6

months, or arrange to share with like-minded poultry keepers.

4. Over Supplementation

Feeding poultry excessive amounts of supplements — such as vitamin/mineral supplements or electrolytes — can cause a serious nutritional imbalance. Some vitamins

interact synergistically with each other, or regulate the use of certain minerals. Some minerals require the presence of other minerals to be effective. On the other hand, an excess of some minerals can interfere with the absorption of other minerals, and an excess of some vitamins can interact detrimentally with minerals or may themselves be toxic.

So, instead of making backyard chickens healthier, the unnecessary use of packaged vitamin and m i n e r a l s u p p l e m e n t s o r electrolytes can have opposite to the desired effect. Do not routinely give electrolytes to healthy poultry. And never use a supplement, including electrolytes, for more than 10 days (unless advised by a veterinarian).

Electrolytes and vitamin/mineral supplements can be helpful for boosting the level of nutrition in a breeder flock just prior to hatching season, especially when the birds don’t have access to fresh forage. And supplements can help reduce stress when offered to poultry for several days before and after a show. However, do not use any supplement during a show — the

taste may cause a bird in unfamiliar surroundings to go off feed or water, increasing its stress level.

If you formulate your own rations, the best way to guard against vitamin and mineral deficiencies or excesses is to include a commercially prepared premix (such as Fertrell Nutri-Balancer). Premixes are available in both standard and organic poultry feed formulations. Since using too much is as detrimental as using too little, carefully follow the directions on the label to avoid overdosing your flock.

5. Too Many Treats

We all love to see our backyard chickens come running when we bring them treats. But overdoing treats falls under the category of “killing with kindness.”

The most commonly overdone treat is feeding too much scratch grain. Feeding a little scratch each morning to keep your backyard chickens friendly is fine. Feeding a little in the evening to encourage them to enter their coop so you can close them up for the night is fine. In cold weather, a little scratch at bedtime will help keep your birds warm on the roost overnight. But feeding a backyard flock scratch grains as their primary source of nutrients does not provide a balanced diet.

Similarly, most kitchen scraps are good for backyard poultry. The birds enjoy fresh produce, the scraps add variety to their diet, and scraps are a healthful source of nutrients. So, as with scratch, feel free to treat your birds to kitchen scraps, but only in moderation.


Empowering Farmers


3

offee farmers want the Government to allow them to trade their coffee at any stage C

of ma tu r i t y w i thou t undue restriction. Through Peasant Coffee Farmers Association of Kenya (PCFAK), the farmers want a task force set up by President Uhuru Kenyatta to repeal all restrictions in the law denying them the right to sell coffee at cherry level. In a letter to the National Task Force on Coffee Sub-Sector Reforms, the farmers say the coffee law in its current form subjects them to an unfair playing ground, compared to farmers of other crops such as maize, macadamia, bananas, beans, fruits or milk. “All scheduled crops, including coffee (should) be subjected to similar restrictions across the board. When coffee is traded by the farmer at the farm-gate level in cherry form, the farmer bears no more liabilities and costs,” said PCFAK in a letter copied to the Head of State.

According to the group, which draws membership from all coffee-growing counties, levies, by-laws and other regulations governing coffee farming in Kenya make the farmer incur a lot of costs along the supply chain. Buying cherry from the farmer will eliminate costs such as transportation, pulping and biomass management of the pulp. Also, in their submissions to the task force, PCFAK added that by allowing farmers to be paid before coffee leaves their farms, they will be well placed to negotiate for fair prices that

can cover their production costs.Through their chairman Peter Wangonya and S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l W a q a m b o Q a m b o , t h e farmers also want t h e r o l e o f m i d d l e m e n scrapped off so t h a t t h e y negotiate prices d i r e c t l y w i t h p r o s p e c t i v e buyers. Further, they want the role of the farmer who opts to take the c h e r r y t o a c o o p e r a t i v e society in Kenya to end at the parchment stage- where the coffee has been dried but unshelled.

According to the CEO and lead consultant at Capacity Building Consultants Job Kareithi, the farmers will benefit immensely if the proposals are considered. “Currently, there are a lot of unnecessary costs eating into the farmers’ income. Costs in the value addition chain are supposed to be addressed by different parties owning the coffee along the value-chain,” he said. Other proposals to the task force include allowing farmers to be represented at all levels of coffee marketing by their elected representatives and introduction of crop harvest and market

insurance by the government. Currently, coffee farmers are not allowed to sell coffee cherries.

Instead, coffee has to be harvested, peeled, dried and its husks removed before any selling can begin. In addition, under the Kenya Coffee Act 2012, no grower is allowed to “roast coffee for sale, sell to any other person or purchase coffee from any other person.” Contravening the law attracts hefty fines of between Sh50,000 and Sh1 million or imprisonment for a term of between two and 10 years or both. In his recent State of the Nation address, President Uhuru waived coffee licensing fees and levies ahead of the report from the task force. The Prof Joseph Kieyah-led task force is expected to present the report on the ailing coffee sector very soon after the lapsing of the initial March 24 deadline.

Coffee Farmers In Kenya Want Restrictions To Selling Their

Crop Removed


Empowering Farmers


Coffee farmer:Farmers want

all restrictions to selling

their coffee removed.

efore you get tempted to engage in onion farming, do your homework well and learn from the masters who are already in the B

agribusiness. However, here is information to give you a head start.

The land should be more or less flat and have access to irrigation water. The soil should be light and well-draining. It must be free of aggressive weeds like couch grass and should also be in full sun.

Have the soil tested to make informed decisions on your soil fertility management decisions. Onions need a pH of 6 to 6.8. If the pH is below 6, apply calcitic lime at the rate recommended by your soil test

results.

Prepare the land about a month before and incorporate about three tonnes of chicken manure.

Loosen the soil deeply and prepare the land to a fine tilth.

Start with a small seedbed, which can either be raised if water is not a problem or sunk to capture more water. Prepare it 4ft wide with eight rows 10 to 15cm apart. Make 1cm deep furrows along the rows.Per acre you will need about 1kg of seeds. Mix them with the same amount of sand. Fill the furrows evenly with the sand-seed mix.

KEEP WATERING

Cover with high quality fine compost and water thoroughly. Keep watering several times per day until the rows of onions have emerged. The seedlings remain in the seedbed for eight to 10 weeks and daily watering is important.

After four weeks, apply liquid fertiliser made from stinging nettle. As soon as seedlings have emerged, keep applying a layer of compost as a mulch to suppress weeds, and keep the soil moist and protected from heavy rains.

Onions are generally long-day plants, which means, they need days with more than 12 hours of daylight. Therefore,

Continued from Pg 3

A to Z of growing finest onions in the marketOnions are generally long-day plants,

which means, they need more than 12 hours of daylight.

Farmers sorting onions


Empowering Farmers


4

Continued from Pg 3

only varieties with lower day-length needs can be grown in Kenya.

Popular varieties are Jambar F1 (for size and high yield) or Red Passion F1, Bombay Red and Red Pinoy (they have a lower yield but are in high demand at the market and fetch a high price than Jambar F1).

Onions need around four months to mature. The last

three weeks before harvest, the weather should be absolutely rain-free. So plan to start your nursery according to your dry season and count back four-and-a-half months. To harvest end of December, start your seedbeds mid-August.

Transplant when your seedlings have gained the size of a pencil and show four to five leaves. Prior to transplanting, water the seedbeds heavily until they are saturated to avoid damage to the seedlings.

To help your seedlings recover quickly after transplanting, prepare a liquid fertiliser from comfrey leaves, which contain Vitamin B12. Mix it with some soil and fresh cow manure until it forms a kind of sludge.

Pull up your seedlings from the wet seedbed carefully. Dip them in the manure-comfrey mix so that the roots are covered in it. Bunch about 50 seedlings together and cut off 50 per cent of the green tops. Transport them to the field and transplant as soon as possible. You will end up with about 200,000 seedlings per acre.

Irrigate the field well the day before transplanting and plant in rows one foot apart and leave 8cm space between plants within the row. If you plant onions too closely, bulb size will reduce.

Ideally, you should fix a drip irrigation system with 4cm emitter spacing between the rows. Irrigation is needed at a rate of 3 to 5mm per day, but you need to monitor to avoid waterlogging. The field should then be covered with plastic mulching between the rows to avoid moisture losses and to suppress weeds.

If possible, overhead watering should be avoided as it

promotes fungal diseases. If no plastic mulch is used, mulching should be done with organic matter and weeds need to be removed regularly by pulling up by hand in the rows and careful hoeing between the rows. Hoeing will also break the soil's surface and help prevent moisture losses. But care should be taken not to damage the onions.

In case your onions get affected by rust, use this

homema d e remedy: Soak 1kg of pounded pawpaw leaves in a litre of water for six hours. Strain it through a cloth and add two tablespoons of liquid soap. Add five litres of water and spray every three days in the later afternoon.

FUNGAL DISEASES

Onion thrips might be a problem. The leaves will turn silverish and dry. Boil a cup of chopped rhubarb leaves in six cups of water. Leave to cool, add some liquid soap, strain and spray. But be careful, this concoction is poisonous.

If mildew or other fungal diseases become a problem, spray with copper. On soils with boron deficiency, a foliar feed with 20g boric acid per acre is necessary. Sulphur or calcium deficiencies also need to be addressed if shown by a soil test.

Usually, onions are harvested when the tops turn down and start to dry. Short day varieties, however, don't mature uniformly so they are usually lifted when 50 per cent of the tops are down and have dried.

Bunch the onions together and hang them up in an airy space for about a week until all the outer leaves are nicely dried and the bulbs can be easily be pulled from the bunches.

Cutting tops off will reduce storage qualities and promote rot. Well matured and dried onions have a shelf-life of at least six weeks and sell at Sh50 per kilo

A to Z of growing finest onions in the market

he following are the prerequisite requirements in the export of fresh fruits and vegetables:T

?*Export licence from HCDA ?*Phytosanitary and conformity certificates from KEPHIS ?*Euro 1 Certificate (For EU Market) ?*GlobalGAP Certification?*MRL limit compliance (EU) ?*For UK supermarkets, they require BRC certification?Private standards in EU, non-EU and other countries (e.g. USA, Japan, and Middle East) keep on changing with time, and therefore, individual markets may have additional private standard requirements (check with HCDA and/or your contracted export company). General product specifications to Europe(Specifications may vary within the EU countries and other European countries

French beans 1. Extra fineLength: minimum 8 cm, maximum 10 cmDiameter: minimum 4 mm, maximum 6 mmTurgidity: should be less than 5% flaccidColour: mid to dark green colourStraight pods with very slight curvaturePest and disease tolerance: 0-5% rust and 0-5% anthracnose. However, most supermarkets demand totally blemish-free

2. FineLength: minimum 10 cm, maximum 17 cmDiameter: minimum 6 mm, maximum 9 mmFlesh mostly juicy and crispPest and disease tolerance: < 5% (pest damage, pest infestation and mechanical damage). However, most supermarkets demand totally blemish-

free crunchy and moist (with < 3% dehydration visible)

3. BobbyLength: minimum 14 cm, maximum 17 cmDiameter: minimum 8 mm, maximum 10 mmMost supermarkets demand totally blemish-free

Snow peasLength: minimum 6 cm, maximum 11 cmWidth: minimum 1 cm, maximum 2.5 cmMost supermarkets demand totally blemish-free MangoPack range size 8-16 pieces with a maximum of 4 kg per boxFree from latex contamination, no physical insect pest and disease infestation, free from bruises and other mechanical damages. The fruits should be shiny and freshly looking with 5 mm of stalk attached to control pathogen infestation through that point.The fruits are given sizes according to the number of the fruits per carton e.g. 8, 9 10, etc.

Export Requirements for Fruits and Vegetables in Kenya

Continued on Pg 5

Popular varieties are Jambar F1 (for size and high yield) or Red Passion F1, Bombay Red and Red Pinoy (they have a lower

yield but are in high demand at the market and fetch a high price

than Jambar F1).


Empowering Farmers


5

f the estimated 300,000 banana farmers in Kenya, Paul Njiru from Embu stands out for Ousing technology to boost his harvest and

earnings.

Mr Njiru, a pastor aged 33, imports different varieties of tissue culture (TC) bananas from Israel laboratories, where viral indexing (a method of detecting viruses on TC plantlets) is done.

He orders between 20,000 and 40,000 seedlings twice or thrice in six months to meet the high demand from fellow farmers who buy from him in his Ideche village, eight kilometres from Embu town. Each imported seedling costs between Sh60 and Sh90, including the cost of transport.

The seedlings can also be bought locally on order from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) station in Thika or from Aberdare Technologies.

On a four-acre piece of land, Mr Njiru has 1,250 stems of different varieties of tissue culture bananas and more than 24,000 tissue culture banana plantlets in a seedbed nursery ready for sale. The netted nursery, occupying one-and-a-half acres, has a holding capacity of 50,000 plantlets.

“We breed our seedlings under controlled humidity and an overhead net helps in preventing pests and insects from harming the plantlets. We are expecting another 26,000 seedlings in the course of the month from Israel for breeding,” he said when the Business Daily visited his farm.

The process involves taking the seedlings to a centralised location, seeking fresh soil and using a simple steaming technology to kill all the bacteria in the soil before mixing it with manure and

recommended pesticide.

The soil is then compacted in black polythene bags where the seedlings are planted and placed under a netted structure for hardening and protection from adverse weather conditions for two months until they can be transplanted to the farm.

Continued Pg 6

The main purpose is to produce healthy plantlets free of viral diseases, hence resulting to higher yields for farmers.

“I opted for tissue culture bananas instead of the traditional variety due to their high and practical benefits in terms of yields, disease resistance, and their ability to survive any kind of varying climatic conditions,” said Mr Njiru, who started the business when a friend studying in Israel at Hebrew University of Jerusalem gave him contacts of suppliers.

Before going into TC bananas in 2011, he had attended a number of exhibitions in Nairobi on how best to manage the plants to peel great benefits.

He learnt that, unlike the conventional bananas, TC bananas have a shorter maturity period, their seedlings are available in bulk as per demand, and attract higher market prices due to their quality and weight.

“Traditional bananas attain maturity from between 15 to 24 months after planting. TC bananas mature at 12 months. Their seedlings are largely available as they can be grown in nurseries to await planting. With the traditional ones, on the other hand, one has to acquire an emergent sucker from an already growing one, which is highly prone to diseases as infections can spread during the transfer to different soil.

“They are heavier at maturity. A farmer can get 40 to 160 kilogrammes per bunch of bananas after harvest,” said Mr Njiru.

A kilo of a tissue culture banana variety, which is categorised into two, fetches between Sh15 to Sh30, depending on the care. The cooking varieties include Ng’ombe, Nusu Ng’ombe and Uganda green while the ripening varieties comprise of Grandnaine, Williams, Gal, Jaff, Fhia 17, Fhia 18, Fhia 25.,

Courtesy: Business Daily------------------------------------------------------------------

Banana cultivation is done through clonal propagation; by using healthy suckers of about 1.5 m high and 45 cm girth and spaced at 3 by 3 m. For Bananas to give maximum yield, several factors are considered important. They include:

Soil type: Bananas grow in diverse types of soils, but ideally require a deep, well-drained loam soil with high humus content, which allows good root growth.

Nutrient Intake: Bananas take a considerable amount of nutrients, especially potassium; those removed in harvested fruits, which must be replaced if continuous production of the plantation has to be maintained.

Soil ManagementSeveral steps can be taken to replenish or increase soil nutrients; they include:

Conditions For G r o w i n g Bananas

Grading can be done either manually or by use of machine. Have a high pitch when tapped AvocadoPack size 10-18 pieces with a maximum of 4 kg per box. Fruits should be uniform in size, at most 5 mm stalk attached to the fruit, wax polish to prevent desiccation and dehydration. This can either be done manually or by machine. Grading can also be done the same way

Passion fruitsPack size 48 pieces in a 2 kg box. Fruits uniformly sized no physical bruises on the skin of the fruits. There should be no disease or pest infestation on the fruits. Uniformly yellow in colour, fine, crisp, free from dehydration with a high pitch when tappedRound blossom endLength of 450-75 mm and diameter of 200-350 mm

Lemon grassDark green, turgid and tender stems with uniform appearanceNo pest damagesSize should be 200-300 mm in length with a 15 mm stack attachedThey should be free from any discolouration and any coarseness and of a smooth textureGenerally clean and well maintained stems are packaged in crates with no soil contamination on it. Red onion

Export Requirements for Fruits and Vegetables in Kenya

Continued from Pg 3

Banana Farmer Reaps Benefits Of Tissue Culture

Paul Njiru at his banana farm in Izeche village, Embu


Empowering Farmers


6

Continued Pg 5

1.) Mulching of banana fields is a traditional agronomic practice favored for its suppression of weeds, conservation of moisture and maintenance of soil fertility. This can be done through the following ways: Spreading pruned banana leaves and plant parts remaining after harvest on the plantation floor. This can also be supplemented with materials from crop fields, fallow fields, swamps and livestock manure. Household wastes are distributed near the homestead resulting in a soil fertility gradient that causes higher yields near the homestead and lower yields as the distance from the house increases.

2.) Soil fertility embraces the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil and is associated with the management practices within a cropping system. Soil nutrient levels in banana fields are generally higher than in other parts of the farm, probably due to several factors:

more fertile fields are selected for banana production initially

rates of nutrient loss from banana fields may be less nutrients are transferred from other parts of the farm to banana fields, especially in form of mulch.

However, recycling of residues alone will not provide sufficient mulch for both moisture conservation and nutrient replenishment. Nutrient amount removed in fruit are more than those immobilized in other above ground parts. Consequently about 86% of banana farmers in the Lake Victoria basin supplement the banana residues with one or more additional inputs. It can be observed that farmers adding field crop residues and cattle manure obtains more fruit fields and often represent 55% increase in banana residues alone.

Conditions For Growing Bananas

3.) Intercropping of bananas with other crops is also a n international agreement to combat illegal fishing which a growing number of countries are ratifying was discussed in a recent meeting A

between FAO Director-General and Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett.

“We need to combat illegal fishing and ensure that, by ratifying the agreement, Kenya becomes part of the global movement against this burden,” Bett said in remarks after the encounter.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is estimated to strip between $10 billion and $23 billion from the global economy, and their impacts undermine the way fish stocks are managed to make it a double concern around the world.

To help tackle the problem, FAO brokered the adoption in 2009 by its Member countries of the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.

Bringing youth back to agriculture

The FAO chief also applauded the Government’s adoption of the National Food and Nutrition Security Policy (NFNSP), and encouraged the Government to move forward for an implementation framework to ensure coordination, particularly between agricultural development and health, nutrition and social aspects.

Bett said FAO is a “major partner for Kenya”, which has helped the country combating animal diseases, developing policies and regulating frameworks, and rising its agricultural productivity.

“Agriculture is the most important sector, which the government is using to rise the livelihoods of people,” he added noting that 80% of the country’s population still lives in rural areas.

“We realized that the average age of people in agriculture is 62 years old, so we are bringing in the youth to agriculture, because we want to make agriculture sustainable. We need to improve the practices through mechanization and employment of technology, and making it “cool” so that young people want to come”.

Bett added that Kenya is also doing an effort to developing more aquaculture and encouraging our population to develop more farmed fishing.

He explained how the country is innovating by harvesting seaweed, “a new export opportunity for Kenya, as we are harvesting it and exporting it to the world,” he said.

Combating Illegal Fishing And Bringing Youth Back To Agriculture

A kilo of a tissue culture banana variety, which is

categorised into two, fetches between Sh15 to Sh30,

depending on the care. The cooking varieties include

Ng’ombe, Nusu Ng’ombe and Uganda

green while the ripening varieties comprise

of Grandnaine, Williams, Gal, Jaff, Fhia 17,

Fhia 18, Fhia 25.,


Empowering Farmers


7

weet potato has been described in many communities especially those in dry areas as the ‘king of crops’ because of its ever S

increasing demand. The most favourite drought resistant, hardy crops grow mostly in marginal areas, thus contributing to improved food security and additional income to farmers.

The young leaves and vines are usually consumed as vegetables or fed to livestock.

The orange-fleshed sweet potato variety has high beta-carotene content, which boosts the immune system. Unfortunately, during bumper harvests; farmers often sell sweet potatoes at throwaway prices. Losses after harvesting are high because the tubers are delicate and highly perishable. In some communities in Eastern Africa, sweet potatoes are preserved for the dry season by sun-drying to make dried sweet potato chips. The dried chips are boiled and mashed with beans, milled or pounded to make flour, which can be mixed with either millet or cassava flours to make stiff porridge.

Some facts about dried sweet potato chips and flour

• Any sweet potato variety can be dried to make chips, which can then be milled into flour.• Dried sweet potato chips can be stored for up to six months when packaged in airtight, strong, black plastic bags.• Sweet potato flour can be used to make doughnuts and pancakes.• Flour made from the chips can also be used to make high value flours by mixing with millet, maize or soybean flour. These mixed flours are used to make

Adding Value to Sweet Potatoes

porridge and baby foods, which are easily digestible.

• Some bakeries are already using new flour mixes to make bread and cakes.

• The poultry feed industry is showing interest in using orange-fleshed chips in their feeds to improve yolk colour and vitamin A content of eggs.

Requirements for making sweet potato chips and flour

• Mature sweet potato roots on average, 4kg of fresh sweet potato roots which will give about 1 kg of dried sweet potato chips.• A clean area, ideally a room with raised working surfaces, such as tables – not on the ground.• Large plastic containers, preferably 10 to 20 litre buckets with lids.• Supply of clean water.• A manual or motorized sweet potato chipper for

chipping or slicing.

• Raised open platform for air drying, or ideally a solar dryer, placed in a clean area in full sun.

• Use any sweet potato variety.• The tubers should be undamaged and mature – three to four months for the early maturing varieties and five to six months for the late maturing varieties.

• Wash the sweet potatoes in clean water in large buckets, c h a n g i n g w a t e r a s frequently as required.• Alternatively, you can wash the roots in a sweet potato d r u m w a s h e r w h e n processing large quantities to speed up the process.• Do not peel the roots because the peel is rich in nutrients.

• After washing, drain by placing the sweet potatoes on a raised, perforated rack.

• Chip the washed sweet potatoes to uniform size (3-6 mm thick).• You can slice them manually with a sharp knife or use a manual or motorized chipper to speed-up the process.

• Sweet potato chips should be evenly spread on a raised platform, preferably on a clean, black plastic sheet, to sundry under maximum sunshine for about six to eight hours – it is best to do this during the hot, dry season.• To ensure high quality chips, solar dryers can be used. A modified solar dryer, called a hybrid solar dryer, which has an additional energy source, such as charcoal, and can be used to dry the chips. Information on availability of fabricators of chippers and solar dryers can be obtained from your local extension officer or national agricultural research station.• Chips should be dried until they are brittle.

• If drying in the open, cover chips with netting to keep off insects and birds.• Pack chips or continue processing to flour.

• Mill dried chips to flour using the ordinary posho mill.

• Pack dried chips or flour in strong (thick gauge) black polyethylene bags. Flour can be packaged in 2kg packs for distribution to shops and other retail outlets.• Label product to state source, date of manufacture and expiry date (after six months).• Place bags of dried chips or flour in cardboard cartons to protect them from light.

• Store in a cool, dry place off the ground, preferably on pallets or raised surfaces.• Flour can be stored for six months.

How to make sweet potato chips and flourStep 1: Choosing the roots

Step 2: Washing

Step 3: Draining

Step 4: Chipping or slicing

Step 5: Drying

Step 6: Milling

Step 7: Packaging and labelling

Step 8: Storing


Empowering Farmers


ahiwal is a breed of Zebu cattle, which is loved for its ability to give high quality milk with high butter fat content. It is fairly resistant to tick S

borne diseses and thrives in arid and semi-arid areas where pure exotic breeds find it difficult to cope.

Among small scale farmers, the breed is used for milk production, while in ranches, it is used primarily for commercial meat production. The biggest advantage of the Sahiwal is its higher milk production compared to the Boran; its weaners are healthier and heavier (60 – 75 kg). The Sahiwal originated from Sahiwal district of Pakistan, and reared in the Punjab region of India. Sahiwal is known for its easy calving, rapid weight gain, heat and drought tolerance, capacity to cope with bloat, hybrid vigour and longevity (they can reproduce up to 20 years). Sahiwal beef is noted for its even fat cover and leanness. The breed was introduced in Kenya in the 1930s and 1940s and has been bred in the marginal areas for both beef and milk.

Physical characteristicsSahiwal’s colour ranges from reddish brown to red, with varying amounts of white on the neck, and the underline. In males, the colour darkens towards the head, neck, legs, and tail. The tail ends with a black switch. The breed is also known for drooping ears. The hump is massive, but in the female it is nominal. At the KARI multiplication centres (Naivasha and Perkerra), adult females weigh 460 kg and males weigh 680kgs, though higher values for males have been documented.According to research conducted by KARI, the breed is a good milk producer – compared to other local breeds and is capable of an average of producing about 8-10kgs per day, with a fat content of 4.5 %, within an average lactation period of 10 months. Sahiwal has larger teats compared to other Zebu breeds, making

Sahiwal: Easy To Handle Dual-purpose Breedmilking easier. They produce small calves (average weight of 27kg) without difficulty or requiring assistance. Sahiwal is also relatively resistant to tick-borne diseases, though not as much as Boran. These characteristics make the Sahiwal attractive to the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya.Kenya has made great contribution to the improvement, conservation and distribution of the Sahiwal genetic pool. This takes place at the Kenya Agriculture Research Institute’s National Animal Husbandry Research Centre. Due to its excellent performance, KALRO Naivasha established the National Sahiwal Stud (breeding farm).The farm has two main objectives (i) to produce pure-bred Sahiwal cattle for use in the arid and semi-arid areas, and (ii) cross breeding of Sahiwals with exotic breeds such as Friesians to produce a breed that is suitable for milk production in both high and low rainfall areas.The success of the breeding program has also seen the Sahiwal exported to South Africa where it is being reared both as a pure breed and used for cross breeding with Brahman, Simmental and the indigenous Nguni. In Kenya, Sahiwal has more advantages over other Zebu breeds in the market. It's used for dual-purpose production in middle to lower-potential areas. In fact, the animal is so popular among the Maasai. Its color is referred to as rangi ya pesa (the colour of money).

Cross breedingKenya has enormous genetic resources of Sahiwal cattle that is used as source of breeding stock and semen for the country and Africa.Sahiwal is an excellent grazer, able to use pastures in arid and semi-arid areas, making it a good alternative choice for farmers who are not interested in zero

grazing or want to have both milk and beef. Cross-breeding with Fresian, Jersey or Ayshire increases the milk production potential of its heifer. A Sahiwal-Friesian cow gives higher milk yields compared to a purebred Sahiwal, yet it does not eat as much as the Friesian breed. The breed is also resistant to most of the common cattle diseases compared to the Fresian. According to research conducted by KALRO, the Fresian-Sahiwal cross gives average milk yields of 15-18kgs per day. Calves grow faster and so heifers can be served early.

FeedingSahiwal thrives on natural pastures - including Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum), star grass (Cynodon plectostachyum) as well as raised fodder grasses like Boma Rhodes (Chloris gayana), Foxtail grass (Cenchrus Ciliaris) and Fodder Sorghum, among others. It is advised that the cows are grazed rotationally in paddocks to give grasses time to re-grow.

Water and mineral licks should be provided as the farmer desires. Sahiwal cows kept for milk production can be supplemented with a protein legume and concentrate for more milk production.

Health managementTicks pose a major risk to cows in pasture areas. Dip or spray animals with acaricide once a week to prevent tick bone diseases. To prevent internal parasites, deworm animals regularly every three months and as is necessary depending on the helminth feacal egg count.In addition, routine vaccinations against diseases like Foot and Mouth, Anthrax, Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), and other epizoonotic diseases should be done. East Coast Fever (ECF) vaccine is now available and given once in the animal’s lifetime for Foot and mouth disease. Anthrax vaccinations were given twice a year.

8


Empowering Farmers


n East Africa, damage from fruit flies has been reported to range between 40 - 80 % since the invasion by one of the most destructive mango I

pests – Bactrocera dorsalis. This fruit fly species is the dominant pest in lowland areas such as Keiyo South in Elgeyo Marakwet.

The pest is also known to attack over 40 unrelated fruits which include oranges, tomatoes, bananas, guava, custard apple and avocadoes.

Other fruit fly species of economic importance are the Ceratitis Cosyra, C. rosa, Ceratitis anonae, C. and C. fasciverantris - these pests also attack other cultivated and wild fruits. The female fruit fly lays its eggs under the skin of the mango fruit. The eggs hatch into whitish maggots that feed on the decaying fruit, which cause rotting and great damage to the fruits, resulting in great losses to farmers. Farmers can control fruit flies through the following Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods:

The food bait attracts the fruit flies from a distance to the spot of application where the flies feed on the food bait which contains a “soft” pesticide. They die when they eat the bait, killing them before they infest the fruits. The bait is applied to a localized 1 m² spot on the fruit tree canopy using CP 15 knapsack sprayer when the mango fruits are about golf ball size (about 4cm in diameter). This application should be continued until fruit harvesting is completed.Fruitfly trap, with bait inside the trap

Commercial baits in the market include NuLure®,

Food baits:

9

Buminal, GF-120®, Solbait, Biolure®, Torula yeast®, Hymlure® - these can be mixed with biopesticides such as spinosad and applied as explained above. GF120® is already mixed with spinosad.

Traps baited with such food baits capture both females and males of several species of fruit flies. Apart from Biolure, which is replaced every four weeks, all the other food attractants are renewed every 7 days. However, because these baits are expensive and not readily available, ICIPE is in collaboration with a private partner in Kenya to fast-track the production of local bait (Dudulure®) as an alternative source that is equally effective and can replace the more expensive products in the markets. This food bait will be made easily accessible to all farmers at much lower and reasonable prizes for the local farmers.

Research at ICIPE has identified a potent fungal isolate (Metarhizium anisopliae) that is effective against adult or the pupa and larval stages of major fruit fly species that are of native and of exotic origin. During the developmental cycle of fruit fly, the mature larvae leave the fruit and drop to the ground where they burrow into the soil and form resting stage called puparia. An important part of fruit fly suppression includes soil treatment with these fungal pathogen to kill the maggots and puparia in the soil. The fungus is formulated into granules, which can be dispersed by hand and then raked into the soil while oil-based formulation is applied using a knapsack sprayer. Both formulations are effective and only one application is required on the ground below the mango

canopy. Application is usually done at the onset of fruiting and can persist in the soil for over a year.

Orchard sanitation: Orchard sanitation involves the collection and destruction of all fruit fly infested mangoes found on the trees and fallen ones on the ground to significantly reduce fruit fly populations in

Soil inoculation:

Controlling Destructive Mango Fruit Flies the orchard. This should be done at least twice a week for the entire mango fruiting season. In this regard, the collected fruits should be destroyed or composted by dumping them in an Augmentorium rather than burning or burying deep in the soil or putting them into plastic bags to kill the fruit fly maggots.

The Augmentorium is a tent-like screen structure that is designed to retain fruit flies (while allowing their parasitoids to leave or enter the structure).

Augmentoria can be easily constructed by farmers. It serves the double purpose of field sanitation and conservation of natural enemies of fruit flies. The tent is designed in such a way that it is able to confine all the fruit flies that emerge from the fallen rotten fruits that are collected from the field and deposited in the structure, while at the same time conserving their natural enemies by allowing the parasitoids to escape from the tent through a fine mesh at the top of the tent.

is the use of beneficial insects like parasitoids whose immature life stages develop within the fruit fly host (pest), ultimately killing the fruit fly before they emerge. They are also referred to as “farmers’ friends” and help to reduce the damage caused by fruit flies. One of the most outstanding successes against fruit flies is attributed to the use of the egg parasitoid, Fopius arisanus against Bactrocera dorsalis. It attacks the eggs of the fruit fly in the fruits and develops through the larval stages of the fruit fly and emerges as an adult parasitoid in the pupa of the fruit flies. This parasitoid is presently being released for free in major mango growing zones in Kenya and Africa at large.

Another important parasitoid that is being released alongside with F. arisanus in Kenya and other African countries is a solitary larval-pupal parasitoid called Diachasmimorpha longicaudata. Both parasitoids are now

established in most areas of Kenya or other countries where they have been introduced.

(MAT): This involves the use fruit fly traps particularly Lynfield traps consisting of a male attractant (methyl eugeno l ) combined wi th an insecticide, which are distributed at regular intervals over a wide area in the mango orchard to reduce the male fruit fly populations to low levels that mating does not occur or reduced to low levels. MAT is currently being promoted by ICIPE as a component of the IPM Strategy for fruit flies. Male attractants such as methyl eugenol, cuelure, vertlure and terpinyl acetate

can be used with appropriate toxicant such as Mimbecidine® spinosad and deployed in the orchards. The traps should be serviced after every 6 – 8 weeks.Fruit protection: Fruit protection involves wrapping, bagging or sleeving of individual fruits or bunches of fruits with plastic or paper bags to prevent adult fruit flies from laying eggs on the fruits. The fruits must

be wrapped well before fruit fly attack at least one month before harvest. The method is effective especially if used to protect fruits meant for export or home use.

Biological control

Male annihilation technique

Commercial baits in the market include NuLure®, Buminal, GF-120®, Solbait, Biolure®, Torula yeast®, Hymlure® -

these can be mixed with biopesticides such as spinosad and applied as explained above. Gf120® is already mixed with spinosad.

10

production may require the use of irrigation.

SoilFertile loam soil with high organic matter content and a pH of 5.5-6.8 is needed to grow good chillies. The quality of pepper is greatly affected by soil fertility and nutrient levels in the soil. Chillies do not do well in clay soils. They grow well in soils well-drained to a depth of 600mm. The soil must permit adequate root growth to support the plant and supply water oxygen and mineral nutrients

Nursery establishmentChillies are propagated using seeds. They should be planted in nurseries in plastic cups or by make raised beds 1m wide, 15cm high and of required length (several 3-5m long beds are more ideal than one long bed). Cover the seed bed with a plastic sheet for about three weeks to control soil-borne

diseases and even weeds (this process is called solarisation). After sowing chillies in the seedbeds, transplanting can be done 30-40 days after planting when 8-10 true leaves appear.Hardening of seedlings before transplanting is done by removing shade (do not irrigate 3-4 days after transplanting). Chillies can be intercropped with other perennial crops such as garlic and onions. Plough and harrow the field to a fine soil texture then dig holes spaced at 60x60cm for planting your chillies. It is important to apply compost in the holes before transplanting or spread


Empowering Farmers


Grow chillies to diversify your sources of incomehillies (Capsicum frutescens L.), hot pepper or pilipilikali, belongs to the family Solanaceae. They Care grown mostly for their fresh fruits used to flavour

soups and stews and for seasoning and making sauces.

Chillies are rich in vitamin C (100-500mg ascorbic acid/g of fresh fruit).

Climatic requirementsIn Kenya, the major areas of production are in altitudes below 2000m such as Machakos, Makueni, Meru, Murang’a, Kiambu and Kisumu counties. Most cultivars are adapted to temperatures of 20-30°C. Temperatures above 30°C or below 18°C may affect the production of pollen which is important for the pollination of the crop. Adequate rainfall levels of 600 - 1200mm per year are required for successful production of chillies. Commercial

10-20 tons/ha and mix it with the soil. Make sure the soil is moist when planting.It is highly recommended to establish chilli seedlings on wet soil. Always make sure that the holes on the ridges where the seedlings are about to be transplanted are exactly the same size as the seedlings plugs.

FertilizationCorrect application of fertilizers determines the success of any chilli crop. Chilli require soils with a pH of 5.6 – 6.8, phosphorus 30-60mg/kg, potassium 100 - 250mg/kg, calcium 300-2000mg/ kg, magnesium 120-300mg/kg and nitrogen 10-50mg/kg.

IrrigationWater supply should be adequate at all times - but excess water can damage the crop. It is important to apply just enough water to ensure optimum growth.

Varieties in KenyaThey include• Long red cayenne• Cayenne long slim• Anaheim• Jalapeno• Fresno (bullet chillies)• Bird eye chilli

roductivity of fishponds can be increased by providing the fish with supplementary food. PManufactured fish feeds available in East Africa

are found in one or more of the following forms: Meal, crumble, dry sinking pellets, moist sinking pellets, and floating pellets.

Feed processing usually includes a number of steps, including grinding, mixing, binding together, fat coating, drying/cooling, crumbling, and bagging. In the East African region, most on-farm feed preparations are made in small quantities, using improvised machinery that is operated either manually or mechanically, with outputs of not more than five 90-kg bags daily. Feed ingredients can be ground manually. The ingredients are then mixed in a hand-operated mixer. After preparation, feeds can be made into pellets using a pelleting machine.

How to feed the fish

Some recipes for feedCottonseed cake - 37%, Wheat bran - 57%, Freshwater shrimp (Caradina spp.) - 6%, include a Vitamin premix. This is one of the different diet formulations that have been tested at Sagana Aquaculture Centre.

Some farmers are successfully using feeds they have mixed for themselves. Examples of mixes that are

easily prepared and economical to use include:

• Mixture of 76% rice bran and 24% fish meal• Mixture of dried freshwater shrimp (Caradina spp.) and maize bran, some-times with some omena meal added.

To begin with, throw out small amounts of feed at a specific time of the day and observe the response. After the fish have accepted the prepared feed and learned when and where they will receive it from, they should become very enthusiastic feeders. Normally fish take

Fish grow well with proper feeding

Continued on Pg 11

Some recipes for feed Cottonseed cake - 37%, Wheat bran - 57%,

Freshwater shrimp (Caradina spp.) - 6%, include a Vitamin premix.


Empowering Farmers


11

about 15 minutes to consume the food.You should be prepared to reduce the amount of feed per day when one or more of the following occur:• Fish are clearly not consuming their normal amounts of feed• Water temperatures are noticeably higher than normal for the time of year• Dissolved oxygen levels are low

All of the above may occur simultaneously when you are nearing the end of a production cycle, especially if the planned harvest time is during the hot months.

When to feed your fishKeep the following points in mind when feeding your fish each day:• Tilapias have small stomachs and often browse all day long.• The best time to provide supplementary feed is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the water temperature and dissolved oxygen are reasonably high.• It is advisable to feed from the same position and time each day for each pond. The fish soon learn when and where they can expect a good meal.• The feeder must be a reliable and dedicated person.

Some of the ways fish feed can be offered to fish include:• Broadcast the feed into the water as you walk along the pond bank.• Place the feed on a feeding platform or table under the water.• Use a demand feeder, which releases fish food when the fish bump a lever.• Use an automatic feeder, which releases or broadcasts feed at predetermined times.• Neither the demand feeder nor the automatic feeder requires that an attendant be present at feeding time, but both need to be refilled regularly and periodically checked to be sure they are operating properly.

One benefit of feeding by hand is that the farmer has the opportunity to observe how well the fish are feeding, as

Feeding by hand has benefits

well as how fast they are growing. Healthy fish usually eat enthusiastically, and any deviation from enthu-siastic eating suggests that a problem may be developing.

The following are some reasons why fish such as the Nile tilapia may not feed as well as expected.

• The water is too cold.• The dissolved oxygen level is too low• The fish may have died.• The fish are ill.• The feed is very heavy and sinks so fast you do not see the fish eating it.

It is important to estimate how many fish fingerlings you have in your pond to properly calculate how much feed to give them. When you prepare the pond for stocking, keep a record on how many fish were stocked, and make frequent observations of the pond to know whether or not some fish have died.• For better feeding efficiency, weigh a representative sample of your fish every second week, using their actual weight to determine the amount to feed rather than an assumed weight.

How much feed do the fish need?

Fish grow well with proper feeding

Continued from Pg 10

he 48 countries that make up sub-Saharan Africa have increasingly acute food needs as climate change turns the region’s T

growing seasons more arid. The drought now devastating southern and East Africa, which threatens 50 million people with famine, is just the start, climate forecasters say. The World Bank projects that, given present trends, about 40 percent of the land used to grow corn in sub-Saharan Africa will no longer be suitable for current varieties by 2030.

Monsanto says it has part of the solution. On small plots of land in Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda, the company—in collaboration with, among others, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—is testing corn varieties that hold up better against dry weather and insects. Monsanto’s Water Efficient Maize for Africa project is as much about doing well as it is about doing good. “The long-term growth has to be looked at as a business opportunity,” says project director Mark Edge, whose work involves hybrid seeds rather than the genetically modified varieties Monsanto produces, which are controversial on the continent. “The short-term challenge is creating the market and understanding what investments can do that,” he says.

China has been driving global food trends for almost two decades, and Indian diets are beginning to move world markets. But the biggest long-term payoff for agribusiness may be in Africa. Its population is set to more than double by 2050, to 2.5 billion, according to United Nations projections.

Monsanto rival DuPont, which is bigger in Africa, has its own Advanced Maize Seed Adoption Program to shift farmers toward hardier seed varieties. Cargill, the world’s biggest grain trader, last year expanded an animal-feed facility in South Africa. Olam International, among the world’s largest food traders, is boosting its investments in branded foods, including Tasty Tom tomato paste and Pearl biscuits. Agco, the world’s third-biggest maker of farm machinery after Deere, is developing small, solar-powered cooling facilities—a huge need in Africa.

$700mA m o u n t H o w a r d B u f f e t t pledged to c o m b a t g l o b a l hunger

T h e r a w ingredients f o r a n agr icul ture boom are in place. Africa h a s t h e world’s most u n u s e d f a r m l a n d . Crop yields badly trail those in the d e v e l o p e d w o r l d b u t c o u l d b e

improved quickly with better seeds and fertilizers. “We see clear potential for Africa to feed its vibrantly growing population,” says Tim Bodin, an economist for Cargill.

Generations of subsistence farming have left soil depleted of nutrients. Howard Buffett, son of Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett, has called for a “brown revolution” to restore soil health in Africa as part of the more than $700 million he’s pledged to combat global hunger over the next decade. The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda top the list of countries where his eponymous foundation is working to improve farming practices and link growers to markets.

The region also suffers an infrastructure deficit—whether it’s storage silos, properly maintained roads, or shipping terminals. Says Monsanto’s Edge: “You wouldn’t believe how difficult it is to transport 2 tons of grain 20 miles in Kenya,” one of East Africa’s more developed countries. Across the continent, the amount of grain that spoils after harvest would feed 48 million people a year.

Government rules are another obstacle to development. With global food prices at their lowest since 2009, drought-stricken African countries could ramp up imports. But in countries such as Zimbabwe, which said in February that it wouldn’t accept GMO corn for food relief, regulations designed to insulate local farmers from global competition make shipments from abroad more expensive, says Maximo Torero, markets and trade director at the International Food Policy and Research Institute in Washington.

The hurdles threaten to overwhelm investment, which is why global agriculture companies say they can’t fund Africa’s farm boom on their own. “You need each piece of the puzzle to fit correctly,” Edge says. “It’s not only going to come from agricultural companies, though we are a piece of that puzzle.”

Companies weighing whether to invest in Africa may be tempted to wait until higher prices justify it, rather than plowing money in now, when lower commodity prices make riskier investments less attractive. The patience of early investors will be rewarded, says Paul Schickler, president of DuPont Pioneer, the company’s seed division. Agribusiness’s biggest contribution is to blend global resources with regional needs, so the problem of climate change can be managed on the ground by the farmers affected by it. “You won’t be able to import enough food to feed Africa sustainably,” Schickler says. “We can help develop local solutions.”

Sowing the Seeds of a Farm Boom in Africa


Empowering Farmers


12

he Government of Kenya has launched the Kenya National Agricultural Insurance Program, which is designed to address the T

challenges that agricultural producers face when there are large production shocks, such as droughts and floods.

The program, which is designed as a partnership between the government and the private sector, was

developed with assistance from the World Bank Group and builds on the experience of similar programs in Mexico, India, and China. One program line will focus on livestock insurance, while another will focus on maize and wheat insurance.

“The large majority of the poor in Kenya are farmers, so this program has the potential to have a significant impact on Kenya’s economic development. This program aims at improving farmers’ financial resilience to these shocks and will enable them to adopt improved production processes to help break the poverty cycle of low investment and low returns,” says Diarietou Gaye, World Bank Country Director for Kenya.

For livestock, drought represents the single greatest cause of livestock mortality in the Northern Arid and Semi-Arid Lands. Through the new Kenya Livestock Insurance Program (KLIP), the government will purchase drought insurance from private insurance companies on behalf of vulnerable pastoralists. Satellite data is used to estimate the availability of pasture on the ground and triggers payouts to pastoralists when availability falls. KLIP was introduced in October 2015 for 5,000 pastoralists in Turkana and Wajir and is envisaged to be scaled across the region by 2017.

For maize and wheat, production shocks such as droughts and diseases pose similar challenges to

alawi's President Peter Mutharika has declared a state of national disaster over food shortages caused by erratic climate conditions that have M

affected large areas of sub-Saharan Africa.

"I declare Malawi in a state of national disaster following prolonged dry spells during the 2015, 2016 agriculture season," President Mutharika said in a statement on Wednesday (13.04.2016). After Zimbabwe, Malawi is the second southern African country to declare a state of national disaster, while South Africa said it was facing the worst drought in 100 years.

"The situation is quite dire and we believe the worst is still

to come. It will take a long time before the situations improves," said David Orr, southern Africa spokesman for the United Nation's World Food Program (WFP).

In February, WFP had warned that Malawi could face the worst food crisis in decades. At the time, the price of maize, the main staple food, was already 60 percent above the country's three year average. The organization is currently providing humanitarian assistance to almost three million people in Malawi, a country with a population of just over 16 million. It noted that 23 of Malawi's 28 districts were badly affected by the dry spell, which comes after low harvests and heavy flooding that devastated the country last year.

Kenyan Farmers to Benefit from Innovative Insurance Program

producers. These risks also diminish banks’ appetites to lend to farmers to improve their farming technology and productivity. The Kenya Agricultural Insurance and Risk Management Program, introduced today, addresses these challenges through an “area yield” approach: Farming areas are divided up into insurance units – if average production in

one of the units falls below a threshold, all insured farmers in the unit receive a payout. The program is starting up in Bungoma, Embu, and Nakuru this month and plans to reach 33 counties by 2020.

”This partnership between government and the private sector for the benefit of vulnerable farmers builds on international good practice and is innovative,” says Olivier Mahul, Program Manager of the Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance Program at the World Bank. “The program introduces a state-of-the-art method of collecting crop yield data, using statistical sampling methods, GPS-tracking devices, and mobile phones. This offers the promise of greater accuracy and transparency. This program could pave the way for other large scale agricultural insurance programs in Africa.”

This program will also help the Government of Kenya reduce the financial burden of natural disasters. From 2005 to 2011, the government estimates that it spent on average more than Kshs 7 billion per year on disaster relief. By enabling better financial protection for the most vulnerable, the government hopes to reduce its need to provide financial support following natural disasters.

The technical assistance provided by the World

Govt Declares National Disaster Over Food Crisis


Empowering Farmers


13

Farm Technology Helps Clean Up Nairobi's Drinking Water

amuel Kinuthia knows how to make the most of technology. Using a technique called basin terracing, he has boosted his income at his farm in Murang'a county, and helped provide S

Kenyans as far away as Nairobi with better access to clean drinking water.

Kinuthia and a group of 300 farmers in Kiaruta village are turning hilly land into more productive farmland through basin terracing. It also reduces soil erosion, which can choke central Kenya's rivers and pollute drinking water.On a sunny morning, Kinuthia and two employees are preparing a fresh strip of land to sow crops on his three-acre farm.

First they dig across a hilly patch to make it into a flat terrace. They then dig square holes to form basins on the strip, where Kinuthia will plant vegetables."I used to plant maize and beans but I could not harvest much," he said. "With basin terracing, I can plant fresh produce like tomatoes, kale and onions. Both the harvest and the resulting income improve because there is a ready market."

Fred Kihara, water fund manager in Kenya for The Nature

Conservancy (TNC), an international environmental organisation, explained that the technology reduces the amount of soil being eroded away into rivers.It also increases the amount of water that is being retained in the soil," he added.

A 2015 study by TNC says the Upper Tana basin - which provides water to an estimated 9 million Kenyans - is a watershed under pressure.

About 65 percent of the farmers questioned by the group said the productivity of their land had declined even though they use more fertilisers than five years ago. Overall, 80 percent reported a decrease in rainfall in recent years.

From Kinuthia's farm in the Upper Tana basin, the view is of stretches of hilly terrain that have been stripped bare of trees. The red soil is easily blown away or eroded.

Farming on hilly land has increased the amount of soil ending up in rivers that feed the country's largest water reservoir, the Ndakaini dam, in central Kenya.In Nairobi alone, 85 percent of water - or 70 million cubic metres - is supplied by the dam, around 80 kilometres away, according to officials

PROTECTING SOURCE WATER

Planting Banana Trees Helpes Preserve Soil Fertility and sieve In Kenya's Tana River Basin

from the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company. More sediment turns the water cloudy, they say.

Soil runoff can include manure and fertiliser used on farms, which may pollute drinking water and make people sick, said Philip Muthui, the company's production manager.

He hopes that the use of basin terracing by farmers will reduce erosion into rivers, thus protecting Ndakaini water.

Currently, the cost of removing the sediment and treating water at Ndakaini ranges between six and seven Kenyan shillings ($0.06-$0.07) per cubic metre, which Muthui says is too high."Reducing sediment load into rivers has cut the cost of treating water by about three percent," he added.

Efforts to reduce erosion in the Upper

Tana basin have been supported by the Nairobi Water Fund, a $10 million public-private partnership between TNC, the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company and the Kenyan government, among others.

"Water security is likely to pose a bigger challenge as climate change leads to less water in the dry season and heavier deluges in the rainy season," said Eddy Njoroge, the fund's president.

"This is compounded by population growth that reduces the amount of water available per head," he said, adding that the fund was set up to tackle these issues.The project aims to improve water quality in the Tana basin, safeguard Nairobi's main water source and improve the incomes of thousands of people through sustainable land management, he said.Kinuthia has been using basin terracing for just over a year. He is grateful it has opened up a new revenue stream for his family through fresh produce farming.

On a good day, for example, he can harvest 8kg of kale. A 5kg bundle of kale can fetch him 1,000 shillings ($10), while the rest is eaten at home.


Empowering Farmers


14

to pass on the first female offspring to another beneficiary, who is selected by various committees. The choice of the recipient is validated by the county’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries a n d C o o p e r a t i v e s . S o m e beneficiaries, who were selected by committees at the village level then vetted at the ward level, says their family incomes have increased in tandem with their welfare, Chris Makokha, a farmer from Matungu Sub-County, whose dairy cow gave birth last March, says the extra income he gets has allowed him to expand his farm “The milk I get to feed my family is more than enough, so I’m much more comfortable as I am now able to sell the surplus and earn Sh300 daily,” noted Makokha, who now uses cow manure on his maize farm.Richard Liyayi of Shinyalu says his dairy cow produces ten litres of milk every day. “Dairy products have been added to the family diet,” says Liyayi. Oparanya is currently in the Nerthelands where a meeting with investors is planned to fast-track the establishment of the milk processing plant. The programme has been largely successful and the only

Dairy farmers milk county’s empowerment project

ouseholds will get free dairy cows in a project Kakamega County says will raise milk production and help farmers diversify H

agricultural produce. The county has pumped in Sh55 million into the project so that the 600 dairy cows it purchased will be given to farmers in 10 households in each of its 60 wards. Governor Wycliffe Oparanya says the county is working with other development partners in this 10-year venture. “The project also aims to encourage farmers to diversify their agricultural produce and embrace other crops like sugarcane to enhance food security,” the governor says. In partnership with investors from the Netherlands and Equity Bank under Smart Dairy Programme, the county will set up a milk processing plant “This programme is the first of its kind in Africa,” observed Oparanya. To meet the growing demand for milk, farmers will also get loans. Equity Bank has set aside Sh2 billion for farmers who want credit under this programme,

The project is being monitored through digital platform. Farmers will get dairy farming tips in a Short Message Services (SMS) platform Kulati Wangia, the County Executive in-charge of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, says the county’s primary motivation is to enhance food security and generate income. Ultimately, 5,000 people will benefit through newly created jobs, he said. Under the programme, farmers are given an in-calf heifer and they are obliged

blight was the eight cows that succumbed to yellow fever. The county administration wants more subsistence farmers to commercial their farming ventures because small-holder dairy production accounts for 99 per cent of the total milk production and supports more than 68,000 dairy farmers. The total milk production in 2014 was 102 million litres against an annual demand of 197.60 million litres.


Empowering Farmers


15

It is always a dream come true for any farmer to have a cow breed that gives high returns.

Such a cow must be of a particular quality breed, suited to an area’s ecological conditions and it exhibits various superior qualities over other breeds when raised under optimum management.

This article gives a summarised guide on various exotic cow breeds, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses and opportunities they offer you in relation to the location of the farm.

Thes

e dairy cows are large and they usually exhibit the typical pied coat pattern (black and white). They are outstanding milk producers and if kept under good management, they can be milked up to three times a day. Their milk, however, has the lowest butterfat content of 2.5 to 3.6 per cent and about 3.1 per cent protein.

Since the Kenyan market is milk-volume oriented,

FRIESIAN

this breed makes the best option for all commercial operations especially in the Kenyan highlands like Nairobi, Central areas and cooler parts of the Rift Valley like Nakuru, Naivasha, Kitale and Laikipia, among others.

However, the Friesian breeds are heavy feeders and are, susceptible to various diseases, which makes them need highly intensive management to keep them productive. This means they are best kept in large-scale producer farms with better resources but they are not the best producers when kept by small-scale farmers with limited feed resources.

Friesians calve more frequently in their lifetime. In fact, their bull calves excel when fattened for different uses or as steers when raised either intensively or extensively.

Ayrshires are medium-sized cattle with reddish-brown mahogany colour varying from very light to dark and white. These colour markings may also vary from nearly all red to all white.

AYRSHIRE

Ayrshires native land of origin has a rugged terrain and unforgiving climate.

This tough environment has enabled the animal to be hardy enough to adapt well and forage for themselves under adverse feeding and climate.

This makes the breed suitable for commercial dairy farming, particularly in Africa, and their calves have high vigour, therefore, they are strong and easy to raise.

Ayrshires lack the yellow tallow characteristic that reduces carcass value, so its bull calves can be profitably raised as steers.

The animals are efficient converters of forage material into milk and possess other desired traits like easy calving, longevity and are free of genetic diseases.

Despite being second best milk volume producers, the Ayrshire milk has moderate butterfat content of 3.9 per cent and 3.3 per cent proteins making their milk referred to as “the ideal milk for drinking” because it is easier to digest.

This even distribution of slightly smaller fat particles in their milk makes it for conversion into yogurt, creamy cheese and ice cream.

Because of their wide adaptability, they can be kept in the same areas as Friesian as well as parts of western Kenya because of the favourable weather.

The Guernsey has an appealing conformation with its colour that ranges from yellow to reddish-brown or fawn to golden red with white patches.

GUERNSEY

Dairy breeds that suits your county

It has an intermediate size (small breed) compared to the others such as the Friesian Holstein. The cow

weight ranges from 450 to 500kg, with the bulls weighing 600 to 700kg. The Guernsey boasts of a distinctive rich milk colour, therefore, it is often affectionately referred to as the ‘Golden Guernsey’ with high protein and butterfat contents of 3.5 per cent and 4.5 per cent.

This golden colour is attributed to extra beta-carotene and Vitamin A present in the milk. Their average production per cow is about 5,500 litres of milk per lactation, and they can do an excess of 7,000 litres.

They are quite docile hence easy to handle during routine management activities or even when milking.

The Guernsey is an efficient converter of feed to milk. They also require less feeds than the larger Friesian Holsteins and Ayrshires, yet still convert this little amount into more protein and butterfat per unit of body weight. Clearly, the animal is also a better feed converter when compared to other dairy breeds. Further, the breed is an excellent grazer, which comes as good news for any dairy farmer as it translates to lower management cost.

This also gives farmers options for their production system of choice when rearing the Guernsey, as they are ideal for both pasture based production system or intensive grazing.

Interestingly, they reach maturity early enough and calve down easily and stay productive in the herd long enough attracting more income for the farmer.

They have lower mortality risks and do not need unnecessary surgical intervention. Even though the Guernsey may not be the highest milk producer, it beats other breeds hands down in milk quality, flavour and colour even when reared under limiting conditions and low maintenance. This makes the breed more preferable especially for small-scale farmers.

In a nutshell, this breed is generally able to produce remarkably well on quality pastures even in small quantities. Their red and white coat colour enhances heat tolerance and reduces heat stress. The breed suits well to wide climatic conditions in Kenya like the Central region, parts of the Rift Valley, Nyanza and western Kenya.

Guernsey breed is generally a competitive dairy cow, able to effectively and efficiently maintain profits. As such, they can be used for crossing with both local


Empowering Farmers


breeds like zebu or other dairy breeds.

They are light brown, grey, brown, cream or black. Even though they are the smallest dairy breeds with cows weighing 400 to 500kg and bulls 540 to 820kg, they possess some of the biggest personalities.

They have hard black hooves that make them less vulnerable to lameness. This breed is popular for the highest butterfat content of its milk of over 4.9 per cent and over 3.9 per cent protein giving better-tasting products like cheese and butter.

Their milk also contains more calcium and phosphorus along with high amounts of Vitamin B12. They have the best disposition of all dairy cows, which include easy calving, early maturity and they have high fertility and superior grazing ability. Due to their low body weight, a farmer can carry a larger number of effective milking cows per uni

t area meaning lower maintenance requirements.

They are the most docile but with inquisitive character and their bulls are notoriously aggressive.

Unfortunately, they have greater susceptibility to milk fever and calve to weaker calves that require more attentive management in cold weather than other dairy breeds. However, they are less susceptible to mastitis and udder disorders.

The Jersey produces more milk on less feed than other breeds. This makes them most ideal for farmers in smaller dairy operations where feed resources are limiting. They are renowned for their ease of calving with heifers reaching reproductive age earlier than other breeds and come into milk production earlier. They are more heat tolerable, therefore, widely adapted in areas with hot weathers.

JERSEY

This makes them suitable for rearing in wider parts of Kenya though not in too hot areas like the Eastern and North Eastern arid and semi-arid areas. Jerseys stay productive in the herd longer than any other dairy breed and they have no calving problems.

Eastern, North Eastern and some parts of Coastal Kenya ecological zones have low potential to support the exotic dairy cattle in commercial dairy farming. These areas also can hardly support the growth of sustainable feed materials for the animals.

As a solution, farmers in these areas are best placed with options for pastoralism or setting up beef ranches using mainly Boran and Sahiwal breeds. Dairying

through use of indigenous dual-purpose breeds and crosses of European exotic breeds and zebus make best use of these environment.

It is evident that farmers need to choose animals that are well-suited to their production systems and environments to make the most out of their enterprise.

Farmers are advised to source for their foundation stock from reputable dairy cattle breeders who maintain pedigree records l i ke Ege r ton Un ive r s i t y, Ngongongeri Egerton, ADC Lanet Farm in Nakuru and ADC Kitale, among others.

Farmers are advised to source

for their foundation stock from reputable dairy cattle breeders

who maintain pedigree

records like Egerton University,

Ngongongeri Egerton,

ADC Lanet Farm in Nakuru and

ADC Kitale, among

others.

Dairy breeds that suits your county

16

assion fruit production is constrained by several P

insect pests, diseases and inadequate knowledge on the management of the crop among other factors. A grower needs to know a few basic facts about the crop.

The two types of commercially grown passion fruit in Kenya.

This type of passion fruit is most suited to upper midland and highlands (1,100 to 2,500m above sea level). It has purple coloured superior fruits of 4-5 cm in diameter which have an aromatic fl avour.It is good for fresh market and Juice extraction for local and export markets.

Passion types

1) The purple passion (Passifl ora edulis f. edulis)

2) Yellow passion fruit (Passifl ora edulis f. fl avicarpa)

17


Empowering Farmers


This passion fruit is most suited to the coastal lowlands. It is more vigorous and has a larger fruit of 5-7cm. It is more acidic and used for juice extraction. Yellow passion fruit is resistant to Fusarium; wilt, tolerant to Phytophthora blight, nematodes and brown spot.

It is used as rootstock to purple passion fruit.Seed extraction, planting and grafting

Step 1: Seed extractionHealthy mature fruits of yellow passion fruit with a history of good bearing capacity are collected from parent plant. Seeds are scooped from the fruits• Extracted seeds are put in water for at least 3 days to ferment and ease separation of pulp and seed. The seeds are then dried under shade.Seeds lose viability rapidly if not stored in a dry, dark cool place

Step 2: PlantingSeeds are planted into prepared beds or into 6 cm wide by 22.5cm high polyethylene bags fi lled with sterilized soil to eliminate root knot nematodes, soil borne diseases and other harmful organisms. • Sterilization may be through solarization (using sun) or by use of steam.• Germination starts after about 17 days.

How to establish and graft passion fruit seedlings

Step 3: GraftingSeedling rootstocks of yellow passion fruit are grown until they are at least 50cm high and 3-4 mm thick.• Healthy seedlings with dark green leaves are selected for grafting.• Scions from healthy high yielding true-to-type vines of purple passion fruit are collected preferably when the plants have flowered.Scion mother plants should be raised in areas protected against sucking insects, to reduce incidences of disease.• Sterilization of grafting equipment between grafts must be practised (use jik).• Two methods of grafting are used. These are cleft (most common) and splice.

This type of passion fruit is most suited to upper midland and highlands (1,100 to 2,500m above sea level). It has purple coloured superior fruits of 4-5 cm in diameter which have an aromatic flavour.

It is good for fresh market and Juice extraction for local and export markets.

After grafting • Seedlings should be watered regularly and protected from insects.• All shoots from the rootstocks must be removed.• Harden-off seedlings by exposing them to the sun gradually when scion shoot is about 10cm long. • Remove grafting tape from the union and transplant seedling in the fi eld one month after grafting.

“ Healthy seedlings with dark

green leaves are selected for grafting”

PROVIDING MARKETING SUPPORT SErVICES TO KENYAN FARMERS

MKULIMA COMMODITY EXCHANGE CENTRE

Mkulima commodity Exchange Centre is a Farm Africa Solutions Inititaitive to utilise its Extensive market reach of OVER 200,000 online reachto Link Kenyan Farmers to the produce market through aided advertising and promotions. Through this centre, Farmers provide Details of their Venture i.e Produce, Farm Location and contact Telephone Numbers. Farm Africa Solutions will design an Advertisement to that effect that will be circulated online to over 200,000 people reach as well as publish the farmers details in the Mkulima Magazine that isavailable online and at the Newspaper vendors across the country. Customers will directly contact the farmer through the lines provided.

This service will cost the farmer kshs 200 per Edition Payable via Mpesa Till Number 999297 To join in this initiative and promote your venture, call us on 0724 512194 or Email: [email protected]

Ground Flr, Blessed Hse,Thika Superhighway, Opp. Garden City MallP.O.Box 9240-00200- Nairobi

Farm Location: Kunyak, Kipkelion Sub County

Farm Location: Vihiga County in Majengo town Farm Location: Kitale Kapenguria highway, Kipsaina- Wiyeta Area

Contact: J. Koros: Tel: 0711 798089

Contact: Edith Maklande.Email:[email protected]

Contact: Felix Bogonko.+254 725 270 440Email:[email protected]

Trespics Kenya ltd through Trespics livestock feeds unit is offering the following: Supply of high quality livestock feeds and mineral salts:* Dairy meals, calf meal, * Poultry feed ( chick starter, growers and layers’ marsh and premixes)* Mineral salts, various plants byproduct (pollard, bran, maize germ, soya meal, sunflower meal and cotton meal)

The organisation offers consultancy services in: 1. Capacity enhancement in Agriculture produces value addition * The value addition includes fruit processing and milk processing .* Agriculture marketing and agribusiness.

2. Livestock management practices.Poultry husbandryGoat husbandry Dairy cow husbandry, as well as Livestock nutrition.

3. Intensive farming:* Multi-storey gardens* Double digging,* Natural soil fertility management (composting, plant teas/ liquid manures, use of

o We also supply fertilized kuroiler eggs and one month old chick in Nyahururu and Rumuruti.

o o oo

Next to Buffalo guest house, Rumuruti, Laikipia County

P.O Box 1989 Nyahururu- 20300Phone: +254 723238283, 0737238283

Email: [email protected]

Mr. Warui Peter Trespics Kenya Ltd.

Deals in Poultry, Dairyand Passion Fruits

* practicing Dairy cattle farming * Maize and beans but in a low quantity,

Farm Location: Eldoret Farm Location: Ongata Rongai Kajiado County

Contact: Thomas YegoEmail:[email protected]

Contact: Faith GithaigaTel: 0711 572039

Dealer in Kuroiler and Kari Chicks, Fertilised Eggs and Incubator accesories.

* Dairy Goats of the following breeds :- Alpine, Toggenburg and Saanens. * Kuroiler and KARI Kienyeji Chicken.

On Sale NOW!!!

Eggs And Chicken

(meat) For Sale.

18

Farm Location: Voi Taita Taveta county

Farm Location: Busia

Farm Location: Mukurwe-ini district of Nyeri county

Farm Location: KORU - kisumu county

Contact: Willies NjorogeTel: 0720913664

Contact: Victor Bett.Tel: 0705017727.

Contact: George Gitahi, Tel: 0720404421, email:[email protected].

Contact: Bob Onyango , Tel: 0720404421, email: [email protected]

Dealer in kari improved broilers, Rabbit,goat and doves

Dealer in bantam chicken and turkeys for sale

* Raring Kuroiler breed of improved kienyenji.Our products include fertile eggs for incubation, table eggs for consumption, healthy vaccinated kuroiler chicks of different ages.

* Poultry ,onions and sweet potatoes

PROVIDING MARKETING SUPPORT SErVICES TO KENYAN FARMERS

MKULIMA COMMODITY EXCHANGE CENTREGround Flr, Blessed Hse,Thika Superhighway, Opp. Garden City MallP.O.Box 9240-00200- Nairobi

19

Your Farm can be featured here too!!

200/- Per

EditionPay via Mpesa Till Number 999297 and

Email your details to [email protected]

Mkulima commodity Exchange Centre is a Farm Africa Solutions Inititaitive to utilise its Extensive market reach of OVER 200,000 online reachto Link Kenyan Farmers to the produce market through aided advertising and promotions. Through this centre, Farmers provide Details of their Venture i.e Produce, Farm Location and contact Telephone Numbers. Farm Africa Solutions will design an Advertisement to that effect that will be circulated online to over 200,000 people reach as well as publish the farmers details in the Mkulima Magazine that isavailable online and at the Newspaper vendors across the country. Customers will directly contact the farmer through the lines provided.

This service will cost the farmer kshs 200 per Edition Payable via Mpesa Till Number 999297 To join in this initiative and promote your venture, call us on 0724 512194 or Email: [email protected]

20


Empowering Farmers


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