Smart farms

: 28 September 2017; Hits: 16436

Four diets to boost milk production during the dry season

Smallholder farmers in Kenya face many challenges during the dry season due to dwindling feed for their animals. Farmers usually lack good quality feed that can enhance milk production as their animals depend on various grasses which are only available in abundance during the wet season. As such, poor feeding leads to poor health and low milk production hence farmers get low income from their cows/goats.

Four diets for more milk have been tested by the scientists at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization and farmers in the highlands of western Kenya.

The first step for farmers is to think about the feeds they have on their farms and identify what their cows/goats need. Good fed cows must have at least one food from each of the three sources: Proteins, energy and minerals.

Energy foods available for smallholder farmers currently include natural grasses, Napier grass, and reject maize. Protein food includes bean straw and sweet potato vines whereas food that fills includes banana pseudostems and maize stovers.

It is important therefore for farmers to ascertain extra diets that can improve on their livestock health and enhance milk production.

To increase energy farmers need to provide their cows with molasses, maize and wheat germ. More protein sources can be found in fodder trees (Calliandra, Sesbania & Leucaena), desmodium, poultry waste, lucerne, omena and sunflower. For minerals, dairy lick should be provided.

Examples of balanced diets to be fed on dairy cows for more milk

Diet 1

This diet can give farmers up to 8.5 bottles of milk. It will cost KES 29 a day and gives KES 89 a day. Farmers will need a quarter of an acre of Napier grass or roadside grass to feed their cows all year round.

Diet 2

This diet can give 12 bottles of milk. It costs KES 51 a day to and gives you up to KES 120 a day.

Diet 3

This diet can give you up to 13 bottles of milk. It costs KES 52 a day and gives you up to KES 130 a day.

Diet 4

This diet can give you up to 13 bottles of milk. It costs KES 60 a day and gives you up to KES 130 a day.

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: 27 September 2017; Hits: 15019

Ex-Mukurweini sweet potato variety is good for food and fodder

Farmers growing Ex-Mukurweini potato variety stand high chance of benefiting from its multipurpose nature and double their income from selling the potato storage roots which are used as food by human beings and the vines as fodder for livestock.

Ex-Mukurweini has short maturity period compared to other potato varieties and their hardiness and resistance to diseases makes it one of the favorites to most farmers. Their high starch content also makes them a valuable source of energy for human beings and livestock, according to Kenya Agricultural Research Institute Report (KARI) 2005-2006.

“Ex-Mukurweini are highly vegetative sweet potato varieties with both high dry matter and crude protein content that are used as fodder supplement for dairy animals,” said Ephraim Mukisira, Director KARI adding that its high protein content foliage makes it a cheap source of protein for livestock feeding.

READ ALSO: Sweet potato vines and roots silage offers livestock more proteins
The potato grows best with a well-distributed annual rainfall of 600-1600 mm during the growing season. Dry weather favours the formation and development of storage roots which are later harvested for food.

Experts advise that if there is no critical dry season, Ex-Mukurweini sweet potato can be planted at any time. In regions with a critical dry season, planting early in the rainy season is the best. It is usually planted towards the end of the rainy season if this is long and very wet.

Planting an acre of sweet potatoes, one needs an average of 20 bags of vines. Cost of vines per bag is Sh1500 while 20 bags cost Sh30, 000. This is the cost of the vines whether for planting or fodder use. Ex-Mukurweini can produce between 20-30 tons per acre per year.

In case of the sweet potato storage roots consumption, a farmer should harvest within 4 months to prevent weevil damage using implements such as a stick, spade or hoe is to avoid any unnecessary post-harvest losses. Today, a 50 kg bag of sweet potatoes goes for between 2000 and 2500 in Nairobi.

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: 27 September 2017; Hits: 22027

Crops to grow for Export to reap maximum returns

A variety of horticultural crops which can be grown for export by smallholder farmers to earn maximum returns.

Smallholder farmers intending to reap maximum profits from their horticultural farms can grow a variety of crops that earn maximum profits in the outside market. According to the Export Promotion Council (EPC), Cut flowers, vegetables, fresh fruits, herbs and spices form the majority of horticultural exports from Kenya to other countries.

Cut Flowers

Cut flowers are flowers or flower buds that have been cut from the plant bearing it. According to the Kenya Flower Council, Kenya is the third largest exporter of cut flowers in the world, accounting for 38% of all sales in the European Union. Cut flowers from Kenya are famed for their long lasting nature and also popular in the United States and Russia and sixty other countries.

More than 500,000 smallholder farmers in the country depend on the trade according to the Kenya Flower Council (KFC). The main production areas are around Lake Naivasha, Mt. Kenya, Nairobi, Thika, Kiambu, Athi River, Kitale, Nakuru, Kericho, Nyandarua, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu and Eastern Kenya.

The main cut flowers grown in Kenya are roses, carnations, and Alstromeria. Other flowers cultivated include, Gypsophilla, Lilies Eryngiums, arabicum, hypericum, Statice, a range of summer flowers amongst many others. On the global front, a growth of 5% is anticipated every year over the next five years thus farmers venturing into growing of flowers are sure of ready market for their produce.

Vegetables

This is the second most important product group within the horticultural industry, which by volume contributes to about 35% of total fresh produce exports majority of which comes from smallholder farmers. The main product is the French (green) beans, sugar snaps, snow peas and runner beans. Other vegetables for gaining popularity are Asian vegetables such as Okra, Karela, dudhi, chilli and aurbergine.

Fruits

Major fruit export products include avocadoes, mangoes, pineapples, passion fruits, bananas, and strawberry. According to EPC, fruit exports have been growing slowly but steadily.

Herbs and Spices

Due to increased health awareness by consumers’ worldwide, consumption of herbs and spices has increased. Kenya has been exporting herbs and spices for decades and the demand for these products is bound to increase. The types of herbs exported from Kenya include lemon grass, basil, dill, sweet Marjaram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme, sage, chamomile, tarragon, etc. On the other hand, exports of spices include garlic, ginger, coriander, chillies, paprika, turmeric and cumin.

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