Machinery

: 23 May 2016; Hits: 10247

Precision planters help farmers curb seed, time loss

Most cereal farmers waste a lot of time and seed through poor planting methods, according to Sygnata, a global cereals seller. In a move to reduce the losses sustained during this stage of production, several agricultural equipment companies in Kenya have developed precision planters of diverse sizes and use to accommodate both large and smallholder farmers.
Dume Limited is one of such companies. The company assembling has built a low cost maize seed planter capable of uniformly planting two rows at ago.
The planter also has a fertilizer injection tool that allows farmers to carry out two functions-seed planting and fertilizer applicaiton- concurrently. The fertilizer section has adjustable metering units which are made of steel and are controlled by opening and closing a gate, allowing uniformity in the quantity of fertilizer going into every hole.
The fertilizer is put into the ground behind a heavy duty spring-loaded tine, which penetrates the ground approximately five-inches deep. Only the tine point penetrates the ground and its depth is achieved by two control wheels on the back of the main planter frame. Behind each tine is an adjustable fertilizer pipe, a simple adjustment of the pipe allows the operator to change the placement of the fertilizer up and down.
The seeding parallelogram follows 25 inches behind the fertilizer tine. The precision seed metering unit is of a vertical spoon pick up seed disc that places the seed directly behind the seeding point. Seed planting depth is controlled by adjustable double press wheels running behind the parallelogram. The seed spacing can be changed easily by simply selecting a different gear on a centrally mounted gear box.
According to Francis Macharia, a marketing officer at the company, the seed planter is easy to maintain as it only requires cleaning and oiling to avoid rusting and easy movement. The planter doesn’t require much skill to operate and small ones can be pulled manually by animals while bigger ones can be attached to tractors. The planter costs Sh90,000, which can be paid in three equal installments and comes with two sizes of spoon pickup discs, one for large seeds like maize and beans, and the other for smaller seeds.
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Farmers can buy this tool by emailing Dume Limited via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 020-2186668.

Tags: precision planters

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: 22 April 2016; Hits: 8822

Dagoretti farmers try out 2-wheel tractors

Small-holder farmers in Kenya can now use 2-wheel tractors to easily till their lands as oppose to traditional jembe and hand.

This comes after volunteers from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) in December last year organised an agricultural machinery seminar and demonstration in Dagoretti that focused on 2-wheel tractors for small-scale farmers.

Led by Kazuo Ishikawa, a senior volunteer under the JICA Volunteer program, assigned to the Toyota Kenya Academy (TKA), the organisers showcased tractors from India, China and Japan, while showing their effectiveness in ploughing.

Participants left the seminar with the understanding that they can get a lot more work done on their farms, with little investment in mechanisation.

Among the brands which showcased their machinery was Japan’s Yanmar, which is marketed in Kenya by Toyota.

Advice

The event came at a time when the country’s farmers are being pushed towards modern farming practices as a way of increasing yields.

Nduati Kariuki, the chairman of the Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers, in a separate event, advised farmers to embrace mechanisation because it “saves on the long-term costs and improves productivity.”

Market entry

With the machinery market holding better promise, manufacturers are working to create an impression.

Recently, SAME Deutz-Fahr, an Italian manufacturer of agricultural equipment, and Simba Motor Corporation signed an agreement that will see the latter handle the distribution and sales of SAME tractors in Kenya.

Further, companies such as FMD have reported increased sales (FMD’s sales have doubled) since 2006, in part due to sensitization campaigns and proper after sales services.

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: 21 April 2016; Hits: 11460

SAME tractors enter Massey Ferguson’s turf

Simba Corporation CEO, Adil Popat has urged Kenyan farmers to embrace mechanised farming, agricultural productivity.

According to the Popat, SAME tractors offer a versatile range of tractors for use in the open field, fruit orchards and vineyards.

“The tractors are built tough enough to handle long days of dedicated landscaping with ease and with a perfect balance of performance, efficiency and comfort,” Popat said.

Simba Corporation is the local distributor for Mitsubishi, BMW, Fuso and Mahindra.

It was recently handed the Kenyan dealership by SAME Deutz-Fahr, an Italian manufacturer of agricultural equipment.

The company’s agriculture division will handle SAME tractors and other machinery through its branches in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Kisii.

Competition

As Simba Colt look to popularise the SAME brand in Kenya, they will have to contend with Massey Ferguson, a Canadian brand that has been in the market since 1958.

Massey Ferguson in June launched the 36hp MF 35- a tractor model they described as built “for the Kenya market” and one that “will provide emerging farmers and new-start agricultural contractors with the important first step in farm mechanisation.”

“This well-proven model offers exactly the right specification and technical features for Kenya’s emerging farm enterprises. It brings mechanisation to a new generation of farmers, workers and entrepreneurs," said Richard Markwell, the Managing Director Massey Ferguson Europe, Africa and Middle East.

It is the ideal, multi-purpose machine particularly for first-time tractor owners and operators who are ambitious to develop their businesses and transform their families’ livelihoods, he said.

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