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: 13 July 2018; Hits: 8859

Newly launched maize flour maker buying maize from Busia farmers

CAN Unga mill Ltd, a maize flour maker company that was launched this week is buying maize from Busia farmers at Sh2200 per a 90kg bag, Sh300 more than what local businessmen in the region pay.

The miller currently produces 20 bales of maize flour per day and also processes dairy feeds for livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats.

In March this year, the Kenyan government stopped buying maize from farmers in the country due to glut in the market having bought six million 90kg bags at Sh3200 per bag, Sh200 more than last year.

The new miller therefore comes as a relief for farmers as the harvesting season two month away.

Online platform links banana, potato and maize farmers to markets

Agriculture ministry projects 44 per cent increase in maize production this year

miller

Farmers drying maize. PHOTO/DAILY NATION.

Maize production decreased by 6.3 per cent from 37.8m bags in 2016 to 35.4m bags in 2017 according to the Economic Survey 2018 released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics in April this year.

The drop was mainly attributed to drought experienced in most parts of the country which resulted in lower yields.

During the period under review, maize imports increased more than eight fold to 1,328 thousand tonnes.

Uasin Gishu County for instance hitherto considered as the country’s bread basket registered a decline in maize production from 4.4m bags in 2016 to 3.7m bags last year, a 25 per cent decrease attributed to infestation by the worm, head smut disease and the lethal necrosis disease according to statistics from the county’s department of agriculture.

Trans Nzoia County, a high maize production region on the other hand, harvested 4.7m bags of maize down from five million bags in 2016 due to Fall Armyworm infestation and maize smut disease.

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: 13 July 2018; Hits: 27781

Kiambu contractor is offering farmers ready rabbit market

PHOTO: Rabbit Millionaire Project breeder James Mwangi holds one of his farm rabbit during the Nairobi International Agricultural Society of Kenya on October 8, 2016. Rabbit Millionaires Project is contacting farmers to supply it with rabbits . PHOTO BY LABAN ROBERT.

One agribusiness organization is looking to contacting more than 10,000 famers, who will be supplying it with rabbits for meat export.

In the contracting process, farmers enter an agreement with the Rabbit Millionaires Project to buy pregnant rabbits, and they sell back the bunnies when they are four months old.

Agribusiness is emerging as the option to joblessness. But farmers are facing challenges in accessing markets, with few delivering their rabbits to supermarkets like Tuskys and major hotels which make sausages and or selling it as meat.

James Mwangi, an official of the organisation, said the group targets to than 50,000 kilos of rabbit meat for export by the 2017.

A four kilogramme rabbit will be bought at Sh2,000.

“The organisation has been doing research and locating possible markets for sale of rabbit meat on the international fronts. One of the identified regions is France. The market is promising and for that reason more farmers have to be brought on board for constant supply of quality meat that meets the international standards,” Mwangi said.

RELATED STORY: Steel cage tames rabbit parasites

Farmers are required to buy already bred rabbits, with each costing Sh5,000.

One needs to buy a minimum of 12 rabbits and after four to five months deliver bunnies for marketing.

Four months old rabbits are about four kilos before slaughtering.

In supporting quality production, experts would visit farmer from time to time to give them more tips.

Farmers supplying rabbits to supermarkets and other large-scale consumers and restaurants, the cost per kilo ranges from Sh700 to Sh1,000.

Justin Magiri, a Mombasa County farmer who sells rabbit to high-end hotels at the coastal strip, says he spends Sh450 to raise a rabbit to maturity- five months.

Magiri depends on commercial feeds. He sells the rabbits at Sh700 to earn at least Sh250 profit.

Although the price per kilo is lower in selling to the millionaire group, the advantage is the collective market, which means one can deliver as many as possible for profitability.

Rural farmers can also substitute the commercial feeds with local greens.

Mwangi can be reached on +254707728383

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Monday, 25 January 2021 [quote=Kimathi evans]Hello,am already doing it.but I need some jiants to breed w...

Thursday, 21 January 2021 Hello,am already doing it.but I need some jiants to breed with my new Zealand wh...

Tuesday, 01 December 2020 [quote=lawremce]Hi mr mwangi am interested in rabbit farming .[/quote] Hi Lawre...

Friday, 27 November 2020 Hi mr mwangi am interested in rabbit farming .

Tuesday, 29 September 2020 [quote=Festus Kimari]Hello Mr.Mwangi,am Festus and am much interested to venture...

: 12 July 2018; Hits: 16216

Kiambu farmer supplying Nairobi hotels and restaurants with non-heading lettuce

One of the lettuce plant found in Kenneth's farm. He grow the leafy vegetable and supplies to hotels and restaurants in Nairobi. Photo: Oyugi Zablon.

A vegetable farmer in Lower Kabete, a modern residential area located about 10 Kilometers from Nairobi Central Business District is growing non-headed lettuce also known as looseleaf, cutting or bunching lettuce which is in high demand by major hotels and restaurants in the city due to its wide range of usage as compared to headed lettuce.

Looseleaf lettuce is most often used for salads and in other kinds of food, such as soups, sandwiches and wraps. It can also be grilled and is a rich source of vitamin K and A, and a moderate source of folate and iron, according to Food and Nutrition Series by Colorado State University in the US.

Kenneth Gikinya has been growing the vegetable within his quarter acre piece of plot for over five years now and he says he is encouraged by the fact that he never misses market owing the close proximity of his farm and Nairobi CBD.

“What does not bother me is the market for my crops. Right now I have over 10 contacts of traders from City Market and Ngara Market who keep calling to know when I am harvesting. I also have three suppliers of vegetables to some big hotels and restaurants in Nairobi who have asked me to inform them when the crops are ready,” said Kenneth.

Lettuce is mainly used in the hotels and restaurants for preparing salads. However, there is little acceptance and consumption at household level in Kenya. He sells each piece at 20 shillings and 25 when the market demand is even higher.

Currently he has a total of 1000 plants awaiting maturity in about three weeks meaning he will be pocketing Sh20,000 in about a month or so. He also grows onions, broccoli, celery and kales a venture which gives him a total of about Sh80,000 a season.

Lettuce does well at relatively cool temperatures and requires ample sunlight, uniformly cool nights, and plenty of moisture in the soil for well developed, solid heads. According to Kenneth, the crops does not need any fertilizer but steady irrigation during dry seasons.

“I get my water cheaply from this river (pointing at a spring that separates Kibichiku and Gathiga) for irrigating as I have to keep the soil moist for the crop to thrive,” he said.

Optimum temperatures for lettuce growth are 18.8– 22.70C during the day and 7.2–110C at night. High temperatures generally above 290C are conducive to early flowering resulting in low quality and bitter flavour.

At temperatures above 23.80C, firm heads are difficult to obtain, and stems tend to elongate. Plants will withstand freezing, but below 7.20C, growth is extremely slow. Lettuce can be grown on a wide range of soil types, depending on irrigation, drainage, and local climatic conditions. The soil pH should be 6.5-7.2.

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