Smart farms

: 13 January 2017; Hits: 13400

Tomato farmer targets harsh weather to make profits

Syngenta Agronomist Maureen Namusonge points to high-yielding Tylka F1 tomatoes at the seed company's demonstration farm at Mukomani, Mombasa, ASK Show ground on September 2, 2016. A part time farmer has adopted tomato production during heavy rains to make profits. PHOTO BY LABAN ROBERT.

While heavy rains and drought cause losses to farmers, one flight engineer is turning this into a profit making opportunity due to the shortages created by such disasters.

John Okinyi, who works for a local airline, made a net profit after the rains that hit the country in April 2016 after harvesting at least 250 crates of tomatoes weighing 64kg from one acre in Athi River, Machakos County.

The part-time farmer however warned that despite the high demand for the fruit he enjoyed in June after harvesting, maintaining the tomatoes through the rainy season was expensive.

He spend at least Sh200,000 from March to June in application of agrochemical to mitigate the effects of the rains as a result of too much water.

“It was expensive. But the retune were impressive. Although I could have harvested up to 300 crates, the drawbacks were still good and I recovered my investment,” Okinyi said.

He never looked for the market; buyers from Nairobi City flocked his farm to purchase the harvest. Tomatoes are usually sold in graded crates.

Depending on the size, Okinyi varied the price from Sh4,000 to Sh6,000. In total, the gross income was Sh1.25 million.

At times the 64kg crate fetches up to Sh8,000 when the demand is more than the supply.

Besides the harsh weather the Shanty F1 variety he bought from Amiran Kenya, helped him achieve good results.

“Many farmers shy away from this hybrid because it is more expensive than other varieties. I prefer it because it is tolerant to harsh open field conditions as well as diseases,” he said.

READ ALSO: Ripe tomatoes sold for 30 days

He planted 10,000 seedlings in the one acre. He has placed another 10,000 seeds in the nursery bed for transplanting by mid February 2017. By April, the usual heavy rainfall period, he hopes to be supplying the tomatoes.

He has one worker. He spends most of the 15 days he is off-duty in the farm. By mid this year, he plans to bring seven acres of land in Kitengela under tomato cultivation. He banks on a borehole for irrigation.

“No job is satisfying in salary. Farming is the best side hustle that can thrust one to self sufficiency. If you can harvest over Sh900,000 from one acre in three months, scaling the acreage is more lucrative than a formal employment,” the University of Nairobi trained electronic engineer said.

He has one worker. Okinyi spends most of the 15 days he is off-duty in the farm.

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: 11 January 2017; Hits: 15014

Farmer intercrops maize with vetch to boost milk production

Real IPM Isaac Guda surveys the firm's cow shed on December 1, 2016. A Nyandarua County farmers is intercropping maize with purple vetch to boost proteins. PHOTO BY LABAN ROBERT.

In meeting household and livestock needs, one farmer has resorted to intercropping fodder and food crops to beat the shrinking land while increasing milk yields with the protein-rich purple vetch feed.

Joseph Maina, who is a mixed farmer, owns seven dairy cows. In cutting the cost of protein supplements in commercial dairy meals, the farmer grows maize and purple vetch together.

High protein content is key in milk production.

According to Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, KALRO, animal officer Benson Muturi, purple vetch has a crude protein content of between 15 per cent and 28 per cent.

This is more than twice the amount of the crude proteins in most Napier grass varieties, which range from 7. 5 per cent to 8.5 per cent. Only the recently released giant variety from KALRO has protein level of up to 26 per cent.

Because the farmer relies on Napier grass in feeding his cattle, purple vetch has been the protein booster that has helped him increase milk output from each cow from less than 15 liters to over 20 liters per cow per day over the past year.

“Maize and purple vetch are from different families. Their nutritional requirement for growth is different, therefore, the competition is low. I grow it as a cover crop that enriches the soil with nitrogen besides reducing weed invasion and maintaining moisture content,” Maina said.

Unlike maize, the roots of the fodder can grow up to five feet deep into the soil and its herbaceous stem branched stretch to up to six feet.

Muturi, who works in the Nyandarua County KALRO station, however, warned that the vetch should be fed to the cows after reaching at least 10 nodes onwards, the recommended maturity length.

The leguminous plant attains maturity in about three months, therefore, it is ready for cutting for direct feeding or hay preparation.

One kilogramme of the vetch can be grown with maize in one acre.

Depending on the rations of each cow, a third of the total feed per day should be that of vetches. The rest of the ration is carbohydrates as well as other minerals and vitamins.

The seeds can be bought from KALRO and other agricultural research institutes.

For inquiries on the vetch, Muturi can be reached on +254724492456

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: 11 January 2017; Hits: 18299

SoilCares mobile soil lab gives farmers results in three hours

SoilCares officer shows farmers how a soil testing scanner works. PHOTO BY SOILCARES.

Farmers can know soil analysis results in three hours after sampling after SoilCares Limited introduced mobile testing services in collaboration with online marketing platform, OLX.

This would help the farmers make informed decisions in real time ahead of planting or application of fertilisers for increased harvests.

In the usual Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Organisation, KALRO, it takes more than five days for farmers to get analysis results.

But in the new arrangement, at least 50 farmers collect samples from various points-at a depth of about 25cm- before drying and mixing the soil for testing. When ready, they call the SoilCares.

Soil testing is a key component in crop production because it helps farmers identify mineral nutrient deficiency for appropriate remedy.

The analysis profiles the soil against presence and absence of micro and macro nutrients.

The SoilCares agronomist, who is part of the mobile laboratory crew, gives recommendations to the farmers based on the results.

The service costs about Sh1,300.

At the same time, the soil PH can be addressed only if testing is done. PH is the acidity or alkalinity of a substance, like soil. Most micro and macro elements re found in slightly acidity to neutral soils, hence high yields.

In the SoilCares and OLX partnership, Kilimo Smart shops have been opened in Nyandarua and Nakuru to deliver the laboratory services in real time.

OLX manager Peter Ndiang’gui said the expansion will continue into food basket zones.

The shops were preceded by a short message service market for Irish potato farmers.

SoilCares Ltd can be reached on +254728970136

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