Smart farms

: 21 June 2019; Hits: 6842

How farmers are tapping water from Aberdare Mountain Ranges for crop production

Farmers watering their vegetables. Irrigation has become the best alternative for farmers in Kenya during dry seasons as rainfall has become erratic. Photo courtesy.

About 400 farmers in Laikipia are relying on gravitational force to tap water from Aberdare Mountain Ranges to use in growing different crops such as fruits, vegetables and potatoes. This has enabled them to stop depending on rainfall which has become erratic in the country.

The farmers who are brought together under Gobet Water Self Help group about four years ago realised that the water source would be of benefit to their crops especially during dry seasons and increase their income prospects.

“I remember in 2015 when the group was started to help members find solutions to some challenges which were facing us, shortage of water for irrigation is the major one. Sometimes our crops could fail to germinate properly or withered due to increased temperatures and drier soil conditions,” said Peter Wambugu, the group member.

The farmers started by identifying certain springs within the mountain and once that was complete, they would dig terraces which would lead the water from different springs into one big water reservoir within the mountain.

From the reservoir, each farmer connects their water pipes of different lengths depending on the distance between the farms and the reservoir. Since the farms are at the base of the mountain, the pipes which have got taps at the end, when opened, let water by gravity to the fields for watering crops.

“This system has made our life easier as we spend only Sh200 service fee per month which is used to pay those who clean the reservoir and the whole system to avoid any cases of blockages,” said Wambugu who is also an apple farmer.

In case there is severe drought and the water may not be enough, the farmers are encouraged to look for leavers and grass among other cover materials to mulch the crops to reduce the water loss from the soil and also reduce the amount of water required for irrigation.

“During very dry seasons, we encourage every member to get into a community forest in the area to look for grass and other tree lives to cover the soil and prevent it from excessive water loss,” said Wambugu.

RELATED CONTENT: Irrigation brings barren farms to life

For the whole season, a farmer can spend between Sh5,000 to Sh10,000 on labour and transporting the mulching materials. This cost depends on the distance between a farm and the forest and also the type of mulching material.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 2010, Aberdare Mountains are one of Kenya's major water catchment areas, surrounded for the most part by intensive, small-scale agriculture.

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: 20 June 2019; Hits: 10113

NGO helps urban farmers plant vegetables in their balconies and backyards

People residing in urban areas can now grow crops using modern techniques such as use of bags that use minimum space for high plant population growth.

Between 1960 and 2014, the share of population living in Kenyan urban areas rose from 7.4 per cent to 25.2 per cent according to Greenwich Political economy Research Centre.

According to a report released by global market research and consulting firm Ipsos Synovate in March 2016, the high cost of living (35 per cent) and hunger (14 per cent) are some of the most critical issues facing Kenyans besides the rate of unemployment (39.1 per cent). Another survey by Nation Newsplex in 2016 revealed that for every Sh100 spent by a Kenyan, Sh45 goes towards purchasing food and drinks.

A majority of Kenyans in urban areas (56 per cent) buy food from supermarkets compared to 35 per cent who but from kiosks and groceries according to a survey releases by mobile phone pollster Geopoll in 2015.

To reduce the cost of buying food, Real impact, a Thika based non-governmental organization is helping urban farmers adopt modern farming techniques especially now that land is becoming smaller and smaller.

According to the farm manager, Julia Laitore, the technology of using net bags to grow crops can help meet current and future demands of food in Kenya and beyond.

“We help farmers adopt new farming technologies so as to enable them sustain their production, many people are moving to urban areas to look for jobs and the demand for vegetables is really high,” said Laitore.

The NGO came up with new technologies of growing vegetables and breeding animals in a small scale way whereby big land is not required.

“At our farm here, we plant our vegetables in bag gardening where one bag, 1 meter long is used to plant 100 plants vertically at a go, with only 20 liters of water to being used to irrigate one bag holding the plants per week,” said Julia. The bags are available in large and medium sizes.

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bag gardenspinach sukumawiki kales

Vegetables grown on sacks

With this technology, farmers are assured of fresh vegetables all year round by planting in sacks/bags. A single person can cater for 100 bags watering them thrice a week. The process needs no weeding. A farmer can also plant different crops in one bag to reduce the chance of pest invasion. This method can be adopted by the elderly as it not labor intensive.

Sack nets last longer than the normal ones that rot easily. One sack for instance has a lifespan of ten years.

Procedure for vertical bag farming using bags

Mix the soil and manure
Add 3kg of DAP and lime to the mixture
Thoroughly mix the bag ingredients
Spread the bag to identify the top, bottom and outer sections
Turn the bag inside out and gather it in the middle part of the bottom part
Place the bag on the ground right side out
Start filling the bag with the mixed media
Ensure you have a stable base at the bottom and that all holes are visible
Continue filling your bag until you have a well filled upright bag
Wet the bag with 30 liters of water and start planting on the sides of the bag
Place the curled section of the 16mm riser pipe fitted with button drippers on the top of your bag
Plant leeks, coriander, lettuce, carrots, kales, tomatoes, e.tc. on the top section and you have your very own bag garden

All urban dwellers can try this type of farming as it does not only utilizes space but also minimizes malnutrition by ensuring families are on a balanced diet.

Julia advises farmers to plant different types of vegetables in their farms as each specific vegetable has its own nutrition value.

Farmers who would like practice dairy farming in urban areas can also grow hydroponic fodder and use it to feed their animals without any worry of lack of feed. The fodder can also be fed on rabbits and chicken.

The company can be reached on +254 (0)723 407 058.

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: 18 June 2019; Hits: 11468

Team of agricultural graduates in Busia County training farmers on crops production for food security

butternut squash zucchini Youth tending to his zucchini crops. Agronomical support is key in crop production and food security. Photo courtesy.

A team of five agricultural graduates in Butula, Bungoma County is training farmers who are growing different crops such as horticulture crops, sorghum, cassava and fruits among others with an aim to enable them to attain food security among themselves and earn extra cash.

This was also a way of creating employment instead of waiting for employment in the sector.

The team which consists of two graduates from National Youth Service (NYS), another two from Maseno University and one from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) started the work in 2013 after graduation and internship, a move which has seen each of them earn Sh15,000 a month.

“We started this initiative with my colleague after graduation and an internship programme at the ministry of agriculture in the county seven years ago. This is after the farmers we interacted with continuously sought for our services even after leaving the programme,” said Samuel Juma, a member of the team.

In order to satisfy the various farmers’ needs, the team has members specialized in various field practices such as precision agriculture, soil management, crop management and animal health. This enables them to reach a wider majority of farmers.

Since its conception some farmers who consult the team on contract within a period of time and pay according to the size of the work and duration while others are offered free services something that has attracted many of them.

Therefore the team early this year decided to register the team as a community-based organization called Butula Agriculture Centre.

“Since the registration of our group in January this year, we have increased number of farmers who look for our services. We currently have 12 farmer groups and 25 individual farmers whom we work with across the county,” said Juma.

The CBO which already has a small office in Butula Sub-County is also helping farmers in dairy farming and more so in white sorghum production which most farmers in the region have adopted given the ready market provision by Kenya Breweries Ltd.

However, one of the challenges the team faces is the lack of enough funds to help in the expansion and facilitation of the team to various places to meet farmers.

“Our main focus are women, youth and persons leaving with disabilities helping them find a sustainable source of income in farming and marketing of their produce. These groups of people lack financial might hence the need for support,” said Juma.

The CBO is now looking forward to turning the centre into a model farm where farmers can come to learn and graduates come for internships. In this, it will be a centre which offers impactful hands-on practices for farm producers and experts.

Juma can be reached on +254716581924

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