Smart farms

: 18 September 2018; Hits: 13072

Cassava leaves are an alternative source food for dairy cows in the dry season

Cassava and dairy farmers can dry cassava leaves for use during the dry season when there is scarcity of pasture instead of throwing them according to a research by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).

Last year at least 1,500 livestock died in Baringo County alone due to drought that led to insufficient pasture and water. This can be avoided if farmers preserve cassava leaves, a drought tolerant crop for use in future.

KALRO recommends two varieties for use as feed by farmers; Guzo and 2836.

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cassava plant field

Cassava plant field. Courtesy

The crop is planted at a spacing of one meter by one meter and leaves harvested after four months and afterwards they can be harvested monthly or every two months.

While harvesting use a 30cm stick to measure the top part of each cassava branch then pluck the leaves below 30cm.

The leaves are then spread on a concrete floor or polythene bag for three days to dry so as to prevent them from spoiling and also reduce the chances of poisoning.

After this, store the leaves in gunny bags or baled using a hay box to be used as main feed.

3100kg of the feed can sustain three cows for three months comfortably during the dry season.

In this, a medium sized cow weighing 350kg needs 12kg of dried cassava feed daily or four to six kilos of grass/hay are included. 60g of maclik super can be used as supplement and also ensure that you provide clean drinking water at all times.

According to the Economic Survey 2018 report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Kenya produced 1.112m metric tonnes of cassava in 2017.

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: 18 September 2018; Hits: 10003

UN agency launches 5-year agribusiness and value chain development plan for Kenya

spinach

United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has launched its Country Programming Framework plan for Kenya in the next five years.

Gabriel Rugalema, FAO Representative to Kenya, said that during the five-year plan, the UN food agency will place emphasis on agribusiness and value chain, investment and policy environment, natural resource management and resilience in food production.

He said that in the strategic plan, FAO intend to help lives of farmers by encouraging them to grow crops for the market and also linking them to markets as opposed to producing food for consumption only.

“We intend to help transform Kenyan farmers’ mindset towards growing of crops with focus on making profit,” Rugalema said during a meeting with Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi in the coastal town.

The UN official said that investors require an investment and policy environment that could attract them to invest in the country.

He said that in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Bank, some 500,000 dollars has been earmarked to help create a conducive policy environment into attracting investors in agricultural development to the country.

Rugalema added that IFAD has further allocated 66 million dollars for the development of aquaculture in the Kenyan waters.

Rugalema revealed that FAO will put emphasis on climate smart agriculture water harvesting, water management, land digitalisation, support towards the creation of land registry systems and support towards the development of Geographic Information System laboratories in equipment in eight Counties.

The Food and Agricultural Organisation of the UN (FAO) has launched its Country Programming Framework plan for Kenya in the next five years.

“We intend to help transform Kenyan farmers’ mindset towards growing of crops with focus on making profit,” Rugalema said during a meeting with Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi in the coastal town.

The UN official said that investors require an investment and policy environment that could attract them to invest in the country.

Rugalema added that IFAD has further allocated 66 million dollars for the development of aquaculture in the Kenyan waters.

“We are also keen at promoting planting of pasture as a commercial enterprise to enable livestock farmers access fodder during dry seasons,” he added.

The official revealed that the new strategy will incorporate issues pertaining to nutrition for the children and also ensuring that foods are preserved during glut periods for use during dry seasons.

“We hope that by the end of the five years, the programs will help improve lives of Kenyan populations especially in rural areas,” he added.

Rugalema encouraged Kenyans to start planting trees as a commercial enterprise adding that majority of Tanzanians are today making thousands of dollars from tree planting alone.

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: 17 September 2018; Hits: 7761

FAO distributes seeds, farm implements to Kenyan farmers

seeds The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN last week Friday distributed seeds, farm implements and veterinary drugs to farmers, who are victims of March-May rains that resulted in severe floods.

Gabriel Rugalema, FAO Representative in Kenya, said this at the official launching of the distributions in Kilifi County.

Rugalema said that the agricultural inputs valued about 500,000 dollars would be distributed in Tana River and Kilifi counties in Kenya.

“The money will also be used to repair agricultural infrastructure damage to irrigation schemes, canals, pipes, pumps and irrigation station chambers in Turkana County in East Western Kenya,” he said.

The official noted that FAO had been responding following a rapid stakeholder consultations that was conducted in June in order to technically identify the extent of the problem and determine immediate course of action.

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Rugalema said that the damage by the floods along the rivers caused a negative impact on food and nutrition security to majority of farmers.

“The donation is aimed at enabling farmers go back to their farms and start improving their lost sources of income,” he said.

He added that the UN food agency has secured resources to support capacity development in disaster needs assessment.

“We plan to train government officials in a detailed methodology in assessing and quantifying the damages and losses incurred as a result of disasters,” Rugalema said.

The official observed that for Kenya to attain food security there was need to invest in mechanisation of agriculture to be able to produce food for consumption and sale.

The UN official also noted that FAO was keen on the promotion of blue economy, adding that a team of experts has been identified to come on board and help Kenya reap from the sub sector.

According to the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC), the June floods affected 13 counties where around 800,000 people were directly affected while 186 lives were lost.

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The heavy rains also affected road infrastructure while several areas suffered from massive environmental degradation caused by the soil erosion.

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