Smart farms

: 22 November 2017; Hits: 24401

Five dairy goats have more returns than a dairy cow

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A dairy goat feeding from its feeding trough.

Rearing five goats for milk which requires low maintenance can earn a farmer Sh280, 560 monthly as compared to a dairy cow which can earn a farmer Sh155, 400 monthly but is of high maintenance.

For Kiringai Kamau, a farmer from Murang’a County who practices selective breeding for quality milk and kids, he spends Sh1500 a week on his 12 goats feed against the Sh3000 he used to spend on one cow.

“A goat’s feed comprises 3.5 per cent of dry matter. Therefore if well-fed and watered, goats rarely fall prey to diseases making the ventures profitable,” said Kamau.

“To improve on the milk quality and quantity I feed them proteins rich feeds such as desmodium, lucerne, calliandra, green leaves and a nutritious salt lick, which is constantly in their cages.”

Kamau began rearing goats for milk in 2015 when he sold his one dairy cow on August last year at Sh66, 000. He bought five young German Alpine dairy goats from Shambah Dairies Farm in Kangema in the same county for Sh60, 000. The farm also offered him training on how to venture in dairy goat farming.

He then used the remaining amount of money to improve his cow shed for the five goats a space which only one cow occupied.

“I decided to keep dairy goats after getting trainings from the farm on how to rear dairy goats and discovered it is cheaper and with more profit compared to the dairy cow I was keeping,” said Kamau.

“For the five days of training I paid Sh2500 and attended both theoretical and practical lessons which equipped me with the primary skills and knowledge in dairy goat keeping.”

Currently his shed has 12 goats; seven kids and five adult goats which he milks. He delivers 80 litres after every five days to Kibidav Dairies which specialises in goat milk products such as yoghurt and fresh milk under the brand name, Toggs Dairy Goat Milk.

His five dairy goats gives him 13 litres of milk daily fetching Sh103 per liter more as compared to his dairy cow which used to give him 20 litres of milk a day selling a litre of dairy cow milk at Sh37.

If Kamau were to sell his goats, he would earn between Sh20,000 and Sh40,000 a goat but it will depend on its current productivity.

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Tuesday, 26 July 2022 [quote=Japhet]I need one[/quote] Hi Japhet, reach Charles Wathobio, he's been i...

Wednesday, 20 July 2022 I need one

Saturday, 12 February 2022 Hi. I need a good quality goat breed I start this venture. Any direction?

: 21 November 2017; Hits: 25348

How to grow better bananas in Western Kenya

Smallholder farmers in western Kenya can double the size of their banana bunches from 40 to 45kg - 80 to 100kgs by using health suckers from a clean, disease free orchard and inter-cropping with compatible crops such as beans and groundnuts.

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Kenya has over 400,000 small holder banana farmers with 1.7 per cent of Kenya’s total arable land planted covered by bananas. Over 85 per cent of East Africans rely on banana for income and food with the global market for the crop totaling to some five billion dollars a year.

Planting bananas requires minimum effort but farmers should get some things right before getting started. According to a research by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Organization, once a farmer obtains suckers from healthy plants, any pests should be killed by the hot water method. This is done by heating water until just a candle melts in it (55 degrees Celsius) before removing it and putting the suckers in the hot water for 20 minutes.

Banana giant Naomi Wahu by Laban Robert.JPG

A farmer displaying a giant banana at an agricultural society of Kenya show

Bananas like dark, fertile soils, lots of mulch and organic matter. Holes where bananas are planted should be dug two feet by two feet by two feet. The holes should be nine feet by nine feet apart. The top soil should be put one foot in a heap and the subsoil put in a separate heap one foot high.

Mix two ‘debes’ of manure with top soil and put the mixture back in the hole. Plant the sucker one and half to two feet deep. Use the sub–soil to fill up the hole. For higher yields, farmers should not plant more than four suckers per stool. For every six months, add two ‘debes’ of manure per stool.

Bananas thrive well in areas that are 1,200m and 1,600m above sea level, that get seasonal rainfall averaging 1,200mm, and with average temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius. In low rainfall areas like Homabay, farmers should irrigate their banana plants with 40 to 60 liters of water. However, water should be applied moderately as excess water encourages rotting of the roots due to clogging. The stems must be propped to prevent premature falling due to strong wind. A fruit is ready for harvest in 12 to 15 months after transplanting.

To prevent weeds, mulching is needed which can be done by placing dry grass six inches away from the plant and by intercropping with leguminous crops e.g. beans. It is important to de-leaf so as to get rid of old diseased leaves, burn them to reduce chances of re-infection.

Bananas should be harvested while they are still green, ensure you wear protective gear and cut the fruit with a machete carefully. The leaves of the harvested banana should be chopped and left on the ground to provide nutrients for the rest of the rest generation of banana plants.

There are different varieties of banana suitable for planting in western Kenya which includes giant Cavendish, grand nain, and Mbogoya for ripening, Uganda green for cooking, aloe vera for medicinal/cosmetics purposes and vanilla for making spices. A quarter acre of land can hold 400 banana stems, which will mature in nine to 16 months, depending on the variety.

A kilo of the fruit is sold at approximately Sh15 across Kenyan markets meaning an 80kg banana can earn a farmer Sh1200 per stem.

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: 20 November 2017; Hits: 15161

Agro Company unveils all-season tomato variety

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Tomato farmers and consumers are set to benefit from steady tomato supply to the markets with the introduction of a new variety that can do well throughout the year and which is also tolerant to common tomato diseases.

Zara F1 from Amiran Kenya does well when it is dry as well as when the rain is in excess.

Too much rainfall predisposes tomatoes to diseases while dry seasons require irrigation and pests are more prevalent.

The variety is tolerant to bacteria wilt, fusarium wilt, ToMV, TYLCV, among others.

On dry seasons, farmers who cannot afford irrigation sink into losses while consumers pay more for the produce as it remains scarce.

During the November 2016 to March 2017 drought, three tomatoes that usually cost Sh10 rose and hit between Sh30 and Sh50 in Nairobi.A 64kg crate rose from an average of Sh3,500 to Sh7,000 depending on the town.

RELATED STORY: New tomato variety resists nematodes

Wilting of tomatoes does not have chemical remedy. Only integrated pest management is one of the best ways of eliminating the micro-orgasms when done well.

Dianah Orinda, Amiran Seeds Agronomist, says that depending on the weather conditions a farmer can start harvesting within 75 to 80 days after transplanting.

Averagely, the new variety can give up to 25 to 30 tonnes per acre under good agronomic practices.

With an average of six to eight fruits per cluster, harvesting can go on for up to 10 weeks after flowering.

According to Amiran’s Marketing Communications manager, Flora Nanjala, 10 grams ZARA F1 seeds is currently retailing at Sh2772, 25g and 50g cost Sh6925 and Sh13850 respectively. The company have even the smaller packages of five grams for Sh1383 each.

It has a tough skin, which gives it a shelf-life of more than 10 days after ripening. It is also easy in transporting, therefore, losses are minimum.

The fruits are between 110g to 130g, which makes it marketable.

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