Pests

: 18 September 2019; Hits: 4846

Stem cutting potato seed production method reduces pests and diseases by half

potato stemcuttings

Adopting stem cutting in potato seed production can reduce by more than a half the major fungal and viral diseases of potatoes such as blight, black scurf and Potato Leaf Roll Virus (PLRV) and Potato Virus Y (PVY) respectively as compared to using tubers.

This is according to the latest report by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) on Seed Potato Production and Certification Course which indicated that some of the constraints facing the potato industry are inadequate supply of certified planting materials and attack by pests and diseases.

Botanists assert that planting stem cuttings works best in areas prone to high humidity because stem cuttings are not adhered to any root system w

“Using potato tubers as propagation materials is very risky because it is very easy for the diseases to be spread from one infected piece to the other and controlling the outspread can be difficult for farmers,” said Gentrics Juma, officer at KEPHIS seed inspection department.

Stem cutting, therefore, is one of the initial disease management practices that farmers can adopt to preserve soil and improve the crop production.

“Healthy planting materials do not have bacterial wilt, black leg, nematodes or any other diseases that could damage soil or reduce productivity in the farm,” read the report in part.

Stem cuttings, for example, are produced from tissue culture plantlets in a screen house for two to three weeks and after rooting, they are planted in the fields. This is different from producing potatoes from mini-tubers.

A cutting can produce up to 24 tubers which are then multiplied for two season before harvesting and they are not at risk of diseases even after planting for several seasons.

Currently, stem cutting planting materials can be accessed from Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) and other private seed companies in the country.

According to Gentrics, though a farmer cannot propagate the seedlings at farm level, once they purchase the seedling going for Sh15, they can make a nursery and plant them for propagation.

With 1,000 cuttings at a cost of Sh15,000, a seed multiplier is projected to produce 76 50kg bags of seed potato after two seasons of multiplication. This can greatly help in reducing seed potato shortages in the country.

KALRO is aiming at increasing collaboration with upcoming seed entrepreneurs in the private sector in order to bring about capacity building by hosting hands-on training for the seed producers.

One acre can produce over 20,000 clean seeds developed from the stem of a potato.

In addition, the use of certified seeds is key as it fetches great opportunities and profits.

“Seed certification assures farmers of trueness to type of the variety and health status of the seed, and that the use of certified seed together with application of proper agricultural practices will create sustainable potato production that ensures high potato yields of high quality.”

However, in case of infections farmers can use simple control methods such as crop rotation with non- solanaceous crops such as maize, use of registered pesticides and fungicides, use of clean and disinfected tools and equipment, early harvesting of seed crop, field and store hygiene sanitation and rogueing of diseased plants and removing any newly formed tubers of those plants.

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: 27 August 2019; Hits: 9206

Bayer East Africa launches new wilt resistant tomato variety

Tomato farmers in Kenya are set to benefit from a new variety that is resistant to wilting launched by Bayer East Africa. The disease causes 50 to 100 per cent loss yield in affected crops.

The variety called Seminis Tomato Ansal is resistant to bacterial wilt, mosaic virus, verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, tomato leaf curl virus and root-knot nematodes.

A 25g packet which enough or planting one acre is sold by the company at Sh15,000 and is available in agro-vet shops in Nyanza, Embu, Nyahururu, Loitoktok, Marigat and Kirinyaga among other regions.

High yielding and fast maturing grafted tree tomato seedlings variety now available for Kenyan farmers

Embu County secures export market for farmers’ tomatoes, onions, capsicum, cabbages, potatoes, chillies, cucumbers and passion among other fruits

tomato wilt

Tomatoes affected by bacterial wilt

Tomato plants affected by bacterial wilt usually wither and die quickly without warning. The bacteria affect plants that are cut, injured or weakened by poor transplanting, pests and other diseases.

According to Bayer EA, the variety will benefit farmers in bacterial wilt infested regions such as Nyanza, Marigat, Nyahururu, Embu and Loitoktok. It can be grown in hot areas and can yield up to 30 metric tonnes per acre.

The variety has a firm skin and can be harvested up to 15 times with a two to three weeks lifespan. It also has a higher yield of 5 to eight fruits per cluster compared to others that have three to four.

A survey conducted by Amiran across the country in 2016 revealed that bacteria wilt was among top challenges facing farmers in Kenya.

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: 23 July 2019; Hits: 8051

Loitoktok farmer growing multiple crops to organically control pests, diseases and weeds

poultry imune booster Kithokilo's organic poultry immune booster, curative and preventative. Photo courtesy.

Marshal Kithokilo, Loitoktok farmer is growing multiple crops such as sunflower, pumpkin, okra and pawpaw, a practice which has enabled him control pests, diseases and weeds organically as opposed to conventional farming which relies on the use of chemicals and fertiliser.

The practice, also known as polyculture where crops are grown in the same space, in imitation of the diversity of natural ecosystems, has seen the farmer earn from the different crops in addition to improving his family diet.

“I started this type of farming years ago to avoid the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides which gradually affects the soil and entire ecosystem. In addition, I have been able to earn from the crops’ sales and feed my family from quality and nutritious food,” said Kithokilo.

With sunflower, the farmer is able to break wind, diseases and pests that feed on other crops. The crop when planted in a rotation effect with other crops increase yields by about 10 per cent or more with the higher yields being attributed to a number of factors working together to reduce disease transmission and pest resistance.

In addition, he draws oil from the crop and use its cake, which is a by-product as feed for his poultry. 90 kilos of sunflower yields him 40 litres of oil which is very nutritious when used to cook other foods.

“I no longer buy cooking oil from shops as I have a deal with an oil expeller workshop at Parakea, Kenya-Tanzania border where oil is extracted from sunflower seeds so that I carry the oil as they remain with the cake hence I do not incur service fee,” said Kithokilo.

Okra, another medicinal crop grown by the Kajiado County farmer. He harvests 2-3 buckets a week and sells a bucket ta Sh500. The leaves he dries and grind to be used in tea and as poultry medicine. In humans, he farmer says it is good for arthritis and ulcer patients.

He harvest 4-5 tonnes of quality pumpkin a season which he sells at Sh20,000-30,000 per tonne or Sh35 per kilo at Parakea Market. the undesirable fruits he uses to make pumpkin soup for the family and also give to the livestock to feed on.

Pawpaws are also harvested per week to a tune of 100 fruits which he sells at Sh30-35 each. The roots, seeds and leaves he dries crush and make organic pesticide for his okra and sunflower crops.

“Pawpaw seeds have a number of medicinal benefits for other crops, birds, and human beings especially the male pawpaw seeds that help in killing bacteria and heal viral infections, heals liver disease, prevent kidney disease and minimize the risk of cancer among others,” said Kithokilo.

His aim now is to increase the acreage under production from two acres to more than four acres that he can create a model farm for organic farming to enable him train other farmers in the area.

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