Smart farms

Graduate earns about Sh1m a season from hay production after leaving Sh10,000 salary job

boma rhode grass hay

A 2012 Mass Communication graduate from Kenya Methodist University is earning about Sh1m net income a season from Boma Rhode hay farming after quitting a Sh10,000 salary job thanks to his farther who natured the young farmer through the fodder production.

David Kemboi Kiprop, 26, after graduating in December 2012 got a job as a correspondence by Kenya News Agency in January 2013 but after settling his monthly bills from the salary, he would remain with nothing to save something which kept him looking for an alternative.

“Though I loved my job, every month I would run out of cash which kept me seeking for help from my parents. I totally had nothing to save for my future development,” said Kemboi.

When he could not bear it anymore, he left after about four months of service and joined his father back at their home in Mang’u, a place between Kabarak and Rongai. There his father had 31 acres of land on which he was commercially cultivating Boma Rhode hay.

He stated helping the farther and at the same time learning the production process which included even operating tractors for a period of one year.

“I made sure I got involved in every step of the hay production, knowing where to buy the seeds, machine operation, harvesting and market sourcing,” said Kemboi.

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In 2015 he was ready to go on his own after saving Sh90,000 capital from helping his father. He acquired 15 acres from the father to start his own venture.

He used Sh11,000 to buy 10 kilos of seeds from Kenya Seed Company Limited, spent Sh4,500 on labour and some free manure from Maasai pastoralists who camp with their livestock in some part of their farm as they look for pasture during drought for 3-4 months.

“After this period, we are able to collect enough manure which we can use to supply the crops fo the whole yaer,” said Kemboi.

The first harvest saw him realise 250 bales per acre translating to 3,750 bales out of the 15 acres he planted. A bale goes at Sh200 minimum price selling to livestock farmers from the area. This means the 26 years old farmer raked in a total of Sh75,000. This to him was a motivation.

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He has since increased the acreage under the fodder production from 15 to 20 since 2016. Currently he can harvest up to 300 bales per acre translating to 6000 bales which he sell at Sh250 per bale earning him Sh1.5m gross income per season and Sh1m after expenses.

“I have over two seasons a year of harvesting with limited maintenance as the crop is drought resistant and it grows again and again when it is cut hence there is no planting every season.”

From this he has acquired more acres of land near Salgaa where he has started poultry from last year November, keeping broilers.

He started with 600 one day old chicks he bought at Sh78 each, and used Sh60,000 to buy feeds, drugs and labour. By February this year he had already sold 270 mature broilers at Sh450 each to Bamburi Cement and Royal Tank companies in the area which he says buy the chicken to feed their staff.

He has two employees whom he pays up to Sh40,000 when there is much work to be done at the farm.

Kemboi is now thinking of venturing into breeding pet dogs to increase his income saying that farming has become part of him and a source of his livelihood.

“Farming has become so sweet and profiting and I am not thinking otherwise besides farming because I have learnt it can sustain,” he said.

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Local NGO helps over 50,000 farmers’ countrywide save and access chemical free seeds

In 2009 Daniel Wanjama and his four colleagues left their jobs at the Ministry of Agriculture to start the Seed Savers Network, a non-profit agro-diversity social enterprise based in Gilgil, Nakuru County to promote environmentally free access to seeds by farmers.

According to the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service, the informal seed sector in Kenya accounts for about 60-70 per cent of most seeds planted by farmers across the country. In this, farmers recycle seeds from previous harvests thereby denying them the chance to maximize yields.

“We did our own survey in five villages in Gilgil with sample farmers and found many challenges that they encountered like low prices, low quality products, over supply leading to wastage in the farming of traditional crops such as arrowroots, cassava, sweet potato vines and cereals,” said Daniel.

With skills acquired in his previous career in the ministry, the four implemented their idea to educate farmers on a variety of services including seed bulking, seed multiplication, seed selection, small-scale seed bank development, among others that would see farmers in the region grow different types of crops chemical free.

“After farmers harvest seeds, we normally sort the best grains from the weak ones and thereafter preserve them with diatomaceous dust, a pesticide and agent that absorb moisture and keeps the seeds dry,” said Daniel.

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seed savers network

Farmers preparing sweet potato vines for planting. Seedsaverskenya.org

This type of farming ensures conservation of natural resources (land, water and air) by ensuring no environmental pollution by use pesticides. This involves training of farmers on use of organic bio-pesticides formulation, liquid manure and vermin compost to minimize use of external inorganic farm inputs such as urea or diammonium phosphate.

“Through agro-biodiversity, we established that indigenous foods such as yams, arrow roots, cassava among others were almost going into extinct and thus it was necessary conserving them by showing farmers how to do it for free,” said Daniel.

The process comprises saving quality seeds from their farms in a bank and identifying the best seeds for a certain region.

The network get their resources for training, workshops, practical’s and agricultural lesson, seeds buying and planting materials through local and International grants like the Government of Kenya, Tudortrust, Kenya Food Rights Alliance (KEFRA) among other organizations.

They have so far trained more than 50,000 farmers across Kenya.

They also train the youths through mobilization and believe that due to the high rise of population food will be scarce hence need to venture into agro-biodiversity.

According to World Bank, Kenya’s population is growing at a rate of 2.5 per cent annually.

“We believe in a bright and health future of the population thus the success of plants and animal biodiversity practices lies in today's youth and that is why we are relentlessly reaching out to more youth groups and individuals to train them on the importance of seed and biodiversity preservation” he said.

However, they encounter some challenges like bio- piracy; exploiting their genetic material from the farmers without paying compensation of patents by some foreign organizations.

“We need to keep away from philosophical ideas on farming and put the right practices and research in crops conservation for our people,” said Daniel.

Interested farmers can contact Daniel on +254 712 451 777

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Friday, 12 February 2021 So good and so needed.

Water saving crystals that can enable plants survive longer in dry conditions

BELSAP Bell Industries Limited sales agronomist, Peter Chomba- Mt. Kenya region showing BELSAP during a past farmers' field day. Photo: Zablon Oyugi.

Farmers, especially in water-stressed areas growing various types of crops such as horticulture and field crops, forest and fruit trees, potted plants and flowers can now increase chances of survival of the plants using water-saving crystals that help regulate soil nutrients and moisture utilisation hence reducing any loss.

The crystals known as BELSAP sold in the country by Bell Industries Limited in different quantities are granules in dry form and turns into a gel when water is added to it (hydrated). This makes it retain enough water for a longer period for plant use instead of it (water) getting drained and wasted away.

"The crystals can be applied both in broadcast or row applications. With the former system, the crystals are evenly spread on top of the soil and work down to a depth of 5-20cm depending on the crop whlile with the later system, the crystals are placed in the seed slot along with the seed or seedling.," said Peter Chomba, Bell Industries sales agronomist.

Fertilisers can also be applied at the same time and it will have no bad effects. The crystals absorb the fertiliser and release it slowly optimising the duration that the fertiliser is available to the plant.

How BELSAP works

Once BELSAP is applied and incorporated into the soil, on watering or irrigating, the crystals absorb water and swell rapidly.

Wahen the soil dries up and reaches 50 per cent field capacity, the crystals are engineered to release moisture which triggers the roots to grow to the new found moisture source provided by the presence of the hydrogels (saturated crystals).

The process promotes increased root mass resulting into larger plants and increased crop yield.

When the water is taken up by the plant, the particle shrinks and becomes ready for the process to reoccur.

Areas of application

BELSAP is used in nurseries, greenhouses, crop fields, forestry, landscape and pastures on a wide range of crops including cereals, vegetables, flowers, tea, coffee, tobacco, fruit trees and bananas in both rain-fed and irrigation agriculture.

Application rates

This depends on crop, climate and soil condition. For instance higher rates I used on light soils and lower rate on heavy soils.

When transplanting tree or vegetable crops, one I required to dig a hole and heap backfill soil which is later thoroughly mixed with BELSAP. A half of the mixture is to be placed in the bottom of the planting hole. The seedling should then be planted with the roots covered with second half of the backfill soil.

BELSAP is non-tonic and environmentally friendly.

"This product has no residual toxity in the soil as it biodegrades into base components parts of amonia, carbon dioxide and water and due to its potassium base structure, BELSAP does not increase salinity levels in the soil," said Chomba.

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Monday, 16 August 2021 [quote=Kilonzo Mutuku]Would like to order. How much do you charge per kg[/quote]...

Saturday, 10 July 2021 Would like to order. How much do you charge per kg