For long among arable areas of Kenya, the Western region has long been viewed as a model of soil degradation characterized by low food crop production. On average a hectare there yields 0.5 tonnes of maize but can yield 6 tonnes if soils were well managed by replenishing them with vital nutrients which has inspired […]
Low cost soil fertility techniques raise yields in Western Kenya Read More »
In a bid to deepen the adoption of value addition in agribusiness, a farmer based agricultural organization; National Agricultural Advisory Authority (NAADS) in Uganda is funding smallholder farmers with capital to invest in processing machineries and equipment. The new initiative has not only enabled farmers to triple profits from the processed agro based products but
Ugandan farmers triple profits with processing machines Read More »
Smallholder farmers in the country struggling to access finance to embrace new age farming can now be relieved after the introduction of a flexible bit by bit mode of payment to access Money maker irrigation pumps by Kick Star International, the manufacturers of the kit. The initiative which is dubbed Tone Kwa Tone, Swahili
‘Drop by drop’ funds farmers to access irrigation technologies Read More »
Over 70 million people in developing countries who largely depend on Cassava are set to benefit from a new breed of the crop that can not only be bred on large scale to contain high contents of vitamin A but also take a shorter time to triple the Vitamin A content. The process which is
70m Africans to benefit from fast maturing cassava variety Read More »
Peter Njeru a farmer from Siakago in Eastern Province is part of 27 farmers tapping the potential of indigenous fruit trees for economic benefits. Last year the farmers began adopting grafted indigenous fruit fast maturing trees to replace ones that have grown wildly for ages and produce fruits after 10 years compared grafted that fruit
Indigenous fruit tree farming rises to fight malnutrition Read More »
Foot and mouth disease sometimes referred to as hoof and mouth disease is an infectious and fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild bovine. The virus causes a high fever for two or three days, followed by blisters inside the mouth and on the feet that may rupture and cause lameness.
Understanding the Foot and Mouth disease Read More »
East African flower companies are cutting down on expenses they use in pest control, while preserving the environment thanks to a new and cheaper biological control method that chew the voracious mites within minutes. The new biological tool, using the spider mite’s predator, Phytoseiulus persimilis, on the highly competitive rose-growing farms of Kenya has also
Flower farms count profits with a biological pest control method Read More »
A Kenyan born scientist and his love for insects has shot him to international stardom winning him prestigious recognition in a study that he did that links the role of insects on food security in Kenya. Gino Martins is the recipient of a prestigious £30,000 (Sh4.2 million) Whitley Award for Nature, considered the Oscar of
Kenyan scientist recognized for connecting insects’ role in food security Read More »
Over 100 traditional orphaned crops in Africa that were threatened for extinction have been rejuvenated and safeguarded through the establishment of the African Plant Breeding Academy, a move that spells good tidings as it will help improve the livelihoods of Africa’s smallholder farmers and their families, reduce hunger and boost Africa’s food supply. The new
African orphaned crops get academy Read More »
Kenya’s smallholder farmers are reaping from a growing appetite for their produce from hotels as customers keen on their health dictate the kind of menu the hotels prepare. As hotels chase smallholder farmers due to their consistency in quality and supply, farmers are equally insulating themselves from market vagaries by getting guaranteed markets and higher
Smallholder farmers grow profits as hotels compete for their produce Read More »