July 2014

Farmers scale up cassava preservation to remove poisonous cyanide

East African scientists are pushing for the third and safest way of removing cyanide, the poisonous component in cassava, which goes beyond peeling and harvesting to fermenting and milling, instead of doing away with cyanide laden varieties that are more drought resistant. Cassava is among the staple foods in East Africa providing some 85million EastAfricans […]

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Private companies package own fertilizers to stem shortfall

Private agricultural companies are now delving into the distribution of fertilizers to Kenya farmers to stem biting shortage and uncoordinated distribution channels that have opened a tirade of effects fanning Kenya’s hunger cycle. Fertilizer distribution has traditionally been done by government. But Kenya’s distribution chain has been bereft with delayed and inconsistent supply, exorbitant and

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Horticultural farmers double yields with crop energizer

A new crop energizer and yield booster is proving popular among horticultural farmers who are recording more than doubling of their yields with the supplement being hailed for its ability to assist crops take in as much nutrients from the soil as possible. When 27 years old John Wamweru Wambugu from Kiamikuyu village in Mwea

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County counts on reduced AI costs to bolster milk production

Murang’a County is counting on reduced artificial insemination costs to bolster milk yields from its 200,000 dairy cows and turn the county into the largest producer of milk at a time when exorbitant AI costs are blamed for farmers’ purchase of poor quality semen. As an incentive to the farmer, the county government is subsidizing

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Sorghum sourced instant noodles target modern customers

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology has collaborated with Nissin Foods Holdings from Japan to open a processing factory that is manufacturing locally flavoured instant noodles sourced from crops like sorghum as consumers preferences shift to ready to prepare convenient foods Through a processing factory that hopes to produce 70,000 packets packed in 70

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New tomato variety battles wilt disease

A new tomato variety resistant to bacterial wilt disease has been unveiled to Western Kenya farmers who have traditionally suffered low yields due to tired soils that are also wilt laden. The need to mitigate the effect of bacterial wilt disease whose presence is rampant around Western Kenya especially areas near Lake Victoria has forced

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Livestock financing rises on growth of industry

More financial institutions are now pouring finance into Kenya’s livestock sector as it emerges among the key drivers of the household and national income with data showing livestock incomes at some Sh320bn a year with informal sales, by-products and asset values included. A livestock loan product launched by The Kenya Women Finance Trust last year

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Climate refugees, Kenya’s ticking time bomb

There are over 10 million people worldwide who have been displaced from their homes and sources of earnings by failed rains, rising seas and other climate related factors according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This group now christened climate refugees is emerging as the next biggest headache for policy makers as

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Livestock breeders’ bonanza inspires farmer into dairying

A decision to attend the Livestock breeders show and sale in 2013 has been the spark that has transformed Gilbert Henry Obonyo’s farming fortunes and changed his long held wrong perceptions about dairy farming. Today he owns a cow that gives him upto 10 litres a day and earning him over Sh20,000 a month.The dairy

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Kenya flower industry on a boom trajectory

The emergence of new markets coupled with heightened marketing will see Kenya earn $531million from the floriculture industry with industry players projecting some 125, 000 tonnes of flowers will be exported in 2014. “If there are no major disruptions, we expect export volumes to remain steady compared to last year,” said Jane Ngige the Kenya

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