Nematodes and bacterial wilt are some of the deadliest infections affecting tomatoes, pepper, capsicum and other crops in the solanacea family. No amount of chemical fumigation can control these soil-borne diseases. Once they attack the crops, nothing can be done to save either the seedlings or the resources that have been spruced up. In addition […]
Soil testing key in crop bag planting Read More »
Growing flowers around houses, verandas and other open spaces available in homesteads is normal for both urban and rural areas. But Jeff Oburu, who opted to grow pumpkin and vine spinach, found it rewarding in including these vegetables among the ornamental plants surrounding his four-cornered house. Risosa and enderema, as the traditional vegetables are called
Benefits of growing crops in bags Read More »
Tobacco farmers in Kenya are likely to earn up to Sh800 if they import their yield China, India, Argentina, Chile or Taiwan. This will see farmers earn up to 4 times the current rate in Kenya where a British American Tobacco ( BAT) is paid Sh220 per kilo of grade A tobacco. Although China is
Tobacco farmers in Kenya to earn up to 4 times in export market Read More »
Grafting is becoming one of the commonest methods of improving crop yields, increasing resistance to diseases and boosting tolerance to harsh weather among other desirable characteristics. Grafting involves bringing together part of the crop to be improved ad uniting it with another, which has superior characteristics. For instance, hybrid tomatoes, which are affected by nematodes
Factsheet on grafting crops Read More »
As one enters the home of Jesse Kiorio, his wife Kezia is singing in Kikuyu while tendering to rare sweet bloody and yummy maroon ‘flowers’ surrounding their houses. A closer look reveals they are tree tomatoes, which she has grown outside her shamba after realizing that they do not need much lower space is they
One Tamarillo tree earns farmer Sh2,000 yearly Read More »
Mr. Jesse Kioria tending to his pepino fruits Renowned Prof Wangari Maathai became an environmental global icon for daring into places where other people were running away from. A few hundreds of metres from the home of this global environmental ‘humming bird’ at Tetu in Nyeri County, is a couple that is harvesting more than
Less than half acre ‘wonder’ fruit earns farmer over Sh60,000 monthly Read More »
Accurate pregnancy testing kit may soon be a reality for Kenyan farmers following the successful trial of a diagnostic gadget in Ethiopia by International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). The Hormonost Micro-Lab farmertest can detect successful artificial insemination (AI) in 20 days, allowing for farmers to prepare for another service if the first one failed. This
Accurate pregnancy testing kit may soon be in Kenya Read More »
The Kenya Highland Seed company has launched a fast maturing, high value and diseases resistant sweet pepper variety capable of producing 8 tonnes per acre in just 75 days. Normally, sweet or bell pepper has an average yield of 5-6 tonnes per acre and take at least 90 days to mature. Dubbed Maxibell, this new
Bell pepper farmers to make Sh1.3m per acre in 75days with a new variety Read More »
As most farmers in Kenya grow coriander or dhania for the vibrant urban and rural market, one peasant is using the crop to ‘seduce’ pest eating insects, which have saved him pesticide costs. Ladybird insect, which is easily attracted to the dhania, feeds on aphids, white flies, mites, among other soft-skinned pests attacking crops. Worst
Dhania may help slice farm costs by ‘seducing’ pest eaters Read More »
Farmers in Kenya are quickly embracing rabbit rearing owing to its , affordable starting capital low operational costs and quick returns on investment. Farmbiz Africa spoke to Henry Kimani, a renowned rabbit keeper and supplier in Thika and sampled out some of the benefits that are enticing more farmers to this trade that was formally a