May 2020

Govt issuing e-vouchers for 60% of fertiliser, chemicals for smallholders

Leave a Comment / Pest Control

By Jolene Njambi The government is launching e-vouchers to give smallholders discounts of up to 60 per cent on fertiliser and agrochemicals, as part of a Sh53.7bn economic stimulus package program designed to help the country through the current COVID-19 crisis. The government has set aside Sh3bn for the supply of farm inputs through an …

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oranges 2

FarmBiz TV: Grafted orange trees deliver higher quality fruits faster.

Leave a Comment / Yields

By John Matava Grafted orange trees take three years to start producing fruits that are of the best quality for the all-year fresh market. Intercropping the trees with legumes additionally balances soil nutrients further boosting orange yields. Related News : High value fruits birth saving culture among Ukambani farmers Factsheet on grafting crops Farmers count …

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Arrow roots

Arrowroot prices nearly double in 5 years on surging demand for traditional foods

Leave a Comment / Market

By Lydia Gichuki Arrowroot prices have almost doubled over the last five years driven by rising demand from consumers seeking out the root for its health and nutrition benefits. At the farm gate, the price of the tuber has increased from Sh40 per kilogram in 2016, to Sh70 per kilogram in 2020. In the market, …

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njahi farming in kenya

FarmBiz TV : Unexploited potential of dolichos/Njahi bean.

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By John Matava Dolichos/Njahi is a multi-purpose crop grown as a pulse and vegetable and also producing up to 5-10 tonnes per hectare of green matter which serves as fodder or green manure.This hardy legume has no enemies (pests and diseases), does not require any fertilizer and fetches high prices in the market. Related News: …

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Njeru Industries shakes up tea buying with fast payments

Leave a Comment / Smart farms

By George Munene Creating a private tea processor can be an uphill struggle, but Njeru Industries, which is now moving to buying 10m Kgs of tea a month, has proven that farmers will move to private processors when the payment terms are better: further showing that buyer competition can serve smallholders far better than a …

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Banana Tissue Culture 1

FarmBiz TV : Tissue-culture banana yield double the ancient breeds.

Leave a Comment / Yields

By John Matava Tissue culture bananas produce fruits in 340 days, compared to 420 days for normal bananas, and yield 30-40 tonnes per hectare, which is twice traditional bananas. Related News: Farmers urged to embrace tissue culture bananas Kirinyaga farmers increase earnings threefold selling bananas as a group Ready market excites over 2,200 Meru farmers …

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Wedding garden farmer saves Sh8,000 a month with solar pump

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By Frederique Achieng’ A wedding garden business owner in Kisumu has cut her water pumping expenses from Sh2,000 a week to zero by using a solar water pump sold on an instalment credit plan. The saved expenses have paid for the pump in just nine months and left her with a charging device for phones …

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Tanks

Water tanks offer health and savings for rural homes

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By Lydia Gichuki Investing in a water tank can reduce a rural home’s water costs by two thirds, reduce water-borne diseases, and pay for itself within a year and a half: freeing up nearly Sh50,000 a year from then onwards to spend on other things, according to a FarmBizAfrica survey of water tank prices and …

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COVID Fund delivers free agronomist tests and advice for farmers

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By Fredrique Achieng A new farm know-how service providing soil testing and guidance on ideal crops and seeds is giving free services to farmers for the next three months funded by a COVID fund to help increase farm yields for 2020. Farmers must be a member of a co-operative society, in order to get the …

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FarmBiz TV: Grapes are earning a place as a new crop in Kenya for local wines.

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By John Matava As more companies experiment with Kenyan/made wines, the country’s quality of grapes in proving promising, opening up a potential new agricultural segment. Related News: Farmers can diversify their sources of income by growing grapes Star vineyard farmer establishes own wines company Murang’a wine maker training farmers on commercial production of grapes High …

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