By Eric Kimunguyi There is a device being used rather often lately by our most vocal lobbyists as they chase new regulation or the overturning of old rules: ‘Europe’ has banned it, or done it, or changed it, they are telling us, as a reason to reshape our own policies. However, the problem with this […]
By George Munene A cow’s temperament might seem like a superficial concern, but in the dairy business, where every slight increase in production and shaved off expense counts, it’s crucial in ensuring you get just a bit more from your milking herd without incurring extra costs. A docile milking cow that takes in instructions easily
Farmers’ Friend: Behavioural traits to avoid in dairy cattle Read More »
By George Munene James Kibuku, owner of Kibuku Rabbit Farms in Nakuru is encouraging youth in Nyandarua County to take up rabbit keeping as a source of income by giving them a free pair of starter rabbits and free construction materials for their own rabbitry. “Due to Covid-19 these kids are at home with nothing
Nakuru farmer giving free rabbits and cages to youth to start farming Read More »
By John Matava Demand for the red bulb onion is now outstripping supply in Kenya, leading to rising imports of Tanzanian red onions.This makes the red bulb onion an attractive commercial investment for the Kenyan market. In three months, an acre of hybrid red bulb onion under good management yields 25 to 30 tonnes. A
FarmBiz TV:Low supply increases red bulb onion price to Sh120 per kilo in Mombasa Read More »
By George Munene BIDCO Kenya is looking for farmers to plant sunflower and soybean to supply back to BIDCO. The minimum acreage required is one acre. They are encouraging farmers to pool together so as to get a better return. Additionally, they are looking for farmers willing to plant bamboo to help supply fuel for
BIDCO opens books for contract farmers and feed distributors Read More »
By George Munene Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP), a highly infectious disease of the respiratory tract, is the deadliest goat disease in arid and semi-arid regions, costing pastoralists millions of shillings over years and affecting goats throughout Kenya. The annual costs of CCP in the arid regions is extremely high, with most goats in Kenya in
Kenya’s deadliest goat disease costing nearly Sh1/4m per 100 goats in Turkana Read More »
By John Matava A visit to Turkana County has seen Musa Juma invent underground wick irrigation that cuts water usage and time for dry land farmers, who only need to tend to their crops twice a week, with the water system opening and closing automatically. The system, championed by Ruben Centre, a non-profit and faith-based
By George Munene The banana plant is a low maintenance hardy herbaceous crop, but the yellow sigatoka is amongst the few diseases that severely effects it. Caused by a fungus, mycosphaerella musicola, it is often characterised by yellow spindle shaped spots on the surface of banana foliage. The disease is also referred to as leaf
Farmers’ Friend: controlling yellow sigatoka (yellowing disease) in bananas Read More »
By George MuneneLatia Farm located at Seising, off the Isinya Kiserian road, sits on some 60 acres, 38 acres of which are currently under use, in a grand, private-sector adventure of agricultural training and innovation.The farm has lecture halls, dormitories and a restaurant to offer six month apprenticeship courses to some 1000 form four leavers
Training farm delivers 1,000 agricultural interns a year and innovation hub Read More »
By George Munene The halt in schooling caused by the coronavirus has left hundreds of thousands of young people at home for at least another four months at a time when the economy is estimated to have lost one million jobs and forecasts of economic contraction compete for gloom. However, some of our youth have
Youth take learning to the farm to earn in Coronavirus school closure Read More »