Florence Anyona, a kale farmer in Kisii cannot sell her crop due to infestation by aphids and leaf miners which have reduced the quality of her produce. She has sold nothing since the produce was infested two months ago. “Initially, sold between one to two bags at Kisii market weekly at Sh1200 per bag but …
Fact Sheet: Controlling aphid & leaf miner in kale Read More »
By George Munene The National Horticulture Task Force on Wednesday (3rd March 2023) launched the Good Agriculture Practice for Avocado, Peas, and Beans in pods guide meant to ensure these products meet international standards averting farmer losses. The guide will help maintain high standards of production to ensure these horticulture products meet internationally set standards …
Horticulture body launches guide for avocado, beans & peas export farmers Read More »
By George Munene Produced by the Tree Health Unit, a department of Tree Genebank at CIFOR-ICRAF Nairobi, Kenya, the Major pest and disease identification and management guide for mango, avocado, tamarillo, and grevillea guide provides free vital information to help smallholders, extension and rural advisory services identify and manage all pest and disease incidences before …
New free guide helps farmers manage major mango, avocado, tamarillo pests & diseases Read More »
Cassava brown streak disease is a devastating disease that is hampering cassava yield in most African countries, especially in East Africa. In some cases, the disease exposes farmers to 100 percent loss. CBSD causes rotting of the storage roots rendering the spoilt roots inedible. The CBSD is caused by two viruses namely the Cassava Brown …
Farmers who have struggled to tame pests are recording increased yields and reduced pest infestation on their crops thanks to certain crops like sorghum, Napier grass, and desmodium among others which are naturally capable of containing pests at minimal or no cost. The crops known as trap crops have also assisted farmers cut on the …
Trap crops keep pests at bay reduce farmers’ expenses 30% Read More »
Kenya’s Horticultural Crops Department reports that 17 out of 29 rejections of horticultural produce in the international market in the last three years is due to the False Codling Moth (FCM). The pest attacks pepper, avocado, citrus, macadamia, mangoes and cotton among other crops. The larvae burrow at the stem end into the fruit and …
Fact Sheet: Controlling False Coding Moth pest– key for exporters Read More »
By George Munene Sore hocks (ulcerative pododermatitis) is an extremely common bacterial infection in rabbits. It occurs as sores, usually on the heels of your rabbit’s back feet, i.e, its hocks. It is observed as an open furless wound at the tip of the heel. If unchecked this condition worsens in time affecting deeper tissues …
Front, the 3R potato undamaged and empty rows where conventional potatoes were planted but died due to late blight disease. By George Munene The International Potato Center (CIP) is running trials and working on providing market access to genetically engineered potato varieties with complete resistance to late blight disease in Kenya and Nigeria Caused by …
Kenya & Nigeria working to commercialise complete late blight-resistant potato Read More »
Immediate laying a of a net over a nursery bed can prevent pest which attack seedlings as the intuders search for cell sap, leaves or stems to feed on. Many a time, seedlings die following heavy infestation, which also puts them at risk of contracting diseases transmitted by pests like insects. A new net or …
Worn mosquito nets help recent nursery pest attacks Read More »
In 2017, Kenya’s fresh produce to the European Union was intercepted 29 times due to infestation by pests such as leaf miners, bollworm,s and armyworms among others with the product having exceeded minimum pesticide limits of 10 per cent maximum residue level according to the Horticultural Crops Directorate. In developing countries such as Kenya, frequent …
