By Fadhili Fredrick
A passionate and determined farmer in Kwale County is scaling up the production of biochar targeting at least 30 bags by the end of this year to double his production and improve his earnings.
Mr. Athuman Chaka has portioned his half-acre farm with at least 20 small-sized pits for the preparation of biochar as an alternative to replenish depleted soil.
Although, at the beginning, Mr. Chaka did not intend to make biochar as the pits were a reserve for growing bananas, he changed his mind after observing the nutrient contents of the burnt biomass to a section of the farm that improved the growth of the crops.
He makes biochar from cashew nut tree leaves and residues which he burns periodically.
Before the farm visit, Mr. Chaka told FarmBizAfrica that he had planted brinjals, cassava, okra, and amaranth (mchicha) the previous season.
Out of these amaranth stood out, thanks to its short maturity span and use of biochar.
This earned him at least Sh30,000, and he is now preparing a section of the garden to specifically grow amaranth as he hangs his hopes on the expected short rains which have delayed.
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Currently, a section of the farm is thriving and bubbling with healthy green maize as witnessed by FarmBizAfrica , thanks to biochar.
This is despite the biting drought ravaging the Coast region in Kenya.
He attributes the flourishing garden to the hard work put in to improve soil fertility by adding biochar and mixing it with manure.
Mr Chaka has mastered the art of making biochar which he recalls having started to learn since childhood. Traditionally families would pile up organic waste in strategic garbage areas within the homesteads and burn them periodically.
He would curiously observe that the crops growing in these areas would flourish.
Mr. Chaka said that it was these moments that made him realise that biochar had the potential to improve soil fertility and productivity.
FarmBizAfrica’s visit to his farm was an eye-opener for the farmer who said it offered important insights and challenged him to further scale up and improve biochar production.
“Our homesteads are advantageous as our extended families live together making it easier for collection of wastes into dumping areas. Now with the local knowledge and that of FarmBizAfrica I’m good to increase biochar production,” he said.
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He added that his passion for farming has made him realise many things that he has implemented to take good care of his farm.
“I have gradually turned farming into business and I treat it as so. I spend most of the time looking at alternative ways to improve my farm and through this, I have gained vital knowledge to progress in my farming,” he said, adding that every day offers a learning opportunity.