Groundnuts and soybeans are a priority grains value chain with highest potential to increase the incomes and impact livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Butere-Mumias, within Kakamega County of western Kenya. This is according to a survey done by the Kenya Agricultural Productivity Project (KAPP) in the region. Butere-Mumias with a population of 601,796 (Kenya Population …
According to the Central Bank of Kenya’s July Agriculture Sector Survey farmers have raised concerns about the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) using the North Rift planting season as the benchmark for issuing subsidized planting and top-dressing fertilizer. They argued that regions are not homogenous and there could be timing differences in planting and harvesting which …
Farmers question use of North Rift season for issuing subsidized fertiliser Read More »
Two months ago Jack Logongo was collecting five egg trays daily from his 200 six-month-old layers. The onset of cold weather in June however saw this drop to just one/ half a tray forcing him to sell off his flock. This is not a unique experience; according to studies, cold stress can cause laying hens …
Poultry farmer sells flock after production crashes over cold months Read More »
A value addition self help group in Nakuru is assisting smallholder farmers diversify their income with the practice of extracting milk from soya beans to make soyamilk being among its most successful venture which is now earning each farmer at least Sh30,000 every month. Reuben Ng’ang’a like any other small scale farmer could only think …
Nakuru farmer realise full value from soya through value-addition Read More »
By George Munene “Brokers tampering with weighing scales has always been an unfortunate part of the farming game in Kenya, however, as the cost of living has risen the degree to which this vice has proliferated in recent years is disconcerting; nowadays you will be hard-pressed to find an honest broker,” begins my conversation with …
Tipping the scales: How greed is killing Kenyan agriculture Read More »
Farmers in semi-arid areas, knocked by weather patterns are learning new techniques to beat the weather vagaries like planting before the rains start and buying seeds suited for their climate. The techniques which have at times failed remain their only option at the moment. James Mativo from Makaveti Village in Kyanzasu sub-location in Machakos County …
Timely planting & climate appropriate seeds help improve arid farmer yields Read More »
By George Munene In Kandara, Muranga county, 25 farmers, who banded together as Golden Greengrowers to produce beans on contract for export, have been able to increase their farming acreage, benefit from economies of scale, and supply exporter Total Fresh with 8 to 10 tonnes a week of vanilla French beans. The group, which is …
Muranga French bean farmers balloon incomes with group contract farming Read More »
By George Munene At NjabinI, Kinangop Samuel Mbugua has built a seven-acre flower farm that rakes in Sh5M per season. “Having spent most of my adult life working in the flower sector; I have been a supervisor at flower farms for five years. I mastered all things flowers—from their growing to the market dynamics and …
Nyandarua farmer rakes in Sh5M a season from craspedia flowers Read More »
