Organic farming system in Kenya

This is an agriculture system which excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured fertilizers, pesticides, plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics and food additives. Genetically modified organisms or GMOs and their products are prohibited in organic farming.
The seed therefore must  not be GMOs or chemically treated.Organic agriculture therefore is a farming system which involves using a variety of techniques to achieve good plant and animal yields without harming the natural environment or the people who live and work in it. The natural farming system does not mean going back to traditional methods .Organic agriculture takes the best traditional methods and combines with modern scientific knowledge. The farmers’ use all the available knowledge, techniques and materials to work with nature. Therefore the farmer creates a healthy balance between nature and farming, where crops and animals can grow and thrive.  Kenya exports most of its crop to Europe and therefore the EUREGAP or good agricultural practices are supposed to be adhered to. The following are some of the regulations that should be observed in organic agriculture, in order to acquire European Union certification.

The following rules and regulations shall apply to organic plant farming in accordance with law EC 834/2007 of the European Commission.

a)      Organic plant farming shall use tillage and cultivation practices that maintain or increase soil natural matter, enhance soil stability and biodiversity, prevents soil compaction and soil erosion.

b)     The fertility and biological activity of the soil shall be maintained and increased by multi-annual crop rotation which includes legumes and other green manure crops and by application of livestock manures or organic material both preferably composted from natural materials.

c)     The use of biodynamic preparations is allowed.

d)     Fertilizers and soil conditioners may only be used if they have been authorized for use in this system of farming

e)     Mineral nitrogen fertilizers shall not be used.

f)      All plant growing techniques used shall prevent or minimize any contribution to the contamination of the environment.

g)     The prevention of damage caused by pests, diseases and weeds shall rely primarily on protection by natural enemies, choice of species and varieties, crop rotation, cultivation techniques and thermal processes.

h)     In case of an established threat to a crop, plant protection products may only be used if they have been authorized for use this system of farming under article 16

i)     For the production of products other than seed and vegetative propagation material, only organically produced seed and propagating material shall be used. to this end the mother plant in case of seed and the parent plant in case of vegetative propagation material shall have been produced in accordance with The rules laid down in this regulation for at least one plant generation, or two growing seasons in case of  perennial crops.
j)   Products for cleaning and disinfection in plant production shall only be used if they have been authorized for use in organic farming.
 For more information read http://www.organicfarmermagazine.org/ 

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Dehydrated Mango Fruits in Kenya

Dehydrated mango fruits in Kenya can be processed by using the principle of osmosis. Firm ripe produce is dried in a cabinet solar dryer. The finished product is golden yellow with a semi-translucent, plump appearance, chewable texture, which is neither crisp nor leathery, with a characteristic sweetened flavour. The products are eaten as snacks and desserts. They can also be used for ice cream making. In the process of making these products, choice of equipments to be used and operating conditions must be considered in the drying process because these can have strong impact on the physical properties of the final product. Green produce can also be dehydrated. 

Ingredients

10 kg fresh firm ripe mangoes
1 ½ kg Sugar
5 grams sodium metabisulfite

The procedure of drying the fruits Starts by weighing the required produce then washing until clean. Peel and make slices lengthwise. Separate choice cuts from chips.
Weigh the slices, then Add 30% sugar.
Allow to stand for 4-6 hours. Drain. Add 1% sodium metabisulfite to syrup. Boil Syrup. Add the slices and boil for 3 minutes. Leave to stand overnight. Drain and Collect syrup, then wash mango slices with warm water.

Drain slices, and spread on trays, process in a solar dryer for 16 hours. Sweat for 12 hours and then Sprinkle confectioner’s sugar. Pack the dehydrated fruits product in polyethylene bags ready for marketing. You may target to sell the dehydrated mango fruits to supermarkets, confectioners and groceries stores.

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Growing Tree Tomato plants (tamarillo) in Kenya

A single tree tomato grown in good fertile soil can bear more fruits than an average family can eat in 3 months. The fruits can be eaten fresh by scooping the flesh from halved pieces. For other uses the skin must be removed which is easily done by pouring boiling water over the fruits and letting it stand for 4 minutes before peeling. The tree tomato flesh can be added to stews to make unique flavour. The tree tomato fruits are tasty and decorative in salads making appetizing desserts. Fresh tree tomato is frequently blended with sugar and water to make refreshing juice. The fruits should not be cut on wooden or other permeable surface as the juice will make an indelible mark. The tree tomato plants are small attractive, half woody and evergreen. The leaves are alternate and evergreen with a heart shaped base and a pointed apex. The tree tomato plants are brittle and shallow rooted growing to a height of 3M to 5.5M. The fruits are long stalked and dangling, in clusters of 3 to 12 smooth, egg shaped and pointed at both ends. The skin colour may be deep purple, blood red, orange or yellow.

The shrubs are subtropical rather than tropical and grow well in altitudes of between 1,500M to 3,000M, and grow best where the temperature remains above 50ºF with  well drained soils. The shrub requires fertile light soils rich in organic matter for vigorous growth. It cannot tolerate prolonged drought and therefore mulching and supplementary irrigation are beneficial. A compound fertilizer may be applied at sowing time if necessary. Seeds and cuttings may be used for growing tree tomato. Seeds develop into high-branched erect shrub while cuttings develop into shorter bushy plants with low lying branches. The plants from seed are not always true to type but are most likely if care is taken to extract seed from red fruits with black seed pulp or yellow fruits with yellow seed pulp. Germination is accelerated by placing washed and dried seeds in a freezer for 24 hours before sowing. Cuttings should only be from plants which are 1 - 2 years old with a thickness of 1.5 to 2.5 cm (3/8 to 1 inch) and a length of 45 to75 cm (18 to 30 inches)The leaves are removed and the base cut square below a node. When the plants are about 1-1.5 metres, cut the roots on one side and lean the plants to the other, in the direction of the midday sun at about 30 to 45 degrees. This allows bearing braches to grow along the trunk rather than just at the top.

The plants can grow up to 6M high but are easily damaged by wind and needs shelter.  Plants cuttings can be sown directly at a spacing of 3×3M in the ground, but should not be permitted to bear the first year. Newly grown tree tomatoes should be pruned to a height of 90-120cm (3-4ft) .Yearly pruning thereafter is recommended to eliminate branches that have already born because fruits are produced on new growth. Pruning also aids in harvesting and if timed properly can extend the total bearing period. The tomato tree plants will bear fruits after 2years. Tree tomatoes are ready to harvest when they develop the red or yellow colour. To harvest simply pull the fruits from the shrubs with a snapping motion leaving the stalk attached.  Well nourished plants can produce up to 66 kg per year. The fruits can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 weeks, but temperatures below 38ºF can cause the skin to discolour .Tree tomatoes are generally pest resistant other than occasional attacks of green  aphids and fruits flies. The principal disease affecting growing tree tomatoes is powdery mildew which may cause serious defoliation if not controlled. Other diseases during growth include potato virus, cucumber mosaic virus. Control the plants’ diseases using suitable pesticides.
More-http://yagrein.blogspot.com/p/what-are-youth-saying.html

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Straw mushrooms cultivation Technology

Straw mushrooms cultivation technology is very popular in South East Asia and can be cultivated outdoors or indoors. This cultivation technology uses rice straw substrate which is abundant, although other agricultural wastes can also be used. Outdoor straw mushrooms cultivation technology is simple and very adaptable to rural areas. The disadvantage of this technology includes large quantities of bedding required, pests, weeds, damage of beds by heavy rains and low yields resulting from poor management. The beds should be raised to facilitate drainage and shaded.

The straw should be arranged in beds while tied in bundles and trimmed on both ends for uniform length. The bundles should be soaked in clean water for 2-3 hours up to 24 hours. Draining before piling bundles on the soil or cemented floor is essential. The substrate is subjected to the squeeze test to ascertain the quantity of water before spawning. After the layer is complete, place spawns about 5-8 cm from the edge. The next layer of straw is made and spawning continues for 3-4 layers, or bed height of 60cm, then covered with plastic. This raises the temperature to about 35-38ºC which is optimal the growth of straw mushrooms mycelia. This also conserves moisture eliminating the need for watering straw mushrooms cultivation beds until fruiting.

During hot weather the beds should be loosely covered so that the temperature inside does not rise too high to kill the mycelia. Optimal temperature required during spawn run is 24-38ºC, 80-90% relative humidity, CO2 concentration above 5000ppm and no light, which takes 5-10 days. After 8-10days of incubation small white pinheads appear on the sides of the bed. The plastic cover in the technology should be lifted to provide good ventilation for cultivation of healthy fruit bodies. The straw mushrooms are ready for harvesting 2-3 days after appearance of pinheads.

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Organically grown African spinach & black night shade indigenous vegetables in Kenya

African spinach also called amaranthus species are organically grown indigenous vegetables in Kenya. They are broadly categorized into grain, vegetables, and ornamental and weed types. The grain and vegetables types are utilized as flour and leaves respectively. Nutritionally they provide calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C and protein.Amaranthus indigenous vegetables are adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions. This crop is easy to grow organically in fertile soils with enough moisture and the crop has high yields. These indigenous crops are nutritionally superior to exotic ones such as tomatoes, cucumber and cabbage. Farmers normally harvest and use their own seed but there is a problem of mix up of different types of amaranthus.
Amaranthus indigenous vegetables are organically  grown by direct planting in furrows 30cm apart and later thinned to 15cm within the row. The thinning should be utilized. This close spacing is possible because the amaranthus root system does not spread. The seed rate is 5kg per hectare and application of 30-40 tons of manure is recommended. The manure should be mixed well into the soil before sowing. The organically produced crop is harvested by selective picking of leaves which may be blended with other indigenous vegetables or utilized alone. For amaranths seed production mature  seeds should be harvested, dried in the shade for five days and in the sun for one day. Clean seeds are preserved by mixing with 5 handfuls of wood ash for every 20kg of seed.organically produced amaranthus yields 1 bag of seed and 120 bags of leaves per acre of growing land.

Black night shade indigenous vegetables are erect herbaceous plants that grows up to one metre, characterized by green ridged stems, smooth edged leaves and with long stalks. These indigenous crops grow organically and widely in east Africa. They are rich in protein, calcium, iron, phosphorus and magnesium. The seed rate is 500 grams per acre. Planting spacing is 30cm×drill and thinning is carried out after 4 weeks. The organically produced crop requires fertile soil with enough moisture for good growth. Manure should be applied as for amaranthus above. For seed production mature fruits yellow in colour are harvested, soaked in water for a day and seeds are extracted by squeezing the fruits in water. Good seeds will sink while poor quality seed will float. Floating seed should be removed, and then the good seed which can organically grow vigorously should be dried for 3 days in the shade and one day in the sun. Clean seeds are preserved by mixing with 5 handfuls of wood ash for every 20kg of seed. These indigenous vegetables produce one bag of seed per acre in addition to160 bags of leaves per acre.Market at http://www.organicfarmermagazine.org/farmers-sell-products-via-sms/

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Organically grown spider plants vegetables in Kenya

Kenyan farmer

Spider plants are indigenous vegetables which are propagated directly by seed in Kenya. They are known to be nutritious, medicinal and therefore very rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, proteins and fibre. The spider plants are erect herbs growing to a height of ½ -1metre depending on management. They are common in western Kenya, Nyanza and major urban markets in the country. The local names for these vegetables are chisaka, saka, thageti, esaka, chisaga and isakiat. The popularity of spider plants vegetables is growing due to increasing knowledge of benefits of healthy eating. The main feature of spider plants vegetables is the ability to grow widely with very little management, and it can grow anywhere in East Africa. According to research at regional research centre kakamega Kenya, spider plants yields better with organic manure than when inorganic fertilizers are applied. No chemical sprays are required for pest and disease control

The stems are hairy and often deep pink in colour. The leaves grow on long stalks and are divided into 5 leaflets. These vegetables require soils that are rich in organic matter. Manure application is recommended at a rate of 30 tons per hectare. The seeds are directly drilled at a rate of 500g per acre, in furrows30- 45 cm apart. Thinning to 15cm follows after 4 weeks at about 6cm height and thinning are utilized as vegetables. After flowering, the growing tip should be pinched off to encourage branching and high leaf yields. However if the crop is intended for seed production, the tipped off spider plants should be allowed to flower and harvesting of leaves minimized.

The crop is ready for harvesting 45 days after sowing. Harvesting is done before pods formation by selective picking of leaves with the leaf stalk attached. Mature pods yellow in colour, should be harvested for a crop intended for seed production. They should be dried for five days in the shade and one day in the sun. The pods should then be shelled and the seeds winnowed. Clean seeds are mixed with one handful of wood ash per 5kg of seed for preservation and storage. The vegetables can yield 1bag of seeds and 100 bags of leaves per acre of land. These crops have minimal pests and disease problems other than a small beetle causing holes on the leaves and bacterial blight. Crop rotation is therefore very important for spider plants growing.Market connection .Read absolutelyorganic

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Youth in Agriculture Motivation and Government Policy

Involvement of youth in agriculture is not only a good idea but crucial for agricultural economies sustainability. Most African economies heavily depend on farming to earn foreign exchange, for employment of 70% of the population, to provide raw materials for agro-industries and for food security among the citizens. Therefore youth in agriculture campaign is necessary for succession and sustainability of the industry. It goes without saying that absence of young people in agricultural activities points to a future economic disaster for Africa and most developing countries ,confirming an African proverb which says that, ‘‘a herd without calves is headed for extinction’’. The future of the farming industry is in the hands of the young people. It is vital that young people are involved in the industry early in life.

But in reality, traditionally and economically little is done to seriously involve youth in agriculture, until later in life when most likely they have developed other priorities. In this case farming becomes a supplementary activity without its due importance. According to the African tradition inherited land is not released to the young people for farming until later in life when they get married, yet land is a principal factor of production in farming. This practice is mainly responsible for propagation of traditional subsistence farming which lacks  vision and innovation leading to low returns. Governments’ policies to encourage ownership of land by the young people should be  formulated urgently. This will enable the industry to absorb young people at the height of their talent, energy, optimism and innovativeness. Involvement of young people in farming should employ a multi-sector approach for success.

 
This can be achieved through integration of youth in agriculture policy with education policy, young people employment policy and the policies of all relevant government sectors. Agricultural extension services should also be modernized to embrace information and communication technologies. The traditional extension methodologies like field days are no longer effective for reaching the youth in agriculture. Use of information and communication technology will modernize and change the face of farming, improve farm income and improve food security to the communities. The information and communication technology should be used to deliver extension services, provide accurate market information and to link the youth in agriculture with consumers of their farm produce. This will give youth in agriculture comparative advantage and a superior position in the market place.

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Grow sweet potato tops for vegetables and improve your food security

Diversification of sweet potatoes consumption is essential for global food and nutrition security. Eating the tops is popular in the Pacific islands, Asia and Africa, but consumption is limited in the United States. The leaves contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, dietary fiber and essential fatty acids, according to dietitian Pace M. Johnson of the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences at Tuskegee University in Alabama. The bioactive compounds in the vegetables improve immune function by combating free radicals that damage cells. This action helps fight against cancer cell growth and heart disease. Increased consumption of sweet potato tops should be promoted According to Johnson in the October 2010 issue of "Nutrition Reviews. Known scientifically as Ipomoea Batatas, the crop grows in almost every family’s backyards particularly in Africa, Asia and pacific making the vegetables readily available.

In Philippines, sweet potato tops or leaves are common in many native dishes. Filipinos have learned to cook the vegetables in various ways, too numerous to state, the usual method being simply steaming by placing on cooking rice and salting. These crops are easy to grow and cultivate, and grows well in a wide range of climatic conditions. All one needs to do is to plant a vine into the ground, and it establishes. It is a vine, which most people just allow to crawl on the ground and it can also grow on trellis too.  A few weeks later the tops are available for picking as vegetables.  If you choose to leave the tops, the roots will start growing forming tubers which can be pulled from the ground later for food. The crop grows continuously all the year round. It is drought tolerant and can ensure throughout the year availability of greens and subsequent good nutrition. Apart from being tasty, these simple vegetables are packed with nutrition, being the only vegetables with Iodine, a common substance found in seafood. It also contains vitamin A, C and Calcium; In the Philippines, it is widely believed that lactating mothers fed sweet potato tops improve their breast milk production. In fact, it is now a major ingredient of a commercially available food supplement drink in the Philippines. It is also a folk remedy which is used to treat diarrhea and dizziness;

Sweet potato vegetables are good sources of vitamins A, vitamin K and folate, or folic acid. You can eat the leaves of the sweet potato as they are nutritious, delicious and medicinal. The vegetables are known to contain minerals, antioxidants, dietary fiber and essential fatty acids, according to dietitian Pace M. Johnson of the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences at Tuskegee University in Alabama. The bioactive compounds in the leaves improve immune function by combating free radicals that damage cells. This action helps fight against cancer cell growth and heart disease. Combining sweet potato leaves with mushrooms works well in a heart healthy diet plan to protect you from disease. The tops contain phenolic compounds which are known to fight cancer and heart disease. Here is a simple recipe for these nutritious vegetables which are easy to prepare, and can be eaten with starchy foods

1 large bunch of tender sweet potato tops

4 pcs Irish potatoes, peeled and diced into about 1.5 cm squares

4 medium tomatoes

1 Tbsp cooking oil

1 bulb onion

3 cups water

Salt to taste

Heat the oil, add the Irish potatoes and stir fry them until the outer parts start to change color. Add and stir fry the onions and tomatoes until they become tender. Add the water and allow it to boil. Add salt and the Sweet potato tops. Continue to cook, around 5 minutes, until cooked and tender enough, stirring once or twice to ensure the ingredients are cooked evenly. Serve warm. Grow sweet potato tops in your backyard garden and stay healthy. There are numerous healthy green vegetables for our consumption growing out there! 
Club Mami ''The greatest Wealth is Health''http://www.mamiverse.com/15-foods-that-will-make-your-skin-glow-14878/ 

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Plant ' Moringa oleifera' the amazing agroforestry vegetable tree in kenya

Moringa oleifera also known as drumstick is grown in Kenya mainly for the local and export market. The trees are propagated by seeds as well as vegetatively through cuttings. The demand for these trees is increasing due to superior nutritional/ medicinal value and adaptability to harsh climates. The young pods contain protein, calcium, iron and vitamin C. Moringa oleifera leaves contain high amounts of Calcium, iron, vitamin A and C. Young leaves and the tender pods are prepared by cooking or pickling and eaten as vegetables. Young seeds are used as peas while mature seeds are eaten roasted like nuts. The pod is ground into powder natural water purifier.

These trees require warm to hot climates with temperature of 25-35ºC and well drained soils. Moringa oleifera resists drought for several months after establishment and is well adapted to low altitudes up to 100M. The root sprouts from the trees stumps are also used as propagation materials. Cuttings of about 1 metre are sown in previously prepared holes measuring 1× 1×1M at the onset of the rains. Cow dung paste is applied on top of the cuttings to prevent drying. Seeds for planting can be collected from well developed pods. The seeds are soaked in cow dung water mixture for one day to stimulate germination process and sown in a nursery bed 10cm apart.

Regular watering is vital for growth. At 4-6 months when seedlings are 30cm high they are transplanted in previously prepared holes as above. Manures and fertilizers are applied and mixed with the soil at sowing time.15-20kg farm yard manure, 4kg ash, 1kg bone meal or tsp per hole is mixed with the top soil before planting.3 months after transplanting moringa oleifera is cut back to 15cm to induce lateral branching. In the first year the flowers are removed from the trees to enhance production of more flowers. Produce harvesting starts about 8 months after transplanting seedlings. Moringa oleifera should be harvested into clean well aerated containers such as plastic crates. Moringa oleifera trees products are then sorted graded and packed for the market.

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Earn a million in 6 months by growing an acre of garlic herb in Kenya

Garlic herb is a relative of bulb onions .One acre with a plant population of 74995 at the price of Ksh 15 per piece will earn a gross revenue of ksh 1,124,925.The crop has a good and growing market in Kenya, due to it's culinary and medicinal value. This crop has pungent taste and smell and it’s used for flavouring food particularly soups, meat and fish. This medicinal plant has been used successfully for pimple and boils removal from the skin, relief of rheumatism, colds, coughs and sore throats, management of diabetes and HIV and AIDS complications. Garlic herb growing is suited for medium to high altitudes of 500-2000M. High temperatures of 30ºC are necessary for optimum bulb development. Cooler temperatures in the early stages are required as they favour vegetative growth required for plant establishment. Optimum temperatures for growing the crop are 12-24ºC. Excess rainfall and humidity are detrimental to the plant’s vegetative growth and bulb formation. Growing of garlic herb is carried out in low rainfall areas where irrigation can be used in the early stages when water requirement is highest.

planting Bulbs on sale call Githaiga 0729829532

The plant requires well drained fertile soils. Avoid clay soils as they may result in malformed bulbs. Soil Ph should be 5.5-6.8.flavour development of garlic herb is best in sunny weather. Deep land preparation is required to ensure adequate rooting depth. Individual cloves are used for growing of garlic herb which is carried out vegetatively. Bulbs for sowing from the previous crop should be stored at 10ºC and a relative humidity of 50-65%. Stored bulbs should be fumigated if mites are present and inspected periodically for storage rots. Garlic herb growing is carried out on raised seed beds, on ridges at a spacing of 30cm between rows and 15-20cm between plants, giving a plant population of 150,000-200,000 per hectare. The cloves should be sown 2.5cm deep in well firmed soil. The seed clove requirement is 500-700kg/ha.The crop responds well to organic manure and 20tons/ha can be ploughed into the soil before planting.

Fertilizer requirements for growing the crop vary with soil fertility .The standard fertilizer rate of application is NPK is 150:55:40kg/ha applied as 1/3N:1P:1/5K. N and K topdressing should be applied 6-8 weeks after sowing and final N application at the beginning of bulb formation. The most common pests and diseases in growing garlic herb include purple blotch, downy mildew, rust, bulb rot, nematodes and onion thrips. Control measures include long crop rotations (4 years), Field hygiene, good drainage, removal and destruction of infected and crop debris, spraying suitable insecticides and fungicides. The crop matures 6-8 months after sowing, when leaf tops turn yellow or brown, then the leaves bend over and dries out. Dig the bulbs carefully to avoid damage. Light and sprouting bulbs should be discarded. Cure the bulbs in open air under shade for 8-10 days until the plants are thoroughly dry. Market or store the garlic herb bulbs. Dry storage of the bulbs for two months is sufficient to break dormancy. The length of crop growing period before garlic herb plants starts bulb formation determines yields which ranges between 12-15 tons/ha-more:-http://yagrein.blogspot.com/p/what-are-youth-saying.html

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Shiitake mushrooms cultivation

Shiitake mushrooms cultivation is popular in the eastern countries. The product has a striking taste, high nutritional value, medicinal properties and high market prices. Shiitake mushrooms are at times also referred to as ‘Japanese’ type. Traditionally shiitake mushrooms cultivation is mainly done on hardwood logs. However its cultivation can also be on other substrates such as sawdust [from soft or hard wood], corn cobs, rice straw, and coir dust using the plastic bag cultivation technology. The substrates to be used for cultivation should also be sterilized instead of pasteurization due to the slower growth of mycelia, in order to avoid contamination and reduced production. Some commonly used substrates preparation formulations consists of 100kg sawdust, 1 kg ammonium sulphate, 5 kg rice bran, 5 kg urea, 1kg calcium hydroxide and 70% moisture. These materials should be composted for at least 30 days turning at 4 to 5 days interval until the compost turns dark brown and has no smell of ammonia prior to cultivation.

The compost bags are prepared and filled, and then spawning is done. Incubation follows in the darkroom at a temperature of 24 to 28 ºC. It takes about two months before the mycelia can completely penetrate the substrate. Another one month is required to allow the fruiting bag to mature completely. When the shiitake mushrooms mycelia begin to turn brown and ‘popcorns’ start to appear  on the substrate the bags are ready to be opened at the top and placed in the fruiting room. The cultivation room should be well ventilated and lighted for good fruiting body formation. The fruiting bodies start forming after two to three weeks. The room should be watered at least 1 to 2 times a day to avoid watering the shiitake mushrooms bags directly. This keeps the relative humidity at about 85 to 95% .The temperature for fruiting should be 10 to 20 ºC depending on the strain.

The fruiting bodies are ready for harvesting once they are slightly open. The bags will continue to fruit as long as the right conditions are maintained.

The yields can be upto 35% - 100% of dry weight of the substrate within 5 to 6 months. The produce can be stored fresh in the refrigerator in perforated polythene bags for at least 3 to7 days. Shiitake mushrooms are usually dried to improve smell and taste. Drying of Shiitake mushrooms  should be done gradually under the sun or in special driers with adjustable heat control, starting at 30 ºC and increasing every hour by 1 º to 2º, then 12hrs at 50 ºC and finally 60 ºC for one hour to increase the luster of the cap. In conclusion shiitake mushrooms cultivation is therefore a worthwhile agribusiness activity.

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Tissue culture bananas growing business in Kenya

Bananas are widely grown in Kenya as a staple food and as an income generating activity by many local communities. Due to a widespread problem of viral diseases, in vitro or tissue culture bananas  propagation has been used by Kenyan researchers to produce disease free growing materials.These  plants are genetically uniform, superior, disease free and high yielding.This leads to increased economic benefits  per unit area of  land. Bananas grow well in a wide range of climate from sea level upto 1800m in humid conditions. Minimum rainfall of 1000mm per year is required especially at the flowering time. Irrigation is therefore essential in low rainfall growing areas. Bananas should be grown on well drained fertile soils, as they cannot withstand water logging. Thorough land preparation should be done during the dry season. Sowing should be carried out at the beginning of the long rains for rain fed crop in Kenya. Dig holes measuring 1M× 1M× 1M and separate the top and subsoils, then mix the top soil with 40kg [2medium buckets] of well rotted manure per planting hole, 200g DAP fertilizer, 15 grams / 3 teaspoonfuls of nematicide.

Fill the hole with the mixture up to 75cm.Plant the seedling 30cm deep into the mixture and firm up the soil. Recommended planting spacing is 3M× 3M for short varieties, 3M 4M for medium varieties and 4M× 4M for tall varieties. For irrigated crop apply 40 litres of water at planting time, then 20 litres 3 times weekly. Apply dry grass mulches for moisture retention and to increase soil organic matter. Ensure a clear space of 15cm from the base of the plant as a precaution against the bananas weevil. Intercropping with leguminous crops such as beans can be done. Sucker management is done by thinning to produce large bunches and increase yields. Thinning is done to leave one bearing stem, one half grown stem and one emerging sword sucker. Vigorously growing sword sucker facing the eastern side should be selected at any one given time. Destroy unwanted suckers using a knife.

Stems bearing heavy bunches of bananas should be supported to avoid breakages and this practice is referred to as staking. De-leafing should be done to remove old diseased leaves from the plant for good growth. The first harvest starts 15-18 months after planting. When the fruit is fully developed it is light green in colour and shiny in appearance. Harvest bunches with care to avoid bruising. For temporary storage keep bunches in a cool storage. When transporting to local markets wrap the bundles in grass or bananas leaves to avoid bruising. De-handing, de-clustering, washing using disinfectant, packaging and branding may be required for export market. Yields of 20-40 tons per year may be attained depending on management. The major pests include bananas weevil, thrips and nematodes. The major diseases in growing of bananas include panama disease and cigar end rot. Control pests and diseases of the plant using suitable measures.

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Rio+20 earth summit on sustainable development in Brazil June 2012

“Rio+20” is the short name for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. 20 years ago, United Nations Conference on Environment/climate change and Development was held in Rio de Janeiro from 3-14 June 1992. This was the first United Nations Conference on Environment and Development .152 World leaders made a remarkable deal in Brazil Rio de Janeiro and Agenda 21, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Rio Declaration was born. These led to big changes in the way of solving global environmental and development problems the world faced at the time, hoping to ensure poverty ceases from being the order of the day.

Rio +20 earth summits on sustainable development which is expected to take place from 20th - 22nd June 2012, will bring together world leaders and participants from the private sector, NGOs, and sustainable development conscious groups. The aim of the earth summit on sustainable development is to assess the progress made so far, come up with new agreements to enhance sustainable development, environment and climate change. Ironically climate change impacts are today more evident than ever locally and internationally, and they include environmental degradation, lack of food and water security and increased poverty in the developing countries. Many nations are waiting expectantly for the Rio+20 conferences to come up with concrete measures to save the environment and help developing countries continue to deal with poverty. The official agenda will focus on two main themes:-

·        How to build a green economy for achievement of sustainable development and poverty reduction

·        How to improve international coordination for poverty reduction and sustainable development.

We need Rio+20 as it’s essential to ensure our children and grandchildren do not inherit poverty due to climate change .The challenges of widespread poverty and climate change need to be dealt with now. The world today has 7 billion people by 2050 it will be 9 billion. One out of every five people, 1.4 billion currently lives on $1.25 a day or less. Two and a half billion people don’t have a toilet. A billion and half people in the world have no access to electricity. Almost a billion people go hungry every day. Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise and more than a third of all known species could get extinct if climate change continues unrestrained. Rio+20 will give us a new opportunity to address climate change and global poverty. Want to learn more about the agreement at Rio+20 in June 2012? Go to http://www.uncsd2012.org/content/document/727The%20Future%20We%20Want%2019%20June%201230pm.pdf

 

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Growing Avocado trees in Kenya (persea Americana)

Avocados fruits are grown for export and local market in Kenya. The plants are native to America but grows well in Kenya. Avocados are very nutritious with high protein and oil content. Climatic conditions requirements for growth of avocado fruits trees are altitudes of They perform well from 0-2100 m above sea level (asl). Varieties Tonnage and Simmonds  perform well in lowland with altitude  90 - 800 m. 'Hass' and 'Nabal varieties' are for 800-2100 m asl. 'Fuerte' and 'Puebla' do best at 1500-2100 m asl.  Well distributed annual rainfall of 1000-1200mm is required.The soils should be deep and free draining. Main varieties suitable for growing in Kenya  include:-   

Variety	Variety’s characteristics
Fuerte	Hybrid, Green, thin skinned pebbled fruits of very good flavor
Haas	Vigorously growing trees with black fruits. grows well in kenya
Nabal	Green fruits with good flavour.Bears in alternate years
Puebla	Dark green trees bearing round purple fruits. Used as rootstock

Avocado trees seedlings are grown in the nursery, from healthy egg sized seeds which are extracted from the fruits and planted in boxes, seedbed or 4kg containers. Grafting should be carried out when the seedlings reach pencil thickness. The wedge grafting method is the most successful. Grafting should be done when the root stock is still soft. The scion should be dormant at the time of grafting and should match the size of the rootstock. Wrap the grafting joint thoroughly to exclude water from the union. Planting of avocado trees is done at a spacing of 9m×9m.Dig planting holes 60cm ×60cm× 60cm separating top soil and subsoil. Mix the top soil with 20kg of well rotted manure, 120grams of double super phosphate fertilizer. Remove the seedling from the pot keeping the root and soil structure intact, and plant using the top soil mixture. The subsoil may be used to make a basin around the plant. Water and shade the avocado seedlings immediately after planting. Application of manure and fertilizer on growing avocado trees is done twice a year following soil analysis report, or the general guideline below:

Trees age	CAN	Double supers	Muriate of potash	manure
1-3  years	120 g	220 g	-------	15kg
4-5  years	220 g	450 g	-------	15kg
6-7  years	450 g	650 g	220gm	30kg
8-9  years	650 g	650 g	450gm	30kg
10-14years	900 g	1   kg	650gm	------
15 + years	1.3kg	1.2kg	650gm	------

Deficiencies in trace elements may occur in avocado fruits trees causing leaf discoloration. Leaf analysis can be done by agricultural laboratories for an accurate report.

Nutrient element	Deficiency symptoms	Control measures
Zink	Mottled leaves, light yellow patches between plant veins, abnormal Development of Growing shoots.	Application of 250g Zinc sulphate for each year of age up to 4.5kg along drip line
Manganese	--------------------	Spray manganese sulphate on Young plant leaves
Iron	Loss of green colour on tree leaves	Apply 360g iron chelate for Each year of age
Excess Chlorine	Avocado trees tip burns & plant root damages	Apply calcium, magnesium, Ammonium phosphate. Avoid chlorine fertilizers

Initial pruning of fruit trees can be done to give a good shape but latter pruning is limited to removal of of dead branches. It’s not easy to tell when fruits are ready for harvesting, and the recommendation is, pick a few fruits from the plant , keep at room temperature.Mature fruits  soften within ten days without shriveling. There are no major pests and diseases on growing avocado trees.For more information see http://www.journalofkenyanhorticulture.blogspot.com/2012/08/pruning-and-canopy-management-of.html

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Passion fruits growing in Kenya [Passiflora spp]

Passion fruits are used for extraction of delicious juice, flavouring salads or they may be eaten fresh on their own. There are two major varieties of passion fruits plants grown in Kenya namely Passiflora edulis and Passiflora flavicarpa. Passiflora edulis is purple in colour when ripe,very acidic, and variable in taste and juiciness, with intense aromatic scent and round shape. passiflora flavicarpa is yellow when ripe and oval in shape. There are many selections and hybrids with the yellow passiflora flavicarpa, which are bigger, with similar taste but possibly less aromatic and more acidic. Both varieties are green before ripening. The Purple passion fruits/passiflora edulis are subtropical while yellow passion fruits are more suited to the tropics and grow well in tropical countries like Kenya. Passiflora flavicarpa are the most widely grown passion fruits for commercial purposes globally. They are grown for the local and export market in Kenya.

Requirements for growth are warm to cool climate, altitude range of 1000-2000M with minimum rainfall of 900mm per year, medium textured deep well drained loamy soils and a growing site which is protected from strong winds. Commercial life of passion fruits is about 5 years. Therefore initial land preparation should be deep to allow good root establishment and growth. The passion fruits are grown from seeds. Passion fruits seeds have low viability and should be planted within 3 months of extraction. A single piece can yield as many as 250 small hard dark-brown or black seeds. Soak the seeds for 48 hours to improve germination, prepare a seedbed one meter wide, sow seeds in furrows 30cm apart and cover lightly with soil and apply vegetation mulches. The mulches should be removed after germination. Thin seedlings to 5cm apart when they are 5cm high; Top-dress with 300gm CAN fertilizer per 4 square metres to stimulate rapid growth. The recommended field spacing is 2M× 3M in un-mechanized growing and 3M× 3M in mechanized growing giving plant population of 1600plants/ha and 1100plants/ha respectively. One month after transplanting passion fruits seedlings, application of 120g CAN, fertilizer is recommended .Subsequent fertilizer applications during the life of the crop have not shown growth improvement.

Dig holes at 45× 45cm at least 3 weeks before transplanting into the growing field and separate top soil and subsoil. Mix the top soil with 10kg of manure and 125gm of D.A.P fertilizer. Fill the hole with this mixture using extra top soil if necessary. Transplant the seedlings at the beginning of rains early in the morning or late evening and at the same depth as they were in the nursery. Apply water to settle the soil around the roots, and shade the seedlings in hot areas. Passion fruits are climbing plants and hence trellis for support should be constructed before transplanting. To construct the trellis 2.70M long posts with a diameter of 15cm are placed in holes 60cm deep and spaced 6M apart in the row, fixing the end posts firmly in the ground. Stretch a single strand wire tightly along the top of each row of posts. The whole structure should be capable of withstanding the subsequent weight of the crop. Training should be done to allow the vine to climb upon the trellis wire. Sisal twine is tied at the base of each plant to the wire above. Two healthy shoots of the plant are selected at the base of the plant and trained by twisting them up the sisal twine. All other shoots and side branches below the wire are removed regularly. When the two main shoots reach the wire they are trained along it by twisting and tying.

Passion fruits pruning involves regular removal of tendrils which causes the vine to entangle, to ensure that lateral side branches hang down freely. Any side lateral trailing on the ground should be cut back 15cm from the ground. After harvest side laterals should be cut back to a newly developing laterals as close to the main leader as possible. Where no new side shoots have formed the exhausted lateral should be cut at 3^rd to 5^th node from the main leader. Keep the field free of weeds all the time and you may intercrop with a low growing annual crop during the first year. Irrigation will keep the crop growing and flowering throughout most of the year increasing yields. Passion fruits come into maturity 6-8 months after transplanting. The main harvest is obtained 12-13 months after planting. Pick only ripe purple passion fruits from the vine. The economic life of a well maintained orchard is about 5 years. There normally two passion fruits harvesting peaks in Kenya which are July-August and December-January. Pests of economic importance destroying various plant parts include Kenya mealy bug, giant coreid bug, stink bugs, aphids, yellow mites and systate weevil. These should be controlled using suitable methods. Woodiness is a viral disease of passion fruits which retards growth and it’s controlled by uprooting and burning affected plants with immediate effect. Brown-spot is a fungal disease of passion fruits controlled by application of fungicides.

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Strawberry fruits growing ( Rosaceae)

Strawberry plants are perennial low growing fruiting plants, which produces delicious red fruits. Botanically strawberry plants consist of leaves, a crown, roots, flowers, flower trusses and stolons. The fruits are eaten as desserts or made into jam and may be frozen for latter use. Strawberry roots are found within 7.5-15cm below the ground and can go up to 30cm in light soils such as sandy loamy soils. These plants can be classified according to the photoperiod required to initiate flowering as:-Day neutral plants like Chandler and Douglas with unique ability to flower and fruit under any day length conditions. They are very suitable for growing in tropical regions. Long day plants initiate flowering on availability of light exceeding critical light duration. Short day plants initiate flowering on availability of light equal or less than critical light requirements. Varieties suitable for growing in Kenya include Chandler, Douglas, Tri-Star, Domanil, Rabunda, and Tribute.Warm to temperate climates are required for this crop in addition to well drained loam soils that are  moist throughout .Optimum soil pH is  slightly acidic to neutral i.e. 6.5-7.Plants grown in highly acidic soils tend to exhibit iron deficiency. Salinity should be low both in soil and irrigation water as strawberry plants are sensitive to salts and therefore should not be grown in saline soils.Soil analysis is recommended before planting

High salt levels cause stunting, marginal leaf scorch and severe yield reduction. Enough water should be applied to ensure that salts are leached below the root zone. Availability of suitable varieties and clean sowing materials is essential for success of strawberry fruits cultivation. In preparation of strawberry cultivation it is important for the grower to undertake soil analysis to determine soil acidity/alkalinity, the level of plants nutrients and also soil born diseases such as verticilium wilt. Field preparation involves making beds 1m wide and raised to a height 20-30cm.A path of 50cm separates the beds to allow carrying out of operations. Alternatively sowing can be done into the field at a spacing of 50 cm from row to row and 30cm from hole to hole. Well decomposed manure is incorporated into the bed to a depth of at least 30cm. DAP or other compound fertilizers are applied at the rate of 200kg per ha and incorporated 15cm along the rows. Apply topdressing CAN fertilizer after 4 weeks at a rate of 10g around the crown compound fertilizers after 2 months. Subsequent application is necessary every 3 months. Application of foliar feed can supplement but to a lesser extent. Well rotted manure or compost should also be applied. For nematodes infested soils appropriate nematicides should be applied according to instructions of experts. Strawberry fruits are propagated through vegetative methods. This is accomplished using runners or splits of the crown. Growing strawberry is preceded by thorough bed watering, followed by sowing the crown with the root zone just below the soil surface. Shallow sowing leaves the roots inadequately covered and likely to dry.

Too deep sowing leads to rotting of the stem. Unpack plants and soak in water for 10 minutes, then sow as soon as possible. The roots should be spread out with the crowns at the ground level, and plants firmed up well for good growth. For 1m wide bed 3 rows can be grown at a spacing of 30cm from row to row and 30cm from hole to hole. Cut off runners from plants regularly except those needed for sowing. One or two runners can be rooted from each hole for the next sowing. De-blossom/remove flowers for the first 1-2 months until the strawberry establishes to prevent premature fruits production, poor crop growth, and early crop exhaustion leading to low fruits yield. Renew strawberry fruits plot every 3 years and practice crop rotation for vigorous growth. Keep the plot weed free with shallow light hoeing to avoid damage to the plants roots. Mulching with straw or black polythene is recommended. Strawberry fruits mature 24-40 days after flower initiation depending on the growth temperature. The fruits bruise easily and should be picked with care and sold the same day. Packing of the strawberry fruits is in punnets. Expected yields per acre of strawberry fruits over 3 years are estimated at:-

• 1^st Year 10,000 kg
• 2^nd Year 7,500 kg
• 3^rd Year 5,000 kg

Chemical disease and pest control in strawberry fruit growing can be minimized by cutting and burning all the leaves from the plants after harvesting for two years. Then apply water and nitrogenous fertilizers. This will control some diseases and result in new clean growth.For more  
http://journalofkenyanhorticulture.blogspot.com/2012/05/production-of-strawberry.html
http://www.qldstrawberries.com.au/data/gross_margin_2006.htm
http://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/ir/handle/123456789/3780
http://www.hortinews.co.ke/article.php?id=321

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Fresh mushrooms preservation technology

Food availability at all times is an important step towards ensuring food security for sustainable development and climate change adaptation. Fresh mushrooms undergo chemical and physical changes when stored.The changes affect appearance, flavour and ordour due to enzymatic activities, oxidation and bacterial spoilage leading to post harvest food loses. Generally refrigeration preservation technology reasonably increases shelf life; however, the produce is very susceptible to chilling injury. Freezing causes irreversible damage to the tissues. Processing technology is an important option for preservation of fresh mushrooms. Sun drying preservation technology is a commonly used technology  in preservation of fresh mushrooms. 

Fresh straw mushrooms are cut longitudinally before drying.Another alternative is hot air drying  in an oven which can  be done at 40ºC then gradually increasing the temperature to 45ºC.Drying at 45ºC takes a period of 8 hours resulting to a product 10% of the original weight.Shiitake variety is usually sun dried gradually or in special driers with adjustable heat starting from 30ºC increasing gradually by 1-2ºC every hour, then 12 hours at 50ºC and 60ºC for 0ne hour to increase the luster of the cap.Canning is still considered the best technology for fresh mushrooms preservation. The procedure starts by sorting, trimming, washing of fresh produce, followed by blanching in boiling water for two minutes. Branched produce is then filled in cans and 2% brine solution added. The entrapped air is removed and the cans sealed. They are then sterilized or pasteurized for 30-60 minutes under pressure at 121ºC-130ºC, or one hour in boiling water. The cans are then cooled rapidly.

Pickling is yet another mushrooms preservation technology which involves sorting, washing, and blanching for 5 minutes in boiling water, then placing in cold water to cool.They are then transferred to a jar or wide mouthed bottle and brine, a little vinegar, vitamin C or citric acid added to give the product an appealing look. The jar is then closed loosely and steamed for one hour, and then the lid is tightened after cooling the contents. Last but not least, paste making preservation technology involves soaking fresh mushrooms in 40-50% brine solution for 10-15 days. The contents are then blended until there is liquid paste. The resulting paste is put in a cheese cloth to drain excess liquid, and then the paste is put in a wide mouthed bottle. Steam for one hour and the delicacy is ready to eat.

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