Avocado beauty soap formula

This is a nutritious fruit grown in Kenya for local consumption and export. It can be eaten whole in addition to being made into milk shake .Avocado beauty soap is yet another possible value added product in high demand and can be made in times of glut to as per the formula below. 

Requirements for avocado beauty soap formula

10 parts fruit paste

5 parts water

1 part silicate

2 parts caustic soda

5 parts coconut oil

Perfume

1 teaspoon formalin (preservative)

Mould for shaping

Gloves for hands protection

Colour (oil based)

Goggles for protection of the eyes

A mask for covering the nose and the mouth

The order of mixing ingredients in avocado beauty soap formula is 5 parts water: 1 part silicate: 2 parts caustic soda: 10 parts fruit paste: 5 parts coconut oil, for best product

Peel well ripe fruit, remove seeds and mash into a smooth paste. Sieve and put aside. Measure 5 parts of water, 1part silicate and mix in a plastic bowl. Add 2 parts of caustic soda and stir until it dissolves. Measure 10 parts of the fruit paste; mix with 5 parts of coconut oil. Add a little perfume and 1teaspoon of formalin to the paste.


Mix the fruit paste mixture with caustic soda mixture to complete the formula and stir thoroughly. Put the avocado beauty soap mixture in moulds for shaping and shake to remove air bubbles. The product is ready for use after 24 hours. Pack, label and market. 

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Plant pest/disease control and management in organic farming

The overall objective of the natural agriculture system is to provide long-term benefits to the people and their environment.

1. Biological disease control: naturally derived fungicides used in organic farming includes

a)      Bacteria Bacillus Subtilis-these are naturally occurring bacteria which was isolated from the soil and is applied either as a foliar plant feed, seed treatment, or directly to the soil.

      How it works to control the pathogens

·        Colonies of B. subtillis takes up space on the roots leaving less area for occupation by disease pathogens.

·        Feeds on plant exudates which also serve as food for disease pathogens, depriving of their major food source, inhibiting their ability to thrive and reproduce.

·        Combats pathogenic fungi through the production of a chemical that inhibits the growth of harmful organisms. 

2. Manufactured Fungicides: Fungicides allowed for use in organic farming include Bordeaux mixture, copper hydroxide and sodium bicarbonate for control of fungi.
3. Some naturally derived pesticides are not allowed in organic farming and this includes nicotine, sulfate, arsenic and strychnine.
4. Compost tea contains a mix of beneficial microbes which may attack or out do certain plant pathogens, but variability among formulation and preparation methods may contribute to inconsistent results or even dangerous growth of toxic microbes in compost teas.
5. Soil-less growth media like peat moss which is sterilized beforehand is used to control the plant disease organisms in organic farming.More information The East African

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Training on Charcoal Briquettes Making Technology for Green Business: On 4-5-2013 in Gatundu. Call 0714211644 to book. Limited chances.

What are Green Charcoal Briquettes?

Fuel briquettes are blocks of compressed coal dust, charcoal dust, sawdust, wood chips or biomass, and are used as a fuel in stoves and boilers. Charcoal is not like clay. Charcoal is a material without plasticity and can not be mold into shape without adding a binding material. The technology of forming charcoal dust into briquettes,requires a binding material to be  added to the charcoal dust and then pressure is applied  to form fuel briquettes.

Charcoal Briquettes making Training Session

Briquettes Machine

Fuel briquettes for use in your own home cooking
You can  save money by making fuel briquettes for use in your own home cooking  in addition to generating income by selling excess briquettes to your neighborhood. Making fuel briquettes can be a sustainable green business since most of the raw materials used in the technology are almost free. Your customers will be happy to buy cheap,  clean fuel . Your neighborhood will be happy with your green business for helping keep their environment clean.

Biomass as Renewable Energy Source
Biomass as a renewable energy source is defined as biological material from living, or recently living organisms. In many countries, people are growing crops and keeping animals. The waste from crops and animals are biomass material that can be used in making fuel briquettes. Agricultural waste materials such as rice husk, coffee husk, coir pith, jute sticks, bagasse (sugarcane waste), groundnut shells, sawdust, mustard stalks, cotton stalks, maize/corn, wheat husk, cattle waste, grass, dry leaves and cassava can all be used in making fuel briquettes.

Green Briquettes: Fuel for Stoves and Boilers
Fuel briquettes are blocks of compressed coal dust, charcoal dust, sawdust, wood chips or biomass, and are used as fuel briquettes in stoves and boilers. Smokeless charcoal briquettes are made from carbonized or pyrolysed materials. Fuel Briquettes made from materials that have not been carbonized are a bit smoky.

1.Green recipes for charcoal briquettes making technology

i) 10 kg charcoal dust/fines

ii) 0.3 kg cassava starch

2. Green recipes for charcoal briquettes making technology

i) 40 kg charcoal dust/fines

ii) 4 kg saw dust

iii) 2.5 starch

iv) 1 kg calcium carbonate

3. Green Recipes for  Charcoal Briquettes making technology

i) 100 kg charcoal dust/fines

ii) 3 kg sodium nitrate

iii) 3 kg sodium borate

iv) 2 kg calcium carbonate/whiting

v) 7 kg wheat starch

4. Green recipes for  charcoal briquettes making technology

i) 10 kg charcoal dust/fines

ii) 5 kg saw dust

iii) 1 kg cassava starch

iv) 0.5 kg limestone

5. Green recipes for charcoal briquettes making technology

i) 10 kg charcoal dust/fines

ii) 5 kg saw dust

iii) 0.5 kg cassava starch

iv) 0.5 kg limestone

v) 5 kg sandy soil

6. Green recipes for charcoal briquettes making technology

i) 10 kg charcoal dust/fines

ii) 5 kg saw dust

Iii) 1 kg mashed newsprint/pulp

Finished Charcoal Briquettes Set to Dry

General product Characteristics 
Moisture: 7.1%-7.8%
Volatile Matter: 13.0%-13.5%
Fixed Carbon: 81.0%-83.0%
Ash: 3.7%-7.7%
Sulfur: 0.0%
Calorific(heating) Value: 7,100-7,300 kcal/kg
Density: 970kg/m3

The best green mixture for  charcoal briquettes making technology is the one that after testing works for you. More-http://kariokor.olx.co.ke/charcoal-briquettes-making-technology-for-green-business-training-available-iid-473025403

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Success story of a Kenyan youth savings and credit co-operative society

Excecutive committee

Gatundu young traders’ savings and credit co-operative society is an organization founded by the youth for the youth. Their guiding slogan is ‘’Youth have all it takes to succeed as long as they unite’’. Gatundu young traders’ savings and credit co-operative society registered with the Kenya  ministry of cooperative Development and Marketing Reg Number C/S 12020 in February 2009 and the membership was 20 by then. To date Gatundu Young traders Savings and credit co-operative society has 200 members and a capital base of 2.5 million. The members get loans which they pay at a youth friendly interest rate.  45% of the loans are used in agriculture investment contributing to national food security. The Savings and credit co-operative society headquarters are located in Gatundu Town of Kiambu County in central Kenya region.

Members in a training session

This savings and credit co-operative society was started as a solution to the discrimination of the youth in kenya by the established financial institutions. The founder member Jonn Njoroge Munyua is the current chairman of Gatundu Young Traders savings and credit co-operative society and the vision bearer.  Njoroge is also the Managing Director of smart works Traders Company dealing with detergents chemicals in Gatundu town,in addition to being the secretary to original youth pioneers group based at kimunyu location Gatundu District. His leadership dates back ten years when he was elected the chairman of Vision Youth Group at the age of 30 years. Having grown up on the farm, he was introduced to farming by his parents who were good farmers. He developed interest in farming, worked on the family farm while young and latter on inherited piece of land.

He learnt about many profitable enterprises and technologies during agricultural trainings by agriculture extension officers, among which he started implementing installation of energy saving stoves services, manufacture of liquid detergents and making of fireless cookers for sale. Full of passion John Njoroge Munyua visited a bank seeking a loan for the projects implementation .He got a rude shock on realizing the bank required security/collateral which he didn’t have. The youth never got discouraged but conceived the idea of forming a revolving fund group consisting of young people, shared a few friends who supported the idea. The revolving fund group held its first meeting in June 2008 and latter registered as Gatundu young traders saving and credit co-operative society.  John Njoroge got his first loan from the revolving fund group which he used boost energy stoves installation services and detergents chemicals projects. The projects continue to flourish to this date greatly contributing to environmental conservation and community livelihood improvement.

Gatundu Young traders savings and credit co-operative society has grown tremendously and in the year 2010 and 2011 it was honored as the best organization in capacity building to the members, and best sustained and improved savings and credit co-operative society in Gatundu District respectively.In 2012 Gatundu young traders savings and credit organization has managed to roll their first M-pesa project which will generate income for the organization. Gatundu young traders’ savings and credit co-operative society is solely working with the members’ contribution and the funds are insufficient to meet all the requirements. The young traders are making efforts to pursue the Youth Development Enterprise Fund, a Kenya Government fund for assistance in overcoming inadequacy in a the working capital. The youth savings and credit co-operative society is a role model to many young traders and is therefore calling for any relevant support from like minded organizations and individuals, who have the objective of improving the livelihoods of the youth in Kenya. Glory to God on High and long live GYTS organization.

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Pests’ management strategies under organic farming

These management strategies consist of methods for prevention of attacks by insects, mites and vertebrates like birds, from reaching damaging levels in organically grown crops.

1.      Crop rotation: Prevents build up of harmful insects and diseases by providing different plant hosts. It also helps a variety of natural predators to survive which helps in pests’ control.

2.      Nutrient management: Good nutrient management enables plants to grow vigorously and resist pest attack

3.      sanitation: Good sanitation removes pests habitats such as crop debris

4.      Beneficial organisms: Provision of habitats for beneficial organisms. This can be done by reducing the use of pesticides that kills the beneficial insects.

5.      selection of resistant varieties which have inbuilt prevention or tolerance of attack

6.      Crop protection using physical barriers such as row covers

7.      Crop diversification through companion planting or establishment of poly-cultures .An example is planting main crop with garlic or onions as they are repellants due to their strong smell.

8.      Biological pests’ control: This involves the use of beneficial organisms to reduce plant pests’ population in organic farming. Examples of beneficial insects includes lady birds, praying mantis, lace wings, pirate bugs, parasitic wasps and predatory mites which are effective for controlling other mites.

9.      Use of naturally occurring pesticides. NB: Synthetic substances are prohibited in organic farming. Pesticides with different mode of action should be rotated to minimize development of pesticides resistance. Naturally derived pesticides allowed for use on organic farming includes:-

·        Bacillus thuringiensis( a bacterial toxin)

·        Pyrethrum(chrysanthemum extract)

·        Spinosad (a bacterial metabolite)

·        Neem ( a tree extract)

·        Rotenone ( a legume root extract)

Synthetic pesticides allowed for use in organic farming includes insect pests control soaps, horticultural oils for insect management depending where the plant is are exported. European Union, America and Asia have different standards. Read

http://www.organicfarmermagazine.org/biopesticides-safe-for-eu-imports/

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Plant nutrition guidelines

A healthy plant is essential to sustain productivity. Plant health is dependent on the nutritional status of the soil. A constant supply of water is required to move nutrients and support growth. Nutrition should be closely monitored  with regular soil and leaf analysis. Key steps in plant nutrition and irrigation include regular soil sampling, correct fertilizer use and timely irrigation practices. Sampling requires the use of a trowel and putting the soil in a plastic bag. Pick the soil from different points in the farm using a W or Zigzag pattern. Sample at the right time i.e. not immediately after fertilizer and manure application, or when the ground is too dry or too wet.

Sample at the right depth and submit the soil sample for analysis immediately. The results will indicate the required nutrition interventions on your farm. The required crop nutrients are classified into macro and micronutrients meaning required in large and small quantities respectively. The macronutrients required by crops are:-

·        Phosphorus(P) is required at sowing or transplanting

·        Nitrogen(N)is required for growth and development

·        Potassium(K) is essential for flowering and fruiting

Micronutrients required by crop include zinc, iron, calcium, manganese and magnesium.

All these elements can be supplied from a combination of manure or manure and inorganic fertilizer. Add manure or compost to your farm regularly for good crop nutrition.

Composted material that combines plant and animal waste is better as it provides more nutrients to the crop. To make compost, collect vegetable and animal waste or manure and arrange in layers, alternating chopped woody material and fresh material and keep the material moist. Turn the layers regularly in order to aerate the compost heap and achieve even composting forcomposition takes some weeks and can be quickened by adding microorganisms such as EM and or trichoderma. Compost can be improved by use of earthworms which is called vermicomposting.inorganic fertilizers supplement Compost and manures.Improper use of fertilizers will lead to nutrient deficiency or toxicity causing reduction of yields and environmental pollution. Remember Plant nutrients supply and health is dependent on the nutritional status of the soil.(read  plant extracts special TOF Nr. 17 September 2006).

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Growing spinach vegetables in Kenya

Spinach vegetables are grown for it’s for its succulent edible green leaves. They are rich in vitamin and minerals especially iron. The vegetables thrive well in altitudes below 1000M above sea level. The soils should be fertile, well drained and high in organic matter content. Varieties of spinach vegetables include

1. Early hybrid No.7: This is an upright growing, compact and very prolific plant. The leaves are dark green, semi savoyed and large with short petioles. It is early maturing and highly productive, tolerant to downy mildew and has a very good regeneration ability.
2. Bloomshade long standing: These are an upright compact plant with thick fleshy leaves which are dark green, savoyed, large and with very long petioles. It is vigorous and exceptionally long standing vegetables.
3. Giant noble: These are a dwarf plants, fast growing but produces moderate yields. The leaves are mid-green, thick, and smooth with short petioles.
4. King of Denmark: This is a spreading plant, very prolific and vigorous in growth. The leaves are mid-green, smooth, thick, broad, and medium sized with long petioles. This variety has rapid regeneration ability.
5. New Zealand spinach: These are a hardy low spreading and branching plant. It has numerous leaves which are thick, fleshy dark green, triangular and smaller than other varieties. The seeds are large and prickly but germinate slowly. It does well in hot dry climates. It produces large amounts of green vegetables over a long period and is therefore best suited for home gardens. 

Prior to planting spinach seeds are soaked in water for about 24 hours in order to enhance germination. The seeds are sown thinly in rows 30-40 cm apart and 2cm deep. The seedlings are later thinned to 10-20 cm apart within the row leaving only strong plants. Adequate watering is essential for good growth. Spinach seedlings can also be raised in a nursery bed and transplanted into the field. Spinach vegetables respond well to fertilizer application before transplating.200kg of DAP fertilizer is recommended for every hectare grown with these green vegetables. The farm should be free of weeds to minimize competition for production of marketable leaves. There are no major pest and diseases/of economic importance. However ringspot disease which is easily spread through water splash can reduce the quality of marketable produce. Mulching is therefore a good control method. The crop can be harvested for a period of 6-12 months. The largest green leaves should be harvested as they mature. These should be cut off carefully to avoid injuring the spinach plant. Staggered growing should be practiced for sustainable vegetables production. Spinach leaves become coarse in texture and bitter as they grow old.  more-http://yagrein.blogspot.com/p/what-are-youth-saying.html

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Nursery establishment for Passion fruit growing in Kenya

Passion fruit is a climbing plant or vine widely grown in Kenya for fresh consumption and delicious juice extraction and grown from seed or grafting. There are many passion fruit species, nevertheless only two species are edible i.e. Passiflora endulis and the giant granadilla passiflora quandrangularis. Passiflora edulis is more common and has two distinct types namely the purple or yellow passion. The purple passion is more suited for fresh consumption while the yellow passion fruit is more suited for juice production. Two methods of growing used are seed and grafting. Growing from Seed is carried out using fresh seed from the fruit as old seed does not germinate well. Seedlings should bee produced in an area where rain can be kept off.

Growing passion fruit from seed

·        Choose a well developed ripe fruit from the vine. Wash the contents to separate seed and pulp, and then dry the seed in the shade as seed germination can be reduced by drying in the full sun.

·         Germination may be improved by softening the seed coat by allowing the seed together with the pulp to ferment for 1 to 3 days in a plastic container. The passion seed is then thoroughly washed, dried and sown as soon as possible. Germination can also be improved by priming which is soaking the seed in warm water for one hour before planting.

·        Water the seeds using a fine mist from a hand held sprayer or watering can. Continue watering about twice a day ensuring good drainage of excess water.

·        Passion fruit seed can be planted in trays or seedbed. Once germinated and having two true leaves they are transplanted to bags or bigger trays to ensure more space so that the root do not become entangled as the seedling grows.

·        Harden off the final seedlings before they are transplanted to the field by setting them out of the shade in thegrowing area for 2-3 days in advance.

·        Select only the vigorously growing seedlings which are dark green and free from nematodes and fungal diseases. They should not be stunted and leaves should be free of any deformity.  

Graft propagation of passion fruit

Grafting is an important means of perpetuating hybrids as well as reducing pest and diseases damage, by using resistant passion fruit rootstock.

·        Rootstock material should be planted in a separate area to avoid crossing with other fruit cultivars through cross pollination.

·        Scion material is best obtained from young seedlings planted for this purpose

·        Seed to grafting stage can take two months and from grafting to planting one month

Cleft or wedge grafting

This is the most efficient method of grafting.

1.      Select two seedlings to be grafted with the same thickness of stem each about ‘pencil thick’ to make the grafting easier.

2.      Cut off the top of the rootstock seedling at a suitable height about 20-25cm with a sharp knife remove the leaves from the rootstock at the grafting point but retain the leaves below.

3.      Make a split 23-40mm long in the cut end of the rootstock

4.      use tip scions 5-8cm long with the terminal leaves still attached

5.      Cut the scions with the wedge the same length as the split in the stock and insert to the full length of the cut. use grafting tape or plastic to hold the union

6.      Do not remove the binding tape until the union has grown together

7.      It takes about 2 months for the union to grow together and the passion fruit seedling to grown enough for transplanting.

Planting time

 For seed produced seedlings transplant tray grown seedlings to the field at 30 days while those raised in bags are transplanted at 45 days, when they are around 150mm in height.For grafted passion fruit seedlings transplant to the field at 45 days.For more information http://yagrein.blogspot.com/2012/06/passion-fruits-growing-in-kenya.html

      

    

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Make 1million in three months from Growing Sweet pepper / Capsicum in Kenya

Capsicum performs well under irrigated conditions. The optimum temperatures for growth are 15ºC-25 ºC. The low night temperatures in July/ August in Kenya are favorable for production of this vegetable. Seedlings take 21 days in the nursery bed and 90 days to mature. At a spacing of 75cm by 45cm one acre can accommodate 10,000 plants, each yielding about 10 heads to give a total harvest of 100,000 heads .At a market price of 10/= per head, the gross turnover of  1 Million per acre is realized. The cost of production per acre is about ksh about 150,000. Marketing opportunities are excellent in local and export market. Sweet pepper is a vegetable that is widely grown in Kenya. Sweet pepper is red, yellow or green in colour. The vegetable plant tolerates a wide range of climate from warm temperate to tropical, including irrigated dry hot areas. Capsicums are sensitive to frost and optimum temperature for for growth and fruit set are 15-25ºC. The vegetables grows well in altitudes up to 2,000M.Capsicum can be grown on a wide range of well drained loamy or heavy cracking clay soils with optimum ph of 6.0-6.5. The sweet pepper has a mild flavour and is used as a vegetable in stews, vegetable salads, stuffed with meat or pickled. (Chilies are used for seasoning food) Growing of sweet pepper begins in the nursery. To make a capsicum seed nursery prepares a raised bed 1M wide and any convenient length. Work in manure and phosphate fertilizer. Make drills 15cm apart and sow the vegetable seed thinly, then cover lightly with soil. Later thin out to 5cm to produce sturdy capsicum plants. Shade the vegetable beds lightly and water once or twice daily. Do not plant the vegetable near tobacco as they share many diseases.

Capsicum Seed rate is 0.5kg/ha in the nursery and 1kg/ha when directly sown. Field establishment site should be well prepared; manure and basic fertilizer should be applied. Transplanting is carried out when the seedlings attain at least 4 true leaves stage.  Sowing  in the field is recommended at a spacing of 75×45 .The growing tip can be pinched out when the plant is 30cm high to encourage ripening. Capsicums/sweet pepper should not be grown after other solanaceous plant as they share diseases. Up to 10 tons/ha of manure is required depending on the soil organic matter content. This is equivalent to 1-2 handfuls of manure per sowing hole. Apply 250kg/ha of double super phosphate fertilizer at sowing time. When sweet pepper plants are 15cm high apply 100kg per ha of C.A.N Fertilizer and later with 200kg/ha CAN 4 weeks later. The manure and fertilizer should be mixed well with the soil. Apply vegetable material mulch to protect fruit from water splash and retain soil moisture.

Harvesting starts 2.5 to 3 months after sowing and continues for 2-3 for chillies and 4-6 months for capsicums. Chillies and paprika for the dried product can be left on the plant to partially wither if conditions allow. Only mature fruits are picked and packaged for market. Harvest sweet peppers when filled out and still green or just turned red. The hand harvested fruits should be placed under shade for grading, sorting, and packaging to avoid shriveling. Produce for Export should conform to the export regulations with respect to quality, packaging and labeling. The principal diseases affecting growing capsicum or sweet pepper plants include powdery mildew, viral complex and physiological disorders. Pests can cause serious vegetable seedling losses in the nursery and damage to the growing sweet pepper plants. Suitable control measures should be applied on the capsicums. More-

1. http://yagrein.blogspot.com/p/what-are-youth-saying.html
2. http://yagrein.blogspot.com/2013/01/green-house-farming-technology.html
   
   

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Plants nutrients management in organic agriculture

Climbing beans

An organic agriculture practitioner needs to manage the soil well in order to grow a healthy crop.This involves management of soil life, nutrients, and structure. Plants need nitrogen phosphorus and potassium for good growth. Plants also need micronutrients and symbiotic relationship with fungi and other organisms. To manage the fertility in organic agriculture the following techniques are allowed.

1. Use of compost manure: Compost manure making involves use of organic residues which have been rotted by the action of bacteria and other organisms over a period of time. Benefits of using compost manure in agriculture includes:-
• Improvement of the soil structure allowing aeration, good drainage and reduced erosion
• Improvement of soil fertility by adding nutrients and making it easier for plants to take the up nutrients increasing agriculture productivity.
• Improvement of the soil ability to hold water helping in water retention in the times of drought.
• Reduction pests and diseases

2. Crop rotation: This agriculture practice alternates building soil fertility level and growing crops which utilize the nutrients. In addition it prevents build up of pests and diseases by providing different plants hosts, helping a variety of natural predators to survive which controls the pests.
3. Use of green manure: Legumes which fix nitrogen from the atmosphere through symbiotic relationship with rhizobial bacteria are dug into the ground before they flower.
4. Intercropping: wider spacing between the organic crops may be required to avoid competition with the legume.
5. Crop residues can be ploughed back into the ground. Different organic plants yield different amounts of nitrogen.
6. use of well decomposed animal manure applied in moderation at the right time is allowed
7. Use of certain allowed processed fertilizers to provide nutrients such as seed meal and rock phosphate. Greensand which is a naturally occurring form of potash provides potassium to plants, can also be used in organic agriculture system for soil fertility improvement.For more information read http://www.organicfarmermagazine.org/ 

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Integrated pests management (I.P.M)

Integrated pests management refers to a wide range of tactics to prevent pests of all kinds from reaching damaging levels in plants. Pests can be  insects, mites, diseases, weed or vertebrates such as birds. Integrated management involves use of a combination of the following methods/tools.

Biological control

• Predators for integrated management: e.g. use of ladybird to control of predatory mites, mites, whiteflies, aphids etc.
• Parasites :parasitoid such as parasitic wasp
• Pathogens: e.g. use of fungus Bauveria bassiana to control banana and sweet potato weevil, a bacteria Bassillus thuringiensis is used in control of lapidopteran larvae
• Biological agents can be commercially prepared such as swirski mite, spical, spidex, ercal etc.  

Cultural Control

This involves use of agronomic practices that are designed to optimize crop growing conditions and increase the competitive edge. This results in increased tolerance and reduced chemical use. The cultural methods include:-

·        Crop rotation: this works by reducing the levels of pests attack due to rotation with non susceptible host.

·        Selecting resistant plant varieties: This helps to reduce severity of the attack in integrated management.

·        Cultivation/tillage practices

·        Variation of planting or harvesting dates: e.g. delayed planting in sunflower to reduce the sunflower beetle densities as integrated management measures.

·        Plant spacing: narrower row spacing favours development of diseases, due to environmental conditions within the canopy.

·        Fertilization level: a crop with a balanced fertility  levels  has a greater capacity to compete with weeds

·        Sanitation: Cleaning out storage areas helps prevent infestation of stored grain. Use of clean farm equipments and clean soil helps prevents spread of nematodes

·        Planting pests’ free seed or using seed treatment with a fungicide will help protect germinating seed and seedlings from seedling blight.

·        Planting trap crops: This consists of a surrounding field margin. The margins flower earlier and attract the insects concentrating them in a small area which reduces the cost of insecticide and the time required.

Plant resistance control

Classical selective breeding or genetic modification is used for integrated manament leading to a plant that is resistant, no longer preferred by the pests or creates an adverse effect.

Chemical control

This involves use of chemicals for integrated control. However they should only be used as a last result and when preventative and all other management techniques have failed, or are no longer economical. They also should be used in a manner that is legal considering rate of application, target crop etc.

Physical or mechanical control

This involves use of machinery or other tools for integrated management e.g.  

• Tillage-Row cultivation can be used as a stand alone weed management practice or in conjunction with herbicide program.
• Physical barriers e.g. mulching.
• Exclusion using screens or barriers, preventing the pests from reaching and destroying crops/grains.
• Trapping, suction devices such as pherohormone traps, can be used in integrated management to catch insects, sticky traps and light traps.
• Use of heat in soil sterilization for control of nematodes and other plant pests

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Certification process for organic farming in Kenya

It is a must for all producers and processors of organic products for export to register their enterprises, with an accredited and certified body by European commission. Inspection is first and foremost carried out by the certified body before registration. The farms/firms must undergo this exercise in order to be awarded an organic certificate. The farm applies for inspection by filling a form from the European Union accredited body. The accreditation body then sends an inspector who carries out the exercise taking into account the following:-

1.      The surrounding of the farm .For example if the location is near a quarry or a factory, this can cause rejection due to dust and fumes emitted which cause contamination of the produce.

2.      Inside the farm the inspector checks

v     The Soil: The soil is checked for heavy metals like lead, mercury etc.

v     Source of water: The water must be fresh and of good quality, from a well, river, rain etc. The water is tested for heavy metals, macrobiotic matter, pesticides, etc.

3.      The inspector interviews the owner, manager or the workers who are expected to be aware of the organic laws. The owner should not own another enterprise producing a similar crop under conventional agriculture.

4.      Seed and seed treatments must be organic and if unavailable conventional seeds can be used. The seed must however not be GMO or chemically treated.

5.      Seedlings if grown under organic conditions are allowed to be used in production.

6.      Fertilizer and plant protection scheme. The following are recommended to be in use

v     Inputs from organic production

v     Natural or naturally derived substances

v     Low solubility mineral fertilizers

7.      Documentation system: Good record keeping is a requirement for certification

8.      Map of the farm: There must be a map indicating the location in case the inspector wants to visit the enterprise without notice.

9.      The storage facility: In case the storage is away from the farm, the facility should also be inspected

10.  Packaging and labeling of the produce: the containers must be well sealed to avoid contamination.

If the inspector is satisfied with all the above conditions, he/she presents the findings to the registration committee for approval. If the committee approves the enterprise, the owner is issued with an international number and later organic farming certificate is issued. The certificate is thereafter required to be renewed annually.For more information read http://www.organicfarmermagazine.org/ 

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