Growing Maize in zai pits in Kenya: New technology for arid and semi-arid areas

Maize is the most important staple and food security crop in Kenya. Zai pit technology is a water harvesting technology, suitable for areas with unpredictable rains and subsequent crop failure.

ZAI PITS DIMENSIONS AND LAY OUT: While growing Maize in Zai pits in Kenya, dig circular or square holes 30cm (1ft) deep. A square hole measuring 75 x 75 x 30 (cm) will accommodates nine maize plants. The top soil is mixed with farm yard manure at a ratio of 4:1 and returned. Manure ratio can be reduced while growing maize in zai pits in Kenya depending on soil quality, and use of artificial fertilizers.

ECONOMICS OF THE TECHNOLOGY: One acre will accommodate 1778 plant pits each measuring 75 x 75 x cm which gives plant population of 16000. One pit will yield a minimum of 1.5 kg giving 30 bags of maize from one acre.

TECHNOLOGY EFFICIENCY: The right maize variety must be planted early enough to benefit from the rainfall available. Plant using Phosphorus fertilizers for early crop root establishment.

INCOME FROM GROWING MAIZE IN ZAI PITS IN KENYA

Yield per acre is 30 bags @ KES 2000 = Gross income of KES 60,000
Cost of 10 kg seed	@140	1,400
Cost of 1778 Zai pits distributed into 6 seasons	@30	8,890
3 x 50 kg fertilizers	@2500	7,500
593 debes of FYM (each debe serves 3 pits)	@10	5,930
8 m/days of weeding	@200	1,600
Insecticides	Assorted	2,000
8 m/days of harvesting	@200	1,600
2 m/days dusting and spraying	@200	400
30 gunny bags	@50	1,500
10 m/days threshing and winnowing	@200	2,000
Total variable costs	32,820	60,000-32,820
Gross margin for growing maize in Zai pits in kenya	27,180

Growing Maize in Zai pits in Kenya is a worthwhile technology for achievement of Millenium Development goals and Kenya Vision 2030.

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Make 6m in three years from Fast Growing Giant Bamboo Farming in Kenya

The fast growing giant bamboo is a disease resistant plant which can flourish in Kenya’s arid zones making millions of shillings from an acre of wasteland. The fast growing giant bamboo could be the solution to Africa’s environmental and economic woes. It has numerous uses including building, making furniture, water purification and as a nutritious vegetable. This new venture can revolutionize the environmental conservation and benefits from traditional subsistence and commercial agriculture in the developing countries. The seedlings are are available from various innovative farmers. The seedlings can also be produced through tissue culture in a laboratory. Tissue culture is a biotechnology practice that produces seedlings through vegetative propagation, which is a form of asexual reproduction of seedlings.

The benefits of this plant cannot be underestimated as it prospers in a wide range of ecological conditions and can be produced virtually in all parts of Kenya, including areas with harsh environment. Seedlings for export should be grown on an internationally accepted media, packed and shipped accompanied by the requisite phytosanitary certificate’s .The plants lifespan is estimated to be about 40 years according to an experienced farmer.

50 plants are ideal for a small-scale farmer to start the project .The fast growing giant bamboo seedlings can be planted at a spacing of 5 by 5 metres. This gives a plant population of 160 seedlings per acre of land. The fast growing giant bamboo grows to about 1.2 metres in diameter, and 1.8 metres to three metres in height within three years. The crop requires minimal care making it easy to manage and profitable.

A single bush will produce about 300 stems per year, valued at Sh. 200 each, which can raise Ksh. 60,000. With two harvests per year, a farmer can make Ksh 6 million from 50 bushes. The plant has no adverse natural pests and diseases as it produces pest resistant chemicals. The fast growing giant bamboo takes only three years from seedling stage to maturity stage. The seedlings, as recommended by the forestry department, are sold when 60cm in height. The fast growing giant bamboo can go a long way to alleviate environmental degradation and climate change. Fast growing giant Bamboo plant can also be used as a renewable energy source especially in making charcoal briquettes preventing deforestation and providing fuel for home use and for sale.

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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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Compost manures for sustainable agriculture and food security in Kenya

Compost manure is decayed organic matter that’s normally used to improve soil fertility, reduce weeds and control soil erosion. Small-scale farmers in Kenya and the entire African continent can improve yields by up to 100% through combining fertilizer micro dosing and manures application. Compost making and sustainable agriculture are inseparable. Compost manure helps dry soil to absorb and retain more water, compacted soils to regain their elasticity and poor soils to bring forth abundant farm produce;  they provide your plants with nutrients which they require to grow to their full potential. Simple Compost making involves piling up recycled garden and kitchen waste outdoors, and waiting for the materials to decompose which takes 6-8 weeks. For Successful composting you will need organic matter, such as kitchen waste, leaves, grass trimmings and produce as well as water and air.

Pile up your carefully selected materials and keep the heap well-aerated and moisturized, so as to attract rotting bacteria and fungi, which will breakdown the organic materials into compost.The pile should be kept moist but not wet in order for the microbes to work effectively. As the microbes break down the organic material they give off a lot of heat. You will need to make sure that the pile temperatures do not exceed 42º C .High temperatures would kill the microbes and stop the process. The pile is normally warmer in the middle than on the outside. Turning the compost with a digging fork or a shovel will help the trapped heat to escape. Turn the organic matter pile to ensure the materials in the middle are brought to the outside and vice-versa. This aerates and cools the pile availing fresh air to the microbes. The microbes required for decomposition process requires air to live. Monitor the temperature of the compost heap regularly, keeping it moist and turning it as necessary. The finished compost should be ready after about three turns which takes about 7 weeks. Well made compost doesn't have any recognizable parent material when finished. The finished product is dark, rich, crumbly and sweet-smelling. However with some extra attention you can produce more compost in a short time of guaranteed quality.  The process of Modern commercial compost making is a step by step closely monitored process, with measured inputs of water, air, carbon and nitrogen rich materials. The decomposition process is quickened by chopping plant matter into small pieces, adding water and ensuring proper aeration by regularly turning of the mixture. Smaller size particles allow more surface area bacterial action leading to faster decomposition as waste is converted to riches for food security and sustainable agriculture. Manures today are in high and growing demand due to current trend of organic farming, and minimization of chemical fertilizers usage around the globe.

Today most agricultural soils are depleted and can hardly produce to their potential leading to practice of unsustainable agriculture. This has been caused by soil erosion and intensive cultivation practices. Soil fertility improvement and maintenance using manures like compost manure is therefore a requirement for sustainable agriculture development. Soil fertility can be defined as the measure of the capacity of the land to provide essential plant nutrients. Soil fertility management endeavors to achieve maximum profit and enhanced efficiency, while maintaining good environmental stewardship. Sustainable agriculture is the way forward for the developing countries with agricultural economies in Africa and globally, for poverty reduction and livelihood improvement. Sustainable agriculture as defined by FAO refers to farming that conserves land, environment, water, plant and animal genetic characteristics, in addition to being economically affordable and socially acceptable. Sustainable agriculture employs soil fertility management practices like compost manure application which enable the land resource to meet the needs of the current and the future generations.

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Reforestation for Environmental Conservation in Africa

In the era of climate change and global warming, rampant deforestation and environmental pollution, where many don't care about the environmental conservation, this famous daughter of Africa, Professor Wangari Mathai devoted her entire life to saving the environment by encouraging reforestation and afforestation. She’s gone physically but she left a legacy which will live on.

Mass deforestation across Africa is common, where every year hundreds of millions of trees are cleared to produce timber, firewood, charcoal and forests products for household and industrial use. This has largely contributed to environmental degradation, climate change and reduction of agricultural production. Reforestation is therefore, mandatory for sustainable supply of forest products, sustainable agriculture and biodiversity preservation. The government of Kenya has made it a policy to achieve 10% forest cover. Farm forestry and agro-forestry are being promoted by extension officers from department of forest services and ministry of agriculture. This calls for reforestation at the rate of 25 plants per acre.

Farm Forestry or agro-forestry

Tree nursery establishment is the most important activity in preparation for reforestation. A nursery is a place where young plants are raised from under special care, in preparation for reforestation. A tree nursery is an ideal business venture for the youth in Africa, as people who want to plant trees find nursery establishment for individuals cumbersome and uneconomical resulting in poor adoption reforestation.

A nursery should be near a permanent water supply as plants need to be watered continuously. The soil should be fertile, deep and well drained while the site should be slightly sloppy to avoid standing water. The plants should be well protected from destruction by wind and animals. The site should be easy to access by foot or by vehicle. Collect seeds from healthy, good quality and high yielding mature plants .To test for viability place them in a container with water and the viable seeds will sink while the non-viable seeds will float then. Sort and remove broken, insect damaged seeds and dry them. Some hard seeds need treatment before sowing to ensure germination. Below are some of the seed treatment methods which can be used.

                                         

1. Soaking-soak the seed in hot water and leave them to cool in the water for 24 hours. Leucaenia leucocephala . Caliandra callothysus, acacia menisci and wattle are examples of seeds which can be treated this way, However seeds with softer coats can be soaked in cold water for 24 hours.
2. Burning- burning is an alternative method. Cover seeds with a thin layer of soil and a layer of dry grass on top. Set the grass on fire and let it burn which makes the seeds ready for planting.
3. Mechanical breaking-seeds are treated by breaking their hard coat to speed up germination e.g. croton megalocarpus seeds.

NB: Small light seeds do not need treatment before sowing e.g. grevillea Robusta.

Tree Nursery bed preparation

Clear the nursery site, dig to remove weeds and make soil fine .The nursery bed dimensions should be 1 meter wide, 15cm raised and any required length. Support the sides of the nursery bed with logs of wood, timber or tree branches. Add manure or fertilizer and sand to the soil before sowing. Note; in dry areas sunken beds are recommended in order to conserve moisture.

There are three main methods of sowing seeds in the nursery in preparation for reforestation.

1.     Broadcasting
2.     Sowing in drills 
3.     Sowing in holes

The seeds should be planted at a depth not more than twice its diameter. The bed should then be mulched and watered twice daily, morning and evening, during the dry season. After germination the mulch is removed and a shade is made over the bed. After the plants have produced the first two true leaves, they may be transferred to poly tubes where they can be cared for until they are ready for transplanting.

The plants may also be left to grow in the nursery bed until they are ready for transplanting. Root pruning should be done every 2 months while the plants are still in the nursery. The nursery bed should be kept free of weed plants, and the shade over the nursery bed should be removed 2 weeks before transplanting, in order to harden the plants for field conditions.

Trees are best planted at the beginning of long rains season, having prepared the planting holes in advance.

·        Place the plants in the hole, and then remove the polythene tube without twisting the roots

·        Firm up the soil around and water the plants

·        Protect the plants from damage

·        Weeding should be done to avoid competition for plants nutrients

Pruning is done at various stages as it has the following advantages:-

1)      Encourages plants vertical growth suitable for production of timber and posts

2)      Reduces knots on the plants for production of good quality timber

3)      Encourages branching for shade trees

4)      Reduces the harvesting height for fruit trees

Harvesting stage of trees is determined by their intended purpose, for example plants for timber are allowed longer growing period than plants for firewood.

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Youth and Climate Change for livelihood sustainability

A large percentage of the world’s population today comprises of young people with about 2.2 billion people being less than 18 years old. In this era of global climate change, 85% of these 2.2 billion young people are a resource that can be used to change the society towards reduction of climate change for sustainability. Furthermore, the young people can play a key role in dealing with all the difficulties that are facing humanity.

One thing that sets the young people apart from the rest of the population is their enthusiasm, imagination, talent and energy. The young people are more likely to get involved in local actions, play the role of effective communicators within their communities and participate in international actions against climate change and un-sustainability. For this reason FAO and other international organizations have been working together to come up with activities and mechanisms that enhance awareness, and access to relevant knowledge and information among the youth. The main aim of these efforts is to encourage participation of young people in actions relating to environmental sustainability and social development issues such as global warming.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent has for a long time been on the forefront in involving the young people in dealing with the humanitarian consequences of global warming for sustainability.  For instance in 2009, the Red Cross organized the Youth on the Move convention in Solferino which had climate change as one of the main themes. During the convention, a large number of youth and teenagers received training from climate change experts encouraging livelihoods sustainability. Since the conclusion of this convention, there has been evidence of increased youth involvement in activities relating to climate change and sustainability.

In strategy 2020, the Red Cross reaffirms that it is committed to address climate change impacts on human livelihoods especially the young people who make up the larger proportion of the population and the hope of tomorrow. Strategic aim of strategy 2020 is geared towards ensuring that the public adopts an environmentally sustainable lifestyle. This will lead to reduction of green house gases emissions. Similarly, in Strategy 2020, the IFRC reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that youth continue to volunteer and develop strong Red Cross and Red Crescent societies.  This will build a strong culture of voluntary service among the youth encouraging sustainability and youth participation in community and national affairs.

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