Make over Ksh 70, 000 from 1 acre green maize in Kenya

DOUBLE COBBING FAST MATURING DROUGHT TOLERANT MAIZE

Double cobbing fast maturing maize varieties is the solution to the current harsh climate,
food security and ensuring decent lives for farmers.
Maize farming is very easy and it’s not labour intensive.Further more green maize has good demand everywhere during the dry season. 

You may Grow double cobbing maize varieties in zai pits in dry season for maximum profit. One acre will accommodate 1778 planting pits each measuring 75 x 75 x cm which gives plant population of 16000 at 9 plants per hole. When you plant a double cobbing or a variety which bears 2 cobs or more per plant you get at least 16,000 big cobs and about 11,000 small cobs.When you sell at wholesale price to traders,your returns are as below:-
16,000 big cobs @ 5/=80,000 11,000.
11,000 medium cobs @ 3/=33,000.
Total income =113,000-43,000 cost of production =Ksh70, 000
Zai pit technology is a water harvesting and retention technology, suitable for farming in dry season and areas with unpredictable rains and subsequent crop failure.

ZAI PITS DIMENSIONS AND LAY OUT: While growing Maize in Zai pits, 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. Spacing from hole to hole is 75cm.
TECHNOLOGY EFFICIENCY: The right maize variety must be planted to benefit from the moisture available. Plant using Phosphorus fertilizers for early crop root establishment.Email yagrein@gmail.com to place your order.

Read More

How to earn Ksh 750,000 per acre from Cape gooseberries in Kenya

Cultivating Cape gooseberry in Kenya is easy. The basic requirements are seeds, labour and manure. It takes 14-16 weeks from planting to Harvesting.

The plant shares the same family with capsicum and tomato and is therefore similar to plants in some management practices.

Single Cape gooseberry in Kenya can yield average 200 fruits (about 5g each) =1000g or 1kg fruits per season.

At a spacing of 1.5m by 1.0cm, plant population is 2,500plants/acre(26,666 is the exact figure).

2500 plants/ acre will give 2500×1= 2500kg fruit sold @ Ksh 300 per Kg

GROSS INCOME OF 2500KG×300=KSH 750,000/ ACRE

COST OF PRODUCTION IS ABOUT 20%

Seeds can be collected from uncultivated land after the rains.

500g seeds will give you seedlings enough to plant 1-acre. Birds netting is required to protect from birds.

pruning will be necessary for good performance.

Apply a mulch of well-rotted manure or compost for high yields.

The plant adapts well in many areas but moist soil is required all the time.

It takes 4-5 months for the fruits to mature.

Unripe Cape gooseberry fruits are known to be poisonous.

Cape gooseberries farming is not well developed in Kenya currently.

Read More

Mint herb in Kenya

Mint herb originated in the Mediterranean. The plant can grow upto 10 to 120cm tall. The leaves are green and grow crosswise on the stem. The leaves are oblong and egg-shaped. Mints contain the volatile oil menthol, which gives mint the characteristic cooling and cleansing feeling. Common varieties include spearmint and peppermint. The mint herb removes bad breath and may help teeth and gums deal with germs. Leaves are often used by campers to keep mosquitoes away.

Preparation

Fresh mint herb should be washed before adding it fresh or cooked to a dish.

Consumption

It can be added to drinks and dishes as a garnish. It also makes a refreshing tea. The flowers are edible and make salads and sweets come to life. It flavors ice cream, chocolates, and other deserts with making them delicious.

It helps to reduce the effects of tannin and caffeine in your tea when used fresh in the teapot with your favorite tea.

Shell life

When fresh it can be kept for a short time in the refrigerator, or for a longer period in the freezer. Dried product can be kept at room temperature.

Climatic requirements

This is a cool climate crop. However Exposure to Full sun to partial shade is necessary. 

Timing of planting

Direct sow in April and seeds should sprout in 10-16 days. Bottom heat will speed germination.

Propagation

Mint herb in Kenya is propagated using seeds.

Starting

Sow seeds no more than 5mm (¼") deep in moist soil. The spacing is plants 45-60cm (18-24") apart.

Read More

Get good returns from growing sweet melons fruits in Kenya

The practice of growing sweet melons fruits in Kenya is catching up quite fast. The agribusiness pays well as one kilo of the fruit retails at an average of Sh100. Average melon weight is 2kgs.The current demand is quite impressive due to increased awareness of their health benefits. Though the demand is high but the supply is low supply making it a good agribusiness opportunity for. Sweet melon fruit reduces oxidative stress, is helpful for diabetes patients, anti-inflammatory, Controls blood pressure due to high content of potassium.

Benefits of sweet melons fruit include weight management due to lower fruit sugar in comparison with other fruits. They also contain collagen which helps keep your skin healthy as well as healing wounds. Soil sampling and analysis is advisable before planting to determine the soil suitability and get specific fertilizer advice.

Warm sunny climate with high humidity is required for growth. Fertile, moisture retentive, deep and well-drained soil is best. Growing sweet melons fruits in Kenya require application organic fertilizers, which can be can be in form of cow or chicken manure. Compound fertilizer should also be applied.

Three to four weeks before planting, prepare the ground by removing weeds and incorporating organic matter and a modest dressing of compound fertilizer. Water well and cover in clear polythene for a week before planting to warm the soil in case of cold areas. Pinch out the growing point at the fifth leaf to encourage side shoots, then retain the strongest four shoots and remove others.

Pest and diseases affecting sweet melon are spider mites and powdery are white powdery mildew deposit over the leaf surface . 

Harvest when they produce the characteristic melon fragrance and fruits start to crack near the stem.Unlike the commonly known watermelons, sweet melons fruit is yellowish on the outside, with a faintly sweet smell and greenish soft flesh. The main customers are residents of suburbs of Kileleshwa , Lavington, and Kitisuru, and the crop makes good business. The Asian community located in Parklands and Ngara areas are also big clients.

Read More

Tuta absoluta the new pest of tomatoes in Kenya

Tomatoes are the fourth most important horticultural crop in Kenya contributing Sh14 billion to the country’s economy annually.  The crop is seriously threatened by tuta absoluta the new pest of tomatoes in Kenya which destroys 50 to 100 % of the crop. The problems origin is said to be Ethiopia but the spread has been detected in parts of Meru, Kirinyaga, Kabete as well as Loitoktok. 

While addressing press in Sawela Lodge, Naivasha, Cabinet secretary for Agriculture Felix Koskei said that the Ministry for Agriculture, Kari and universities are collaborating to research on the problem in order to stop its spread. In 2004, tuta absoluta the new pest of tomatoes was added to the Mediterranean plant protection organization action list of pest recommended for regulation. As control measures, infested plants should be removed and residues disposed well in order to arrest the spread. 

The larval stages feeds on all tender plant parts including green and ripe tomato fruits’ irregular mines and galleries which can easily be seen on the plant characterize the presence of the monster. Tuta absoluta the new pest of tomatoes in Kenya can be controlled through field hygiene, crop rotation, effective weed control especially datura, solunum and nicotiana. Chemical control is by the use of pyrethroids for 30 consecutive days rotating insecticides for effective control.

Read More