Month: August 2022

We live in changed times. There is not enough land for most farmers, which is why the majority of them are referred to as smallholder farmers. They use simple tools like hand hoes and machetes since there is no sufficient space on their small farms for heavy machines like tractors and combine harvesters to move …

Seed selection important for agricultural productionRead More

There is an ongoing debate about whether farmers should grow modern crops, replacing traditional crops and whether they should plant seeds saved from previous harvests on their farms or incur the expense of purchasing seeds from seed companies and agricultural research stations. Some farmers and civil society organisations argue that buying seeds every planting season …

Important things to note on hybrid and improved seedsRead More

Onions are one of the largest fresh vegetables grown in Kenya and most widely adapted vegetable. They can be grown in subtropical areas from the tropics. This adaptation is mainly due to the different responses of day length. Unlike most other species, day length affects bulbing in onions, unlike flowers. John Kizito, a farmer says …

How to get the best bulb onions in your farmRead More

As farmers get ready for the first planting season, one of the things many are grappling with is the high cost of seeds. Thus, a good number will use farm-saved seeds. We spoke to Ronnie Vernooy, a genetic resource policy specialist at Bioversity International, Holland, who shares tips on how one can conserve seeds to …

To achieve food security in Kenya, we must be seed secureRead More

After moving back to Kenya from the US a few years ago, Regina Mungai is making a killing from farming in Nakuru County. Regina, who lived in Massachusetts for many years before returning to Kenya, cultivates herbs on her farm in Begi village, about seven kilometers from Gilgil town. She is the director of Little …

From America To A Successful Herbs Farmer In Nakuru CountyRead More

Investigations indicate that brokers have recommenced using the extended 100kg sack called ‘kata nyoka’ to purchase the potatoes from farmers. For one such a sack, farmers are paid Sh800, meaning that the 50kg sack recommended by potato regulations earns them a paltry Sh400. That price translates to Sh8 per kilo. A kilo of potatoes in …

Why potato farmers are vulnerable to broker exploitationRead More

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc. 2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a …

FACTS ABOUT CUCUMBERSRead More