Plant Health

Keeping your crop free of weeds is critical in good farm management. Farmers should plan their farm activities well so that they do weeding at the right time and in the right way. Weeds use the nutrients that your crop needs to grow.

Is it possible to do organic greenhouse farming? Yes, it is possible to produce crops organically using a greenhouse. Production, however, requires a lot of care to prevent and control common crop diseases and pests in the greenhouse.

Sweet potato has been described in many communities especially those in dry areas as the ‘king of crops’ because of its ever increasing demand. The most favourite drought resistant, hardy crops grow mostly in marginal areas, thus contributing to improved food security and additional income to farmers.

In East Africa, damage from fruit flies has been reported to range between 40 - 80 % since the invasion by one of the most destructive mango pests – Bactrocera dorsalis. This fruit fly species is the dominant pest in lowland areas such as Keiyo South in Elgeyo Marakwet.

Chillies (Capsicum frutescens L.), hot pepper or pilipilikali, belongs to the family Solanaceae. They are grown mostly for their fresh fruits used to flavour soups and stews and for seasoning and making sauces. Chillies are rich in vitamin C (100-500mg ascorbic acid/g of fresh fruit).

Do you know that you can earn yourself extra income by adding value to chilli? You can give chilli powder a more pleasant taste and aroma by adding dry ingredients like coriander (dania), garlic, ginger, small fish and salt before crushing in the mill.

Are you an onion farmer and you have failed to get good yields from your onion crop due to a strange disease? Research now shows that the seed varieties you have been buying for planting could be susceptible to Iris Yellow Spot virus (IYSV) disease, which is transmitted by thrips.

When Kibet Tanui, a tea farmer in Kabianga Division of Kericho County, heard that a new cash crop was being introduced in his area, he was excited and accompanied fellow farmers in his village to attend a meeting organized by a multinational company.

Cassava farmers suffer huge losses due to outbreak of diseases. Proper selection of planting material and good management can prevent common diseases and increase crop yields. Studies have shown that the best way to control diseases is to grow a healthy crop of cassava.

To get a good harvest, farmers have to exercise high standards of crop management and adopt sustainable farming practices that minimize crop pests and diseases and maintain soil fertility. It is important to plan ahead and get equipped with the right information.