Plant Health

The production of maize and other crops has led to many farmers abandoning important crops such as cassava. In many parts of Kenya, farmers now rely on maize, potatoes, wheat, beans or rice as their main sources of food. Due to these modern trends, important tuber and cereal crops such as cassava and millet have been abandoned and are now regarded as orphan or forgotten crops.

Over the years, push–pull farming technology has been addressing critical concerns of small holder cereal and livestock farmers. These farmers face many challenges including poor soils, managing pressure of pests and striga parasitic weeds (nicknamed the witch weed), poor yields, and low milk production due to shortage of high-quality livestock fodder.

For a very long time, farmers have been complaining of the rapid reduction in green grams yields. But now a group of farmers is smiling all the way to the bank. Research institutes like KALRO have been working tirelessly to ensure farmers have green gram varieties with much higher yields than the local green gram varieties.

Chemicals are easy to use as protection against pests and diseases but they cause great harm to humans, animals, beneficial organisms and the environment. Natural crop protection methods are safer and cheaper for farmers.

For 40 years, Danson Gitau, a farmer in Kahuho village in Karati, Nyandarua County successfully produced potatoes and managed to get very good yields. Like many farmers in his village, potatoes have been his main source of income.

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).