Charles Kimani The onset of rains marks the beginning of a busy calendar for farmers and this year is no exception despite the poor rainfall distribution. For Maximum yields, farmers should remain vigilant and practice good agronomy practices for both plant and animals. In this issue of TOF, we feature some of the common challenges […]
Plants and animal diseases to watch out for during the rainy season. Read More »
Goats and sheep were the earliest domesticated animals in human history. Goat milk not only fetches a higher price than cow milk, it is also more nutritious. Dairy goat keeping is lucrative for farmers moving away from traditional dairy cow rearing. Currently, Kenya’s dairy sub-sector contributes about eight per cent of the Gross Domestic Product
Dairy goat rearing for health and wealth Read More »
Dear Reader This issue of TOF provides a step-by-step guide to making organic extracts that will help you man-age common pests in the farm including stem borers, aphids, fall army worm and mealy bugs. Also read on to find out how to turn raw farm produce such as cabbag-es, carrots, cucumbers, and dairy milk into
TOF Magazine June 2021 Read More »
By Caroline Mwendwa The desire to produce high yields despite the overwhelming challenge of pests and unhealthy soils that constantly require inputs to produce, has led farmers to engage in chemical overuse, which is raising concerns over human health. As non-communicable disease incidences rise, it is time to rethink the approaches used in food production.
Farmers in Makueni embrace organic farming. Read More »
By fred kipng’etich As climate change effects make rain seasons unpredictable, farmers need to plan on how to conserve and use water wisely, to enable sustainability in food production. There are various irrigation systems available to farmers today. Deciding on the best irrigation system for your farm will depend on factors such as type of
why you should install drip irrigation Read More »
Dr Shepard Ndlela Tomato production is a nightmare in most parts of Kenya’s leading tomato producing areas such as Kirinyaga, Taita Taveta and Kajiado. There is so much hope when farmers transplant seedlings into the traditional open field production field system. Sometimes the newly transplanted seedlings establish successfully, offering a glimmer of hope to farmers
Safe production of tomatoes: A concept turning into reality in Kirinyaga Read More »
By Agnes Aineah Charles Oino, a resident of Rumuruti in Laikipia County watched helplessly as swarms of locusts landed on trees in his compound some time last year. There had been news allover of the destructive insects that had invaded farms in various parts of the country, leaving farmers with massive losses. Mr. Oino knew
Laikipia farmers reaping from locusts through value addition projects Read More »
Nutrient deficiencies can easily be confused with symptoms of diseases or physical factors. A keen eye on your crops will enable you to identify these common deficiencies and address them before losses are incurred. Maize Maize has a high requirement for nutrients especially nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Nitrogen deficiency in maize presents as pale green leaves, stunting
Identifying common nutrient deficiencies in your crops and how to address them Read More »
By Charles Kimani As the Farmer Feedback Officer, I am always anticipating calls, even messages on our Tusemezane lines, of farmers inquiring about this or the other. If it is a cow showing strange symptoms, I ensure to link the farmer to a vet who attends to him to satisfaction. Often, I refer farmers to
Yes, you can manage Newcastle disease. Read More »
By Caroline Mwendwa Located about 5 km from Busia town in a market called Alepo, Tanga Kona Commercial Village is the symbol of the future imagined and created by the cassava farmers residents of Busia, Western Kenya. It carries their story right from when all they knew were indigenous varieties of cassava that their great
Bridging cassava producers to wealth Read More »
