By Brenda Okumu Brachiaria is one of the most important tropical grasses and is widely distributed in eastern and central Africa. It is an emerging forage option for livestock production in Kenya and East Africa. Due to its high above ground biomass and nutritive quality than local grass it offers livestock farmers a viable option […]
How to Grow Brachiaria Grass for Your Livestock Read More »
By Sharon Chebet Compaction is something you can never eliminate in your farm, but you can certainly reduce it. Soil is made up of particles of sand, silt and clay. Healthy soil also contains organic matter. Another very important property of soil is that; it has tiny air spaces between its particles called pores that
Reduce soil compaction to harvest more Read More »
Icipe scientist Dr. Jeremy Herren and his team have identified a new microbe, named Microsporidia MB that can prevent mosquitoes from being infected by malaria parasites. This microbe can be used to block the transmission of malaria parasites from mosquito vectors to human.
ICIPE microbe research the breakthrough in the prevention of malaria Read More »
Dear Reader, Here comes the planting season. Have you already prepared land for planting and spared farm inputs such as manure, seeds, and labor? we hope you have prepared well for maximum yields. In this edition, we feature seed varieties for maize suitable for various regions which you can buy from Kenya Seed Company outlet
TOF Magazine March 2021 issue Read More »
Kenyan farmers are realizing how profitable avocados can get.At the peak of production, a single mature avocado tree can produce 70 to 100 kg of fruits per year. The Hass variety is particularly preferred mainly for export market as the prices and demand are higher. In 2019, Kenya exported 60,000 tonnes of avocadoes with Holland
The Green gold rush: Farmers minting millions from Hass avocados. Read More »
he African Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) is widespread in Africa and causes up to 90 per cent yield losses. It is caused by cassava mosaic geminiviruses and spreads through infected cuttings, whiteflies (Bemisiatabaci), and occasionally, through farm tools. The disease affects leaves at the vegetative growth stage. Symptoms Leaves become distorted and growth is stunted. It occurs
Managing cassava mosaic disease Read More »
It is common among farmers to focus all attention on the lactating cows and the bare minimum to the calf. This should however not be the case for any farmer who wants to improve production in the long run. Ensure that your calves start off healthy as this is going to determine the productivity of
Give proper care to the calf in your farm Read More »
The mango, (Mangifera indica Linnaeus) is a popular fruit that is rich in vitamins and essential minerals. It is commonly consumed as a fresh fruit, but can also be processed into powder or pulp. One of the major challenges facing mango farmers is pest infestation which cuts down the yields leading to huge losses. There
How to control pests in mangoes Read More »
Amaranth sprouts freely as a weed, and continues to gain popularity, especially in Europe, where it has been categorised as a superfood. This annual, fast-growing plant, popular in many rural homes in Kenya, has over 70 species, which are used as vegetables, grains, and to create attractive ornaments. Amaranth is rich in magnesium, phosphorus, calcium,
How to tap amaranth’s nutritious value Read More »
Dear Reader, As you prepare land for planting, remember it is advantageous to plant early, at the onset of rains as this will lead to better yields. Crops planted early in the season, fully utilize the moisture received from the rains and mature in time for harvesting. Employ techniques that do not leave room for
TOF Magazine February 2021 Issue Read More »