By David Njenga CULTIVATING FORAGE CROPS on the farm is a cost-effective approach for feeding dairy cattle as feeding cost constitutes about 70-80% of the cost of production. There are different varieties of fodder crops and this article focuses on grasses that farmers can grow highlighting optimal conditions, planting procedures, and management practices. The first […]
Forage grasses to grow for your dairy cattle Read More »
“Cassava is one of the resilient staple crops that plays a vital role in ensuring food security and nutrition, while at the same time providing by-products for animal feed and bioenergy” By Elias Biwott AS CHALLENGES OF harsh climatic conditions characterized by erratic rainfall increase, farmers are gradually embracing farming of resilient and sustainable crops.
Cassava: A Beacon of Hope That Can Turn Catastrophic Read More »
”Newcastle disease outbreaks are widespread, resulting in significant economic losses in chicken production systems globally” By Dr Ann Wachira NEWCASTLE DISEASE (ND) affects birds globally, and chicken are particularly vulnerable. It’s caused by the virus avian paramyxovirus serotype type1 (APMV-1). There are five types of APMV-1 strains, which are categorized based on their strength in
Understanding Newcastle Disease Read More »
Dear reader, FARMERS ACROSS THE country are defying the harsh reality of climate change by turning to climate smart agricultural technologies. Through interventions by Biovision Africa Trust’s Farmer Communication Programme, knowledge on agro-ecology is being transferred through trainings at the grassroot with farmers reporting increased production, reduced expenditure on farm inputs, and diversified income-generating activities.
TOF Magazine Issue 223 October 2024 Edition Read More »
POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT “What can farmers do to increase the shelf life and maintain the quality and add value to maize grains after harvest?” By Eunice Sakong FOOD THAT IS lost means all resources (water, land, energy, labour and capital) that were used to produce that food are wasted. Disposal of food in landfills leads
Best Practices for Post-Harvest Maize Management Read More »
“As a farmer ensure you get quality vaccinated day old chicks from reputable farmer or well established hatchery” By Vivian Machanury RAISING DAY OLD chicks is a challenge to many farmers. Day old chicks are very delicate and require utmost care for them to survive. As a farmer ensure you get quality vaccinated day-old chicks
How to Effectively Raise Day Old Chicks Read More »
By Pamela Otieno VEGETABLE PRESERVATION BLANCHING IS A process of scalding vegetables in boiling water or steam from boiling water for a short time, after which they are immersed in cold water to stop further cooking. Blanching inactivates enzymes which cause loss of flavour, colour and texture. To cool them off, rinse under cold running
Preserve Your Vegetables by Blanching Read More »
By Miriam Makato POULTRY FARMING HAS gained popularity in Kenya due to the ease in management and fast returns, as compared to other livestock enterprises such as dairy cattle keeping. However, this sector has faced a major challenge-an increase in feed prices, which has caused small scale farmers to reduce the number of birds kept
Farmer Supplements Poultry Feed And Earns Some Income From Azolla Farming Read More »
By Keziah Otieno In the sun-scorched area of Machakos County’s Mbuuni, where the earth often seems reluctant to yield, Jackson Chalo has orchestrated a remarkable agricultural journey. His journey into pawpaw farming, particularly with the resilient Malkia variety, is not just a tale of cultivation but a testament to perseverance, innovation, and a deep-rooted commitment
Nurturing Nature’s Gold: Jackson Chalo’s Journey in Malkia Pawpaw Farming Read More »
By David Njenga Fodder legumes play an important role in the smallholder farmers’ dairy farming system as they improve soil fertility through Nitrogen fixation and have high Crude Protein (CP) in leaves and foliage and they can replace commercial supplements. Crude Protein range for legumes is 15-35%, compared to grasses whose CP ranges between 5
Top Fodder Legumes for Boosting Dairy Cattle Productivity Read More »