Kenya agriculture sector contributes 24% of the country’s GDP, of which 12% is contributed by the livestock sub-sector. According to a report by ILRI, 80% of all livestock reared in Kenya are affected by biting flies such as tsetse flies, and they form a major cause of losses in the agricultural sector, which amounts to […]
Simple affordable method developed by Icipe to manage tsetse flies Read More »
Vaccination is the introduction of an inactivated or killed (vaccine) disease- causing agent into an animal to stimulate the production of antibodies within it and create immunity.Poultry farmers who do not vaccinate their birds risk incurring losses due to disease outbreaks. Common diseases vaccinated against in poultry include Mareks, Newcastle Disease, Infectious Bronchitis, Gumboro Disease,
What you should know about poultry vaccine Read More »
The quantity and quality of milk that a dairy cow produces is directly proportional to the quantity and quality of feeds given. Dairy feeds should be rich in proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. On average, a dairy cow should be fed on 12kg-18kg of dry matter, which depends on the body weight of the cow
Getting the best from your dairy cow Read More »
A large percentage of the world’s population consumes grains, which include cereals and pulses. However, even when all the factors of production remain constant, poor handling can compromise their quality and quantity, and lead to massive post-harvest losses.Loss of quality leads to reduction in the amount available for sale, while poor quality results in reduced
How to minimise post-harvest losses Read More »
Sunflower provides high quality feed for livestock, it also produces healthy oil for people. Most dairy farmers may not know the value of sunflower as feed for dairy cows and even chickens. The main source of feed for dairy cows is Napier grass, maize stalks and hay. The little dairy meal concentrates bought from agro-veterinary shops. However,
Sunflower is a good source of Animal feed Read More »
It is time for planting again and farmers are struggling to buy inputs for use in planting maize, beans and other crops. Apart from seeds, the other most important input is fertilizer. Of course, many farmers planting maize will buy Diammonium Phosphate (DAP). But, chemical fertilizers will not help much. At least many farmers have noted
Organic fertilizers have many benefits to your crops Read More »
Avocado farming has grown in popularity in Kenya, and holds a lot of promise for farmers. However, to ensure a high quality fruit and maximum yield, it is important to understand the pests and diseases that afflict the crop.Most avocado diseases are associated with poorly drained soils, poor agronomic practices, or growing trees that carry
Avocado pests and how to control them Read More »
In Kenya, there are 10 dairy cattle breeds, with five of these used for only milk. The other five breeds are for dual or triple purposes, used for milk, drought resistance(adapt well to dry areas) and beef.Despite the benefits from dairy farming, few smallholders know how to choose breeds for greater profits.Let us take the
Why farmers should consider Fresian cows Read More »
Feeding your animals well increases your income. Dairy cows require a balanced diet for milk production, body maintenance and good health. The animals should have adequate water at all times so the animal can take as much as it needs. You can listen or download the audio version of this article here : http://theorganicfarmer.org/content/importance-good-dairy-feeding No dairy cow,
Feeding dairy cows well for high milk yields Read More »
Compost is organic matter made of mainly plant materials that have decayed. Compost manure supplies soil with both macro and micronutrients. Inorganic fertilisers often provide a few nutrients per product. Therefore, for more sustainable production, compost works well.While plant materials and other organic waste can decompose naturally and get incorporated into the soil, composting hastens
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