plant health

The fall army worm is larvae stage of fall army worm moth. It is a migratory pest native to America and was first reported in Africa in 2016. The army worm causes damage by feeding on leaves and stems of maize, rice, sorghum, sugarcane, vegetable and cotton.

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

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

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

he main active chemical in neem oil called ‘azadirachtin’, (with it’s highest concentration in seeds) is very effective in increasing mortality, by disturbing metamorphosis, and in reducing general activity of locusts and grasshoppers. But neem oil can also be applied as a repellent. When neem oil is applied to crops and grassland, locusts will not

Avocado fruits from Kenya have continued to dominate the international market due to their high quality,” he avers. To export avocado to the international market, farmers must be certified by government bodies including Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service and Exports Promotion Council.For smallholders, the best place to start is by vetting the export company to