Finger Millet is an annual cereal crop widely grown for their seed in various ecological zones in... more Finger Millet is an annual cereal crop widely grown for their seed in various ecological zones in Kenya and was once a staple grain diet of Southern Africa. It is a highly nutritious cereal crop utilized as a good food for infant feeding, special dishes for sick people and for special beverages among some people for example “eraki” beer in Ethiopia. Farmers have a wrong notion that finger millet being a traditional crop does not need any nutrient and usually is grown on marginal lands without applying any fertilizer. This could be an important reason for low productivity in the country. Fertilizer application or nutrient improvement is known to increase yields, yield components of the crop and lead to an improvement in the quality of the produce. A field experiment was conducted in Ainamoi Location in Kericho County to evaluate the effect of spacing and fertilizer levels on growth and yields of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana) variety P224. Three plant spacing of (i) 40x10 cm, (ii)...
Sweet potato (ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) is among the most important root and tuber food crops in t... more Sweet potato (ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) is among the most important root and tuber food crops in the world, ranked seventh (based on production) and per capita consumption is 24 kg per year in Kenya. Sweet potato tubers are rich in vitamin A, B and C and Minerals such as K, Na, Cl, P & C and therefore Production of orange flesh sweet potato is important particularly for children and pregnant mothers in Sub Saharan Africa who are often exposed to vitamin A desiciency. Production of sweet potato is constraints by inadequate knowledge on type of fertilizer and rates, low yielding varieties with low dry matter content and varietal suitability to higher altitudes. Availability of planting materials of sweet potato suitable for high agro-ecological zones remains a major constraint in promotion of high yielding orange flesh sweet potato in Soin/Sigowet Sub County, Kericho County. In order to address this challenges a study was conducted to find out varietal performance of four Orange flesh ...
national agricultural exhibition held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), whi... more national agricultural exhibition held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), which showcased various products and technologies developed by local and international companies. Most of these companies were from the US, Europe, Middle East and the Far East Countries. What impressed us most about the trade fair was that the world is slowly shifting to sustainable agriculture especially organic farming. More than a decade ago when we started The Organic Farmer magazine, there were very few organic remedies that we could recommend for control of pests, diseases and even fertilizers in the local market. However, some local companies have noticed and embrased a niche area for organic products. Various agribusiness outlets have started to stock organic products unlike in the past when only conventional farming products filled the shelves. An achievement is that most companies participating in the trade fair sought local partners to market most of the organic products they ma...
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] walp) is an ancient leguminous plant that is indigenous to Africa.... more Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] walp) is an ancient leguminous plant that is indigenous to Africa. It was domesticated in sub-Saharan Africa and is now widely adapted and grown throughout the world. Cowpea is commonly cultivated in the Southern United States, Middle East, Africa, Asia, and throughout the tropics and subtropics. In Kenya, cowpea is the most important grain legume after common beans and pigeon peas. In Kilifi County and the entire Coastal Kenya, cowpea is considered as the most important African leafy vegetable (ALV), being a major source of dietary protein, especially for the rural and urban poor. The major constraints facing cowpea production in Coastal Kenya include unavailability of quality seed, lack of technical packages, low plant population and general lack of awareness of the potential the crop holds in mitigating poverty and malnutrition challenges in the community. A field experiment was carried out at Mtwapa Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) demonstration ...
Finger Millet is an annual cereal crop widely grown for their seed in various ecological zones in... more Finger Millet is an annual cereal crop widely grown for their seed in various ecological zones in Kenya and was once a staple grain diet of Southern Africa. It is a highly nutritious cereal crop utilized as a good food for infant feeding, special dishes for sick people and for special beverages among some people for example “eraki” beer in Ethiopia. Farmers have a wrong notion that finger millet being a traditional crop does not need any nutrient and usually is grown on marginal lands without applying any fertilizer. This could be an important reason for low productivity in the country. Fertilizer application or nutrient improvement is known to increase yields, yield components of the crop and lead to an improvement in the quality of the produce. A field experiment was conducted in Ainamoi Location in Kericho County to evaluate the effect of spacing and fertilizer levels on growth and yields of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana) variety P224. Three plant spacing of (i) 40x10 cm, (ii)...
Sweet potato (ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) is among the most important root and tuber food crops in t... more Sweet potato (ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) is among the most important root and tuber food crops in the world, ranked seventh (based on production) and per capita consumption is 24 kg per year in Kenya. Sweet potato tubers are rich in vitamin A, B and C and Minerals such as K, Na, Cl, P & C and therefore Production of orange flesh sweet potato is important particularly for children and pregnant mothers in Sub Saharan Africa who are often exposed to vitamin A desiciency. Production of sweet potato is constraints by inadequate knowledge on type of fertilizer and rates, low yielding varieties with low dry matter content and varietal suitability to higher altitudes. Availability of planting materials of sweet potato suitable for high agro-ecological zones remains a major constraint in promotion of high yielding orange flesh sweet potato in Soin/Sigowet Sub County, Kericho County. In order to address this challenges a study was conducted to find out varietal performance of four Orange flesh ...
national agricultural exhibition held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), whi... more national agricultural exhibition held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), which showcased various products and technologies developed by local and international companies. Most of these companies were from the US, Europe, Middle East and the Far East Countries. What impressed us most about the trade fair was that the world is slowly shifting to sustainable agriculture especially organic farming. More than a decade ago when we started The Organic Farmer magazine, there were very few organic remedies that we could recommend for control of pests, diseases and even fertilizers in the local market. However, some local companies have noticed and embrased a niche area for organic products. Various agribusiness outlets have started to stock organic products unlike in the past when only conventional farming products filled the shelves. An achievement is that most companies participating in the trade fair sought local partners to market most of the organic products they ma...
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] walp) is an ancient leguminous plant that is indigenous to Africa.... more Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] walp) is an ancient leguminous plant that is indigenous to Africa. It was domesticated in sub-Saharan Africa and is now widely adapted and grown throughout the world. Cowpea is commonly cultivated in the Southern United States, Middle East, Africa, Asia, and throughout the tropics and subtropics. In Kenya, cowpea is the most important grain legume after common beans and pigeon peas. In Kilifi County and the entire Coastal Kenya, cowpea is considered as the most important African leafy vegetable (ALV), being a major source of dietary protein, especially for the rural and urban poor. The major constraints facing cowpea production in Coastal Kenya include unavailability of quality seed, lack of technical packages, low plant population and general lack of awareness of the potential the crop holds in mitigating poverty and malnutrition challenges in the community. A field experiment was carried out at Mtwapa Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) demonstration ...
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