INSTITUTION: EGERTON UNIVERSITY

FACULTY: FACULTY OF ENVIROMENT AND RESOURCES

DEVELOPMENT

DEPARTMENT: NATURAL RESOURCES

NAME: ANNE BEATRICE OLANG’

REGISTRATION NUMBER: N17/09972/17

COURSE: BSC DRYLAND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

ORGANISATION ATTACHED: KENYA AGRICULTURAL AND LIVESTOCK

RESEARCH ORGANISATION- NJORO

ATTACHEMNT PERIOD: 11th April to 9th June 2022

DECLARATION
I declare that this is my personal work compiled from the exposure at KALRO and where the
material could be constructed as the work of others, it is fully cited and referenced with
appropriate acknowledgement given.

Signature:

Date:

Name: Anne Beatrice Olang’

Registration number: N17/09972/17

RECOMMENDATION
This report has been submitted to examination with recommendation as my university supervisor

Signature:

Date:

Dr Sossi
Faculty of environment and resource development
Department of natural resources
Egerton University
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank the almighty God for the strength and courage throughout my studies. I also
extend my gratitude to all the people who helped with the drafting of the report.
Table of contents
ABSTRACT
Field attachment is an essential component of the curriculum in Egerton University and it is a
requirement prior to the graduation. Students at Egerton University are normally sent out for field
attachment for a minimum of eight weeks at an organization that relates to their individual courses.
While on attachment the student is expected to gain practical skills and work experience tat will make
them competent in the current working environment. They are also exposed to various work challenges
that will prepare them for their future careers.

I was so lucky to have undertaken my attachment at KALRO-Njoro. I had an expensive experience during
my stay there. I went through the different departments that they have that helped me to diversify. This
was specifically useful especially for the diversified nature of my area of study. Through the skills and
knowledge, I have gained I will apply in my community. The institution is agricultural center which
carries out research in agriculture and livestock production to ensure expansion in food production so as
to curb food insecurity in the country and overall increase in life quality of Kenyan citizens.

The report focuses on the mandate program of KALRO Njoro, that looks into the future ways of
increasing production and the purchasing power of the rural people of Kenya. KALRO Njoro is a food
research Centre that carries research on food crops which are wheat, barley, sweet potatoes ,casava,
soya beans, maize ,common beans and oats.
 CHAPTER 1: Introduction
1.0 overview
The attachment was undertaken at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation
(KALRO) Njoro, Nakuru County. I was attached at various departments this includes
horticulture, cereal breeding, oil crops and farm section. The departments were headed by
various departmental heads. This chapter will represent the background information of the report,
vision, mission and core values. The organisational structure will also be discussed.

1.1 Historical background

The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research organisation (KALRO), Food crops research
centre Njoro is located 20km south west of Nakuru town in west rim of Rift valley. It’s in Njoro
sub county of Nakuru county 200km from Nairobi at an altitude of 2120 metres above the sea
level.
KALRO Njoro has a long history of food crops research. It’s one of the oldest in the country. It
was established in 1927 for the management of wheat rust diseases. The centre has steadily
grown to host a world class level phenotyping platform for the rust diseases and has expanded its
research components to include research in oil crops. Tubers. Agronomy, soil, water
management, disease management and socio- economics.

1.2 Mandate
KALRO is a corporate body created under Kenya Agricultural and livestock Research act of
2013 to establish a suitable legal and institutional frameworks for coordination of Agricultural
Research in Kenya with the following objectives:
 To enhance good corporate governance
 To enhance availability of knowledge, information, and technologies on agricultural and
livestock product value chain
 To develop and promote markets and marketing strategies for agricultural and livestock
product value chains
 To generate and promote technologies and innovations for demand driven agricultural
and livestock product value chains.

1.3 Vision
Excellence in Agricultural and livestock research towards transformed lives.
 1.4 Mission
To conduct agricultural research through application of science, technology and innovation to
catalyse sustainable growth and development in agriculture and livestock product value chains.

1.1 Goal
To contribute to the growth of the agricultural sector through research coordination and
regulation, technology and innovation development and catalyse transfer of agricultural research
output.

1.2 Core values

The following cardinal core values are the guiding principles towards delivery of quality service:
 Innovativeness
 Efficiency
 Equity
 Competitiveness
 Professionalism
 Teamwork
 Integrity
 Partnerships
 Environmental consciousness

1.3 Core functions

 Formulate policy and policy recommendations to the cabinet secretary
 Prioritize areas to coordinate agricultural research in Kenya in line with national policy of
agriculture
 Exercise and establish control over research institutes

1.4 Roles of KALRO Food crops Research centre Njoro

Enhance productivity
To enhance skill man power
Innovation of convention platforms
To protect right of innovation
Enhance bio septic in agricultural practices
To generate technology
 1.5 Organizational structure
KALRO operates under board of directors. The director general who is the Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) and is supported by two (2) Deputy Director generals and 16 sixteen institute
directors. KALRO has 16 institutes and 51 centres strategically spread throughout the country to
cater for different disciplines, agro ecological zones and socio economic systems.

DIRECTOR GENERAL

DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL

DIRECTORS

INSTITUTE DIRECTOR

CENTRE DIRECTOR

DEPUTY CENTRE DIRECTOR

HEAD OF DEPARTMENTS RESEARCH STAFF

CHAPTER TWO:
Activities undertaken during field attachment

2.0 Introduction
This chapter represents the departments attached and activities and assignments that I was
involved in. The following are some of the activities I undertook during the attachment period.
All these activities were taken through by Mr Otuku.

2.1 Cereal breeding section

This is the major section in the food crops research centre since it carries out both national and
regional mandate of the centre. The section is mainly concerned with the wheat breeding.
The main research activities includes:
 Breeding for durable disease resistance
 Breeding for high yield potential
 Breeding for high protein quality
 Breeding for acid soil tolerance in Uasin Gishu county

2.1.0 Approaches to plant breeding

1. Artificial / controlled crossing/ hybridization
Artificial hybridization is an important process to develop genetically modified varieties of
plants with desirable characters from existing gene pools. It includes various steps:
 Emasculation
 Artificial pollination
Emasculation is the process of removing anthers from bisexual flowers without affecting the
female reproductive part. This was done in the field to obtain a desired variety of wheat plant
that is resistance to mainly wheat rust and also produces high yield.
Steps in conducting Emasculation process
1. To prevent self-pollination select a plant that has not fully matured
2 There are three anthers surrounding a stigma, remove all the anthers.
3. Cover with a glycine bag to avoid cross pollination (Glycine bag is used since its breathable)
4. Label (Date, variety, source of pollination)
Artificial pollination is done from 2-3 days when the stigma has become receptive. Males are
prepared on the day of pollination. They are left on the sun for some time then the pollen is
introduced to the glycine bag.
2. Molecular breeding
It refers to the process of using DNA markers that are tightly linked to phenotypic traits to assist
in selection. It involves scheme for a particular breeding objective. It involves use of tissue
culture and biotechnology.

3. Mutation breeding
It is the process of exposing seeds to chemicals, radiation or enzymes in order to generate
mutants with desirable traits to breed with other cultivars. There are two types of mutation:
 Spontaneous mutation
 Induced mutation

2.2 Selection of plant breeding

2.2.0 Methods of selection

It includes:
 Pedigree method
 Modern bulk method

2.1.1Process of selection
 Select two distinct parents( e.g. parent 1 resistance to stem rust and parent 2 which is
high yielding)
 Evaluate the genotypes
 Select the best genotypes
 Take the two parents and cross
 Plant the seeds this gives the F1 generation
 Do the selection of these seeds and plant the F2 generation The seeds are advanced to F3
generation a similar criterion is used to advance to F 4
 F5 generation selection is done a described above but harvesting is done based on ten
plants selected from selected rows The seeds are harvested and advanced to F6
 F6 generation; maintain disease resistance and maturity this helps maintain a
Uniform maturity in the plot
F6, F7 and F8 are advanced generation the segregation is almost complete. In F8
generation the number of plots are increased, the selected breeds are then taken to
advanced yield trial this takes a maximum of 8-10 years.
2.1.2 Genes for stem rust resistance
  SR-22
 SR-26
 SR- 12

2.1.3 Importance of plant breeding

 Quality seeds are produced
 Production of high yielding seeds
 Food security and nutrition improved

2.1.1 Types of wheat

There are two types of wheat

1. Spring wheat
2. Winter wheat. It is placed in cold room for three to four months

2.1.5 Rusts in wheat

1. Yellow rust
2. Stem rust
3. Leaf rust

2.2 Horticulture section

2.2. 0 Introduction
I undertook different activities in horticulture section which includes greenhouse farming and
management, seed propagation and nursery management, preparation of a nursery bed, Avocado
farming, Identification of different diseases affecting crops and different types of herbs. All
these activities were taken through by Mr Gitau.
 2.2.1 Green house farming
Before you impact in green house farming the following factors should be taken into
consideration;
 Check the soil type
 Water; electrical conductivity water salinity etc.
 The seed should be certified
 Market research this is important as it helps in timing on the right season to venture into a
certain variety

Activities in greenhouse farming

1. Top dressing. The first top dressing is done after 21 days, application of CAN
2. Trellising
3. Watering
4. Weeding
5. DE suckering and trailing this is done thrice a week
6. Leering its done after 5 months
7. Feeding this helps in taste and ripening

Pests and diseases affecting plants in a green house

Some of the pests include the following: White fly, Treetops, mites. Trips, Aphids and
American Bold worm.
Types of traps that can be used to control these pests
1. Polythene – One or both sides should be adhesive
2. Tutors absoluter monitor- It is used when the pest is at pupa stage
3. Tutor pan – It has pheromone on the top which attracts the insects
During adult stage it’s always important to choose the right type of insecticide. A
protective clothing should be worn and also drink a lot of water afterwards

Diseases
1. Early and late blight – Early blight is discovered between 1-3 days while late blight
occurs after 7 days
2. Powdery mildew. It occurs at the top of the leaf.
3. Downey mildew. It occurs under the leaf
4. Bacterial wilt. This attacks already matured crops
5. Rust. Its powdery nature
6. Tomato yellow leaf curl. It’s a fungal infection. The affected plant should be discarded by
burying it in a hole or the application of paraffin then burning the infected plant
completely.
7. Nematodes
2.2.2 Fruit Farming
In the fruit farming section we dealt on two fruits; avocado and Oranges. On the avocado we
learnt on the management practices while in the oranges we mainly dwelt on harvesting and
grading.
Avocado farming
Advantages of avocado
1 Nutritional value
2 Market value
3 Avocado is also used as a wood fuel

Avocado varieties
There are two varieties; Hass and fuerte. Fuerte tree is very broad, very productive and
susceptible to both anthracnose and scab. Its fruits are green when ripe while hass tree is tall the
fruits turn dark purple to nearly black when ripe.
Spacing Requirements
Spacing 9m by 9m maximum and a minimum of 7m by 7m
Ecological requirements
Avocado grows well from lower midlands to the lower highlands. Temperature between 16-24
degree Celsius is suitable for avocado. Minimum rainfall of 7500- 1000mm is necessary for its
survival. Good soil moisture is also required because the roots has high oxygen requirements.

Suitable growing areas

Kakamega, Kiambu, Trans Nzoia, Thika, Nakuru, Nyeri and Makueni.

Management Practices
1. Feeding this includes application of CAN
2. Watering especially during dry season
3. Scouting. This helps the farm manager to check on plant nutrition and incase of disease
infestation.
4. Pruning this includes both major and minor pruning
5. Carping it’s only done when the tree is between 1 and 1 .5 metres.
2.2.3 Chemical classes
It is determined by the colour
Yellow colour – Re-entry interval 3 hours
Green – RI 3 hours
Blue – RI 4 hours
Red – RI 3 hours
Storage of chemicals
The house where the chemicals are stored should be cemented. It should also have a spot of
chemical mixing which is cemented for easy cleaning. The shelves should be made of mesh wire
and the chemicals clearly labelled to avoid contamination.

2.2.3 Propagation house

A propagation greenhouse is typically a small scale greenhouse where the seeds and cuttings are
started. A mesh wire is always placed on benches where propagation where propagation trays are
placed. Use of trays is an advantage since the number of seedlings can easily be counted. A high
level of hygiene should be observed in propagation house; not everyone should be allowed to a
propagation house, also contaminants should be kept away.
In a propagation house we managed to plant Anna F1 a tomato variety which we later transferred
to a greenhouse for planting after a period of 1 month.

2.3 Oil crops section

An oil crop is a crop with high soil content and is therefore used for its edible vegetable. Some of
the oil crops that I discovered in this section includes sunflower, canola, soya bean, saf flower
caster, linseed, sim sim, groundnuts and cotton. Most of the oil crops grown in KALRO includes
Safflower, canola and sunflower.
Oil crops programmes
1. Conservation this includes both in situ and ex situ conservation
2. Crop improvement. The crops are improved by actual selection and utilisation
3. Se
CHAPTER FOUR

Evaluation and critics

My attachment at KALRO NJORO, fitted my career goal by a very higher degree since it
involved mostly the practical work in the fields and laboratories. These were my major targets
and expectations in the field attachment. This resulted in the confirmation of what I had learnt in
class with the practical work day by day. The field experience added value to my career since
new experiences in the soil chemistry, pathology and tissue culture labs were leant.

Strengths

 The institution has a good information system that is able to generate information and
give it to farmers through transfer and dissemination.
 It has the ability to promote trainings and capacity building in relation to agricultural
research.
 Good co-ordination of agricultural research in line with the national policy on agriculture.
 Proper personnel co-ordination and handling.
 Proper machinery and technology in the institution and thus low costs of operation.
 Good connection with the government as well as other international collaborators which
facilitate funding of the organization as well as opportunities to be exposed to advanced
technologies from other developed countries.
Weaknesses

 Inadequate lab facilities whereby the instruments were either outdated or it had broken
down and the cost of repairing them was too large.
 Inadequate equipment in some sections, for example, the labs, which therefore leads to
reduced productivity as well as increased costs of operations.
 The institution is a bit slow to adopt a new technology.
 Most of the stuff in the institution is not self-driven and this therefore reduces the proper
functionality of the institution.
 Delayed provisions of the funds as well as understanding by the government which
affects the institution’s operations at times.
 Few qualified personnel, lack of proper dressing materials for casual workers, e.g.,
gumboots and gloves.
 Pests and diseases such as fall army worm and stem rust respectively.
Opportunities

 Technological innovation and development whereby the organization has the opportunity
to invest in new and well efficient technology thus lowering operational costs while
increasing performance and output.
  The organization greatly interacts with farmers from the location, hence it has the
opportunity to incorporate groups of farmers in activities and policy making which will
improve service co-ordination hence helping the organization achieve its goals.
 Establishment of partnerships and linkages with private stakeholders both locally and
internationally thus improve its capacity.
Threats

 KALRO is directly facing threat from the emerged research institutions dealing with
same agricultural products such as Kenya breweries, Kenya seed company, etc.
 There might be staff turnover in future, this so because most of the employed staff are of
the same age and thus might retire almost at the same time leaving noticeable gaps in the
institution.
 Unpredictable donor funding which might affect the organization especially if it depends
on these findings.
 The new pest outbreak on cereals and pastures. The pest is known as fall army worm
(Spodoptera frugiperda). It is a migratory pest and has affected most of the cereals
especially maize in the region. It has to be controlled effectively to avoid losses as it has
the ability of causing up to 100% yield loss.
CHAPTER FIVE

Recommendation

KALRO should be assigned more funds from the government to facilitate the research processes
that were left unattended to due to insufficient funds. Enforcement and training of casual workers
to adopt the correct dressing code in the field such as gumboots and gloves.

Upgrading of lab facilities and equipment for proper data collection and analysis. The institution
is encouraged to practise organic farming as a way of reducing chemical use.

There is need by the institution to strictly monitor fertilizer and pesticide use to minimize their
negative effects on the environment.

The institution should provide relevant clothing to the casual workers such as gumboots and
gloves and protective masks to those spraying to avoid disease occurrence as a result of
inhalation of chemicals. This is dangerous especially to women who are breast feeding or
pregnant.