Horticultural News January - February issue
Horticultural News January - February issue
Horticultural News January - February issue
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NO. 20 JAN/FEB 2012 Ksh 300, US$5<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I S E P T E M B E R - O C T O B E R 29<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 1
Mimi hupata huduma<br />
za benki hapa tu!<br />
Equity Bank has partnered with agents countrywide to make banking more convenient,<br />
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• Open an Account • Withdraw Cash • Deposit Cash • Pay bills • M-KESHO •<br />
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H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
KARIBU MEMBER<br />
Equity Centre 9th Floor Hospital Road, Upper Hill, Tel: +254-020-2262000, 0711 026000, 0732 112000, feedback@equitybank.co.ke, www.equitybank.co.ke
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 3
4<br />
Amiran Farmers Kit<br />
Wins Second MDG<br />
Award<br />
Pg 10<br />
Pg 12 The blooming flower<br />
market of Moscow<br />
Fetching potatoes<br />
from Kisima<br />
Pg 26<br />
Reader’s forum<br />
Pg 18<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
Flower power<br />
Equity Bank and Germany’s<br />
KfW in Ksh2 Billion deal for<br />
SMEs<br />
Pg<br />
USAID KHCP markets<br />
information<br />
Pg 56-63<br />
Dutch Minister for<br />
Agriculture, Henk Bleker,<br />
sniffs the magic of<br />
Kenyan flowers. He was<br />
on a visit to the Oserian<br />
farm in Naivasha. The<br />
farm with over 6,000<br />
workers is one of the<br />
largest in Naivasha with<br />
over 200 acres under<br />
roses and<br />
carnations.<br />
KARI’s guide to growing<br />
potatoes successfully<br />
Pg 30<br />
Growing passion for<br />
some Good Neigbours<br />
Pg 46<br />
- it<br />
a x it a<br />
a x<br />
Horticulture Retail Audit Report: September 2011<br />
Horticulture Retail Audit Report: September 2011<br />
September 2011 Results for Fruits and Vegetables<br />
KENYA HIGHLAND SEED INTRODUCES PROFESSIONAL<br />
The horticulture retail audit is a monthly publication commissioned by USAID-KHCP and undertaken CABBAGE by VARIETIES………. TNS RMS.<br />
The retail September audit collects 2011 Results information for Fruits from and Vegetables 1,650 retail market outlets across the country on AS THE sales LENGENDRY volumes COPENHAGEN and TASTE values IS BACK WITH MORE<br />
The horticulture retail audit is a monthly publication commissioned by USAID-KHCP and undertaken by TNS RMS.<br />
FEATURES<br />
of horticulture The retail products, audit collects including information bananas, from 1,650 retail cabbage, market outlets green across maize, the country Irish on potatoes, sales volumes kale, and values mangoes, passion fruit,<br />
CABBAGE BLUE JAYS F1<br />
sweet potatoes of horticulture and tomatoes. products, including This report bananas, summarizes cabbage, green trends maize, in Irish horticulture potatoes, kale, retail mangoes, trade passion in September. fruit,<br />
sweet potatoes and tomatoes. This report summarizes trends in horticulture retail trade in September.<br />
National trend<br />
National trend<br />
Over the Over four the month four month reporting period (June (June – September – September 2011), retailers 2011), sold retailers 1,076,043MTs sold of 1,076,043MTs fresh produce. of fresh produce.<br />
Vegetables Vegetables accounted accounted for 71.8% for 71.8% (772,909MT) and and fruit 28.2% fruit 28.2% (303,134MT). (303,134MT). In value terms, In the value produce terms, marketed the produce marketed<br />
during the period reached Kshs 49.9 billion ($544 million) of which vegetables accounted for 68% or Kshs 34.0 billion<br />
during the ($371 period million) reached of the value Kshs and 49.9 fruit accounted billion ($544 for 32% million) or Kshs15.9 of which billion ($173 vegetables million). The accounted overall trend for has 68% been or Kshs 34.0 billion<br />
($371 million) decreasing of the for both value volume and and fruit value. accounted for 32% or Kshs15.9 billion ($173 million). The Uniform early overall maturing variety trend Glossy has attractive head type been<br />
decreasing for both volume and value.<br />
� Very early maturing cabbage with the easy to cook glossy looking heads of an average head<br />
weight of 3kg.<br />
Produces Absolute Volumes in MT<br />
� The variety brings back the legendry Copenhagen taste and the lost slogan of Bachelors’ variety.<br />
Produces 11-Jun 11-Jul 11-Aug<br />
� Adapted to both hot and cold regions, mature in only 55 days in hot areas and 60 days in cold<br />
regions.<br />
Totals<br />
11-Sep<br />
Produces - Absolute Volumes in MT<br />
� At spacing of 45cm 45cm, gives high profiting plant population of 50,000 plants/ Ha or<br />
20,000 plants /Acre, with potential of 150T/Ha or 60T/Acre. The conventional varieties give<br />
26,069 20,297 19,089 17,975 83,430 plant population of 28,000 plants/Ha or 11,000 plants /Acre at spacing of 60cm 60cm.<br />
Cooking Bananas<br />
Produces<br />
Mangoes<br />
Cooking Bananas Passion Fruit<br />
11-Jun 11-Jul 11-Aug<br />
22,839 18,214 11,294 4,464<br />
26,069 1,768 625 20,297 1,068 19,089 1,067<br />
� Excellent transport quality<br />
11-Sep � Sweet taste Totals<br />
56,811 � Easy to grow<br />
� High market demand<br />
17,975 4,528<br />
83,430<br />
� Vigorous and uniformly growing variety<br />
Mangoes Ripe Bananas 45,706 22,839 41,255 18,214 37,313 11,294 34,091 158,365 Resistances: 4,464 56,811<br />
Totals fruits<br />
Passion Fruit<br />
Cabbages<br />
Ripe Bananas Sukuma Wiki(Kales)<br />
96,382 80,391 68,764 57,597<br />
1,768 625 1,068<br />
37,295 36,696 35,365 33,392<br />
29,605 45,706 29,320 41,255 29,035 37,313 28,009<br />
303,134<br />
1,067<br />
142,748<br />
34,091 115,969<br />
4,528<br />
158,365<br />
Totals fruits Tomatoes 65,781 96,382 63,400 80,391 56,336 68,764 55,627 57,597 241,144 303,134<br />
Cabbages Potatoes 63,448 37,295 66,680 36,696 67,262 35,365 60,853 33,392 258,243 142,748<br />
Sweet Potatoes 3,530 1,896 1,624 1,172 8,222<br />
Sukuma Wiki(Kales)<br />
Green Maize<br />
29,605<br />
1,234<br />
29,320 29,035<br />
1,356 2,260 1,733<br />
28,009<br />
6,583<br />
115,969<br />
Tomatoes Totals vegetables 200,893 65,781 199,348 63,400 191,882 56,336 180,786 55,627 772,909 241,144<br />
Potatoes Total Produce 297,275 63,448 279,739 66,680 260,646 67,262 238,383 1,076,043 60,853 258,243<br />
Source: Retail Audit report<br />
Sweet Potatoes 3,530 1,896 1,624 1,172 8,222<br />
Green Maize 1,234 1,356 2,260 1,733 6,583<br />
Totals vegetables 200,893 199,348 191,882 180,786 772,909<br />
Total Produce<br />
Source: Retail Audit report<br />
297,275 279,739 260,646 238,383 1,076,043<br />
By volume, ripe bananas and Irish potato dominated<br />
in the retail outlets.<br />
By value, ripe bananas and tomatoes dominated in<br />
the retail outlets
seasonal credit for food security<br />
You can now attain food security with an easy payment<br />
plan of only 30% down and the balance at harvesting<br />
PRODUCTS AVAILABLE ON CREDIT INCLUDE<br />
Soil & t<strong>issue</strong> testing<br />
Soil & water conditioners<br />
Pesticides:-insecticides, fungicides,<br />
herbicides;rodenticides.<br />
Hybrid certified seeds.<br />
Extension services.<br />
Crop insurance<br />
Green Earth certification.<br />
Green house and shade nets.<br />
Market information (shee shee shee)<br />
Title deeds and log books not required. Your crop is your security. Terms and conditions apply<br />
For more information call<br />
Dr. Annemarie: 0720 910191 , Edward: 0715 503513<br />
Patrick: 0722 792611, Mucwe: 0725 814179<br />
Kitonga: 0713 315345, Maina: 0712 881199<br />
P.O. Box 10170-00100, Nairobi, Kenya<br />
Tel: +254-20-62361/75895/44977<br />
Outering Road, New Donholm, Orion Drive, Orion Place<br />
Email: info@kilimofaida.com • Web: www.kilimofaida.com<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 5
Issue No. 15 JAN - MAR 2011<br />
E D I TO R I A L BOA R D<br />
arim Ogolla - HCDa<br />
Catherine riungu -Hortinews<br />
jane ngige - KFC<br />
Lusike Wasilwa - KarI<br />
Stephen Mbithi - FPEaK<br />
M A N AG I N G EDITO R<br />
Catherine riungu<br />
M A R K E T I N G<br />
julius Gitau<br />
Elijah Karu<br />
CO N T R I B U TO R S<br />
Gatu Mbaria<br />
ngobilo nakitare<br />
jeremy Cordingley<br />
P H OTO G R A P Hy<br />
allan Muturi<br />
D E S I G N AND L AyO U T<br />
Samuel Irungu<br />
<strong>Horticultural</strong> <strong>News</strong><br />
is published six times a year<br />
by Karuri Ventures Ltd and<br />
circulated to personnel in the<br />
horticultural industry, foreign<br />
missions and Kenya embassies<br />
abroad, extension officers in the<br />
Ministry of agriculture, research<br />
officers and suppliers of<br />
agricultural inputs and services.<br />
Karuri Ventures Ltd<br />
nature Hse 3rd Fl (522) Tom Mboya St<br />
P O Box 1066 - 00518 nairobi<br />
Tel: 020 35566911 / 254-722 848970<br />
horticulturalnews@gmail.com<br />
news@hortinews.co.ke<br />
www:hortinews.co.ke<br />
6<br />
KSH 300, USD $5<br />
KSH 250, USD $3<br />
Editorial<br />
Considering that once again, the upcoming<br />
election is another high stakes contest<br />
under the new Constitution, nothing can be<br />
left to chance<br />
Make peace your resolution for 2012<br />
The dreaded 2012 is finally here. We use the word dreaded deliberately. Whether or<br />
not the year is an election year is yet to be fully decided. But the one thing that is for<br />
sure is the year brings back the unpleasant memories of the Post Election Violence of<br />
2007/8, which plunged Kenya into its darkest period in our collective memory, and<br />
one that ushered in a most difficult and uncertain period for the horticulture industry<br />
from which it is yet to fully recover, five years down the line. The eagerly awaited<br />
verdicts of the ICC early in the year to commit 4 Kenyan’s to trial.<br />
The fresh produce industry bore the brunt of the violence as death and mayhem<br />
visited most of the growing regions. For a highly perishable sector, tones of flowers,<br />
fruits and vegetables went into the recycle bin. naivasha, the country’s main flower<br />
producing zone was a bedrock of the violence from where gory images as shown<br />
by the media and witnessed live by those near the scenes of chaos will never forget.<br />
These are the images we wish could just go away but unfortunately, the harsh reality<br />
is that we have to deal with them.<br />
Farms around the lake, aware of just how bad the situation was then have tried to<br />
promote coexistence between communities, but given the nature of our politics<br />
especially as we near casting the ballot, anything can go wrong. Considering that once<br />
again, the upcoming election is another high stakes contest coming under the new<br />
Constitution, nothing can be left to chance. already, there are fears among workers<br />
and residents particularly in naivasha where we have the highest mix of communities<br />
from all regions that violence could flare up again.<br />
These fears cannot be dismissed as baseless and must be confronted with every<br />
practical means. People need to be reminded time and again about the importance<br />
of upholding peace at all costs, security must be beefed up, intelligence must be<br />
gathered on the hotspots while the people at the bottom of the pyramid must desist<br />
attempts to divide and incite them against one another. They must be fully aware that<br />
when the dust finally settles and life goes back to normal, it is them who are left to<br />
pick up the pieces of their shattered lives while those who incite them into violence<br />
recline to their usual luxurious lives, after losing close to nothing. Let us all become<br />
our brother’s keeper as we step into a difficult year and protect what we hold dear –<br />
peace and stability.<br />
Communications<br />
Brochures<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
Catherine riungu<br />
catherine@hortinews.co.ke<br />
Magazines
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H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 7
Elgon Kenya Limited shines at young<br />
Entrepreneur awards 2011<br />
By JOSEPH GITONGA<br />
Elgon Kenya limited,<br />
a leading distributor<br />
of agrochemicals,<br />
seeds and fertilizers<br />
was recently feted<br />
at the recent Ernst & young<br />
entrepreneur of the year 2011.<br />
The company, a leading<br />
supplier of agriculture inputs<br />
and farmer extension services<br />
with presence in the eastern<br />
african region was a finalist in<br />
the Master Class category of no<br />
hours organized by the Ernst and<br />
young entrepreneur..<br />
Other companies honoured<br />
together with Elgon Kenya are<br />
regional giants Equity Bank and<br />
Bidco oil refineries.<br />
Award<br />
a director with the company<br />
bimail Kantaria, says that the<br />
company was judged on several<br />
factors including vision, strategy,<br />
financials, community impact<br />
and leadership. The judges were<br />
very impressed with our growth<br />
model and commended us on<br />
our strategy on being the primary<br />
agricultural inputs company in<br />
East africa said Kantaria.<br />
He said his company<br />
recognition was also based on<br />
the increasing appreciation<br />
of agriculture sector as a<br />
sustainable pillar of the region<br />
economy and a solution of<br />
miseries facing residents. Elgon<br />
Kenya is also certified ISO 9000:<br />
2000 since 1999 and also is British<br />
retail consortium SGS certified.<br />
Kantaria says Kenya’s is an<br />
agricultural lyrich country that<br />
can easily feed itself provided<br />
sound policies and management<br />
8<br />
of its abundant resources mainly<br />
soil and water are employed.<br />
all that farmers require is<br />
extension services and access to<br />
key inputs such as technology<br />
and quality seed” he says Elgon<br />
Kenya limited is the local agent<br />
for Israel based nitan Danjain<br />
limited, the leading global<br />
provider of customized irrigation<br />
solutions operating in more than<br />
100 countries worldwide.<br />
By introducing naun Danjam<br />
irrigation technology to the<br />
region to the region, Elgon Kenya<br />
seeks to bring Israel’s world<br />
recognized best agricultural<br />
technologies said Kantaria<br />
adding that the objective is to<br />
develop tailor-made irrigation<br />
technologies that have seen<br />
Israel, a tiny country with no<br />
water of its own, grow into the<br />
world’s agricultural technology<br />
showcase, and a leading<br />
exporter of agricultural produce<br />
and technology.<br />
as Kenya embarks vision 2030,<br />
agriculture, the mainstay of the<br />
country’s economy responsible<br />
for 51 percent of productivity<br />
must be developed in line with<br />
the vision.<br />
It is with this in mind<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
Bimal Kantaria, director Elgon Kenya Limited<br />
that Elgon Kenya is introducing<br />
new division that will align its<br />
business with the targets of<br />
the government and private<br />
sector approach to handle<br />
agriculture as a business as we<br />
move away from the traditional<br />
subsistence approach. Irrigated<br />
The judges were very impressed with<br />
our growth model and commended us<br />
on our strategy of being the primary<br />
agricultural inputs company in East<br />
Africa - Bimal Kantaria.<br />
farming is going to play a vital<br />
role in developing agriculturally<br />
developed countries science and<br />
technology is behind the success<br />
and Kenya being quite advanced,<br />
only needs to take its agriculture<br />
to the next level by incorporating<br />
the latest development he added.<br />
Kenya is already advanced in<br />
green house farming and only<br />
needs to make the practice a<br />
culture at all levels for both local<br />
and export produce, which we<br />
seek to support, he reiterated.<br />
Elgon Kenya limited is the local<br />
agent for Israel based naan<br />
danjain limited the leading global<br />
provider of customed irrigation<br />
solutions operating in more than<br />
100 countries worldwide.
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 9
I am from Murang’a County and we grow pears fruits which<br />
have a lot of similarity with apples. Recently I came across an<br />
article about a farmer in Nyeri who is growing apples very<br />
successfly. Please I would like you to help me get in touch with<br />
him in order for me to purchase some trees to try in my farm<br />
j kanyonyo, kanyonyojohn@yahoo.com<br />
Call Wambgu apples 0720789802 - Editor<br />
10<br />
|| READER’S FORUM ||<br />
With respect to Wambugu’s encouraging story, where in North<br />
Rift can I plant apples? Or what are the special climatic conditions<br />
for this. I want to invest a prototype farm then later large scale.<br />
Thanks<br />
Isaac Kiplagat, kiplagat@gmail.com<br />
Where can I buy affordable and high quality mushroom spawn<br />
i.e. button mushroom? And is there a guaranteed mushroom<br />
market in Kenya?<br />
S Mulindu, uzzanek@yahoo.com<br />
you may procure mushroom spawn from several sources based on<br />
where you are located. Please let us know where you will produce<br />
the mushrooms. also what type of mushroom i.e. button, oyster,<br />
shitake etc do you intend to cultivate. you may source spawn from<br />
jomo Kenyatta university of agriculture Technology (oyster); agridutt<br />
(button) agridutt@wananchi.com ; or Kenya Industrial research<br />
Development Institute (KIrDI, South C Campus - Popo rd. Off<br />
Mombasa rd Tel: +254-20-6003842 / 6009440 / 6003493, +254-20-<br />
2388216, +254-20-2393466).<br />
Dr. Lusike a. Wasilwa (PhD, Postdoc)<br />
assistant Director Horticulture and Industrial Crops<br />
Kenya agricultural research Institute<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
Onions<br />
I would like to do commercial cultivation of red<br />
onions. The land I have available is in Thika near<br />
Kilimambogo. I am wondering if this area would be<br />
suitable. Do onions require irrigation. Also inform<br />
me if you do offer lessons for this kind of venture. If<br />
not onions I would also like to know what else would<br />
do well in this area as my mind is set on commercial<br />
farming.<br />
Patrick Mungai patmungai@yahoo.com<br />
Via www.hortinews.co.ke<br />
Onions can be grown as a subsistence or commercial<br />
crop. The variety matters because a farmer has to<br />
calculate costs maximize profits.<br />
Hybrid varieties are good for commercial farming<br />
because of high yield and returns. Examples are; red<br />
Passion F1 and red nice F1. The red Passion is; deep red,<br />
has good drying and keeping qualities, is tolerant to Pink<br />
rot disease, produces good grades, has uniform maturity,<br />
low incidences of sprouting/splitting, can store for up to<br />
6 months, plant spacing ; 30 x 10cm/ 30 x 5cm, maturity ;<br />
120 days, seed rate ; 1.5kg/acre, climate; warm areas; yield<br />
; 15 to 25,000kg/acre The red nice F1 is similar to the red<br />
passion, except that its yield is 12 to 18,000kg/acre<br />
From ¼ acre one can harvest up to 4,500kg quality grade onions at Kshs.50 the<br />
output will be Kshs. 225,000.<br />
joan Chepkorir<br />
joan @simlaw.co.ke
ONIONS<br />
Onions are important horticultural crops in Kenya. They can be grown for subsistence<br />
or commercial farming. The choice of onion variety matters a lot when it comes to<br />
commercial farming / agribusiness. This is because a farmer has to calculate the input<br />
costs verses the output costs in order to maximize profits.<br />
Open Pollinated Varieties are normally grown for subsistence and small scale farming.<br />
For instance, Onion Red Creole, Bombay Red and Texas Grano. The choice of variety<br />
depends on the farmers’ market preference. i.e. On the other hand, Hybrid onion<br />
varieties are good for commercial / large scale farming. This is because of their high<br />
yield returns.<br />
New hybrid varieties have been released and are recorded to produce very high yielding<br />
and quality onions.<br />
These onions are Red Passion F1 and Red Nice F1.<br />
Insect pests<br />
Important insect pests that attack onions include; Thrips, Whiteflies and Aphids and<br />
would require insecticide applications. Thrips are more severe in dry seasons. Hence one<br />
should keep the plants well irrigated at such seasons. One can reduce pests’ populations<br />
by pulling out weeds since they act as alternate hosts for the pests. Chemical applications<br />
can also be made i.e. insecticide. Plants extracts have also been used and prove to be<br />
effective. I.e. Neem and Garlic extracts. These are sprayed on attacked plant parts. The<br />
plants extracts should be tested for phytotoxicity before any applications are made.<br />
Chemical Applications<br />
Fungicides; this can be classified as curative or protective fungicides. Protective<br />
fungicides are chemicals which have the Active Ingredient Mancozeb e.g Milithane,<br />
Oshothane, Dithane, e.t.c. This is applied when weather conditions would likely to favor<br />
development of the disease. Curative fungicides are applied to plants that are already<br />
infected by the fungal diseases e.g. Pink Rot, Purple blotch and blights (early & late<br />
blight). In this case, applications are made on the infected regions i.e. bulbs, stems.<br />
Foliar feeds;<br />
This is applied mainly at the vegetative stage of the plant especially foliar high in<br />
Nitrogen. Foliar feeds applications results in vigorous growth of plants. In onions, a<br />
balance foliar feed enhances bulb formation and hence quality grade onions. Example<br />
of a balanced foliar feed is Omex, Mastargro. A Calcium spray makes bulb compact. This<br />
is because Calcium is crucial for structural development of the bulbs as the cell wall<br />
gets tightened such that the fungal spores ( sporangia) don’t penetrate easily; hence<br />
improving its tolerance to diseases.. An example of calcium spray is Citicalmag.<br />
Harvesting<br />
Harvesting can be done as from 90 to 150 days after sowing. The onions are ready for<br />
harvest when the leaves collapse. The necks can be twisted and its leaves bent over and<br />
left to dry for 10 to 12 days or less depending on whether conditions. The crop is pulled<br />
out by hand and kept for some days in the field with bulbs covered with leaves. This is<br />
called windowing/curing process. Leaves are then cut off and the mature bulbs stored.<br />
Nutritional value of onions.<br />
High in Niacin; It promotes good digestive system, healthy skin and nerves. It is also<br />
important for converting calories from protein, fat and carbohydrates into energy<br />
through the effect of Niacin.<br />
It also contains a vegetable hormone-glycoqune that gives onion effects on reducing<br />
blood sugar. The hormone stimulate gastrointestinal juices hence promoting digestion.<br />
Rich in Flavonoids; blocks the oxidation of fat in the blood hence prevent hypertension,<br />
improve blood circulation and prevent cardiac problems.<br />
RED CREOLE<br />
• A purple red onion.<br />
• Flat round/ rounded squat in shape.<br />
• Easy to manage.<br />
• Yield ; 6000- 7000kg/acre.<br />
TEXAS GRANO<br />
• Straw coloured outer skin and white<br />
inner flesh.<br />
• Mild tasting. Ideal for salads.<br />
• Easy to grow and widely adapted.<br />
• Yield ; 6000-7000kg/acre.<br />
BOMBAY RED<br />
• Deep red onion.<br />
• Globular in shape.<br />
• Provides good grade onions.<br />
• Its neck dries/cures well.<br />
• Yield ; 6.000 - 7,000kg/acre.<br />
RED PASSION F1<br />
• Deep red hybrid onion.<br />
• Very good drying and keeping quality.<br />
• Tolerant to Pink Rot and Purple blotch diseases.<br />
• Produces good grade onions.<br />
• Less incidences of splitting/sprouting.<br />
• Uniform and early maturity.<br />
• Easy to manage.<br />
• Can store for upto 6 months.<br />
• Has good cooking qualities/ very pungent.<br />
Yield ; 15 - 22,000kg/acre<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 11
By CaTHErInE rIunGu<br />
The Ministry of<br />
youth affairs<br />
and Sports and<br />
amiran Kenya Ltd<br />
jointly emerged<br />
the winner of the 2011 youth<br />
Empowerment MDG award<br />
for showing a progressive and<br />
tangible contribution towards<br />
youth empowerment in Kenya.<br />
The proud recipients were<br />
awarded for their successful<br />
public-private partnership,<br />
which saw the implementation<br />
of the first phase of the ‘amiranyouth<br />
Polytechnics next<br />
Generation Farmers Initiative’.<br />
The initiative placed an amiran<br />
Farmers Kit (aFK) in over 100<br />
youth Polytechnics throughout<br />
Kenya, allowing the Ministry<br />
of youth Training Department<br />
to base its new agribusiness<br />
Curriculum on the aFK. The<br />
award was presented to Ministry<br />
of youth Deputy Director of<br />
youth Training Maria Cherono<br />
and assistant Director of youth<br />
Training Irene Kamau together<br />
with their partners from amiran,<br />
yariv Kedar Head of agro-<br />
Division and Christopher nzuki,<br />
Integrated Project’s Manager.<br />
The event took place at the<br />
national Museum of Kenya<br />
in nairobi and was attended<br />
by representatives from the<br />
private sector, civil society and<br />
government with the guest<br />
of honour being the assistant<br />
Minister for Planning and Vision<br />
2030, Hon. Peter Kenneth. The<br />
awards were divided into 12<br />
categories of, which seven were<br />
in line with the first 7 MDGs<br />
and the other 5 awards were<br />
12<br />
bestowed on an honorary basis.<br />
In line with the theme of the<br />
award, youth Empowerment,<br />
winner of Big Brother amplifed<br />
2011 Wendall Parson, was on<br />
hand to act as presenter of this<br />
important award.<br />
The Permanent Secretary for the<br />
Ministry of Planning, national<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
Amiran Farmers Kit<br />
Development and Vision 2030,<br />
Dr. Edward Sambili pointed out<br />
that amiran Kenya is headed<br />
in the right direction with their<br />
focus on empowerment of<br />
youth: “Everywhere the youth<br />
resent being marginalized in<br />
decision making process and<br />
are eager to have greater control<br />
over their lives and amiran<br />
Kenya is urgently addressing the<br />
existing gaps to avoid a missed<br />
generation” he noted.<br />
at last year’s inaugural MDG<br />
awards, MDG Trust Fund CEO<br />
Ben Omondi said he was very<br />
happy that amiran had been<br />
awarded the MDG award for the
Wins Second MDG Award<br />
Eradicating Extreme Poverty and<br />
Hunger, MDG 1, for the amiran<br />
Farmers Kit (aFK). The MDGs<br />
awards are an initiative of the<br />
MDGs Trust Fund, supported by<br />
unDP and other leading private<br />
sector, Government and donor<br />
partners. The awards seek to<br />
acknowledge the contribution<br />
of government, private sector<br />
and nGOs in Kenya that are<br />
dedicated to sustaining projects<br />
that directly contribute to the<br />
realization of the MDGs.<br />
In what turned out to be a<br />
double celebration for Israel,<br />
the Embassy of Israel in Kenya,<br />
represented by the new Israeli<br />
ambassador to Kenya, HE Gil<br />
Haskel, received an honorary<br />
award as Kenyas ‘Donor Partner<br />
of the year’ for Israel’s efforts to<br />
help Kenya achieve food security<br />
through support to sustainable<br />
development initiatives in<br />
addition to charitable projects.<br />
The acknowledgement for<br />
(L-R) Ministry of youth Affairs<br />
Assistant Director of youth<br />
Training Irene Kamau, Amiran’s<br />
Head of Agro- Division<br />
yariv Kedar, Ministry of youth<br />
Deputy Director of youth<br />
Training Maria Cherono and<br />
Amiran’s Integrated Project’s<br />
Manager Christopher Nzuki,<br />
celebrate the youth Empowerment<br />
MDG award<br />
amiran’s efforts towards<br />
Empowering the youth was<br />
greeted with delight by the staff<br />
of the company who has launched<br />
several campaigns in the last year<br />
aimed at making agribusiness<br />
attractive to Kenya’s youth,<br />
among them ‘Farming is cool’ and<br />
‘next Generation Farmers’.<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 13
Most Kenyans would not<br />
even be able to find Walda on<br />
the map of our own country,<br />
but when we gave what we<br />
could to support the important<br />
‘Kenyans for Kenya’ initiative,<br />
this is the kind of place we were<br />
supporting.<br />
When you arrive in Walda,<br />
either after a two hour flight<br />
from nairobi, passing Mt Kenya<br />
on the way and then flying<br />
over what seems like an endless<br />
sea of desert, or by driving<br />
for almost two days through<br />
some of the roughest roads in<br />
Kenya, one thing is for sure, you<br />
will remember the taste of the<br />
dust. It is un-escapable, this is<br />
desert country and the dust is<br />
everywhere. as far as the eye<br />
can see all that can be seen is dry<br />
land.<br />
Camels walk for hours to<br />
find water, people do what<br />
they must to live. Vegetables<br />
are brought in from nyeri and<br />
they are expensive. The people<br />
of Walda, in Moyale, are not as<br />
bad off as those in Turkana, but<br />
they feel the heat growing from<br />
year to year and are learning to<br />
constantly live with less water.<br />
But for the last few months the<br />
people of Walda have a reason<br />
to be optimistic. There is green<br />
in Walda now courtesy of abbas<br />
Gullet, Secretary General of<br />
the Kenya red Cross Society<br />
who less than six months ago,<br />
tasked amiran Kenya to install<br />
eight amiran Farmer’s Kits, the<br />
ones that have been sprouting<br />
up all over Kenya, with the drip<br />
14<br />
amiran Farmers Kit;<br />
a ray of hope for africa<br />
Part of the produce grown at the Red Cross doated AFK in Walda<br />
irrigation systems. abbas Gullet<br />
has repeatedly said that as he<br />
continues to give emergency<br />
food to the hungry and the<br />
starving, he is equally interested<br />
in giving sustainable food<br />
security.<br />
The red Cross has placed an<br />
agronomist trained by amiran to<br />
lead the project, which has seen<br />
dozens in the area trained in drip<br />
irrigation, greenhouse farming,<br />
proper seed selection, proper<br />
fertigation techniques, correct<br />
and safe use of agro-chemicals,<br />
marketing, and agricultural<br />
record keeping. amiran’s regional<br />
agronomist works together with<br />
the red Cross team and the result<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
is produce worth over 2 million<br />
shillings being grown in a season<br />
which should last eight months.<br />
agriculturally it has been noted<br />
to the pleasant surprise of those<br />
involved that because the land<br />
is unused for agriculture the<br />
crops are yielding faster and the<br />
produce is very sweet and ripe.<br />
Thousands of amiran Farmers<br />
throughout the country are<br />
already supplying much of the<br />
quality produce to the major<br />
supermarket chains, markets<br />
and the restaurant and hotel<br />
industries on Kenya’s Coast and in<br />
nairobi. The need for horticultural<br />
produce could provide a steady<br />
business for over one hundred<br />
thousand Kenyan farmers who<br />
could each be making half<br />
a million shilling in a season<br />
comfortably. Many Kenyan<br />
farmers would be surprised to<br />
learn that Kenya imports much<br />
of its horticultural produce from<br />
neighboring uganda and from as<br />
far as South africa and no doubt<br />
our neighbors are grateful. The<br />
produce provided by these so<br />
called ‘next generation farmers’<br />
or ‘facebook farmers’ has also<br />
been shown to have a longer<br />
shelf life than what has been<br />
seen before in the country,<br />
extended even more using one<br />
of the company’s post harvest<br />
solutions called an active bag.
An Amiran agronomist shares a light moment with children from Walda in an Amiran Farmers Kit (AFK)<br />
This is also the first time that this<br />
kind of horticultural produce<br />
‘GrOWn In KEnya’ is of European<br />
standards of production and<br />
has met with the approval of<br />
European Supermarket Chains.<br />
Interestingly however, it is not<br />
only tomatoes that have caught<br />
the attention of the European<br />
market, Capsicums (better<br />
known to us as Pili Pili ho ho)<br />
Sweet Melons all being grown in<br />
shambas all over Kenya just like<br />
in Israel. using plots no bigger<br />
than one eighth of an acre or 500<br />
square meters and anywhere<br />
from 400 to 600 liters of water a<br />
day, farmers are growing higher<br />
yields and better quality that<br />
ever seen in Kenya before.<br />
Those who have been around<br />
agriculture in Kenya for many<br />
years know well of amiran’s<br />
contribution to the flower sector<br />
and the large scale horticulture<br />
sector in the country. It is no<br />
surprise that this company,<br />
which has been with us since<br />
independence, brought us the<br />
first greenhouses and the first<br />
drip irrigation, is also the company<br />
where the world’s first complete<br />
small scale agribusiness unit was<br />
born. Many of you know about<br />
Kenya’s contribution to the<br />
world of cellular money transfer,<br />
MPesa, which has broken so<br />
many misconceptions and has<br />
changed the way we live our<br />
lives, was born here in Kenya and<br />
is now being copied across the<br />
world. Though based on Israeli<br />
technology and invented by yariv<br />
Kedar, amiran’s Head of agro<br />
Division and an Israeli working<br />
and living in Kenya, the amiran<br />
Farmers Kit or aFK as many call it,<br />
is as Kenyan as can be.<br />
according to Kedar, the aFK<br />
was born here in amiran Kenya, a<br />
Kenyan company, and developed<br />
by an Israeli-Kenyan team of<br />
managers and staff among them<br />
Christopher nzuki, amiran’s<br />
Integrated Projects Manager, an<br />
Egerton agriculture alumni, a<br />
BSC, MSC, who is now persuing<br />
a PHD courtesy of amiran Kenya.<br />
nzuki, a Kenyan, designed the<br />
aFK training and is responsible<br />
for the massive extension service,<br />
what amiran calls ‘agro-Support’,<br />
which guides and teaches<br />
thousands of amiran Farmers in<br />
every corner of the country. The<br />
entire operation implemented<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 15
An aerial view of the eight Amiran Farmers Kit installed by Kenya Red Cross Society and Amiran Kenya in Walda<br />
by an experienced Kenyan<br />
team of dozens of regional<br />
agronomists, serves farmers who<br />
are themselves pioneers.<br />
all amiran Farmers are trained<br />
and certified by the company to<br />
operate the aFK, maintain it and<br />
to chase the new ‘african Dream’<br />
of raking in millions through<br />
smart agribusiness using modern<br />
technology and using creative<br />
marketing to fetch a higher price<br />
for every KG of produce, produce<br />
that is “Grown in Kenya”.<br />
yariv Kedar, the inventor of<br />
the award-winning aFK, grew<br />
up in Tanzania as the son of an<br />
Israeli farmer who was sent by<br />
MaSHaV, the Israeli Center for<br />
International Cooperation, to<br />
teach Tanzanian farmers. Kedar<br />
believes that what the wananchi<br />
are missing is the Knowledge, the<br />
Knowhow or ‘do how’ as he calls<br />
it and quality inputs. “you can’t<br />
cut corners” he says, “success is in<br />
the details”, but most importantly<br />
“the farmers MuST succeed”.<br />
When yariv says that last one<br />
he gets a look of responsibility<br />
16<br />
in his eye, as if it is up to him to<br />
accomplish this feet. But one fact<br />
is clear, yariv, and everyone else<br />
you meet from amiran, believes<br />
that Kenya is in a position to lead<br />
all of africa in an agribusiness<br />
revolution and evolution that<br />
would not only end the reality<br />
of food insecurity that looms<br />
like a shadow over our lives, but<br />
place africa at the forefront of<br />
horticultural production globally,<br />
and this as the amount of land<br />
available globally for agriculture<br />
lessens almost daily. To an Israeli<br />
like yariv Kedar, a country which is<br />
one third the size of Lake Victoria,<br />
Kenya must seem like a blank<br />
canvas for planning a massive<br />
agricultural project.<br />
at last year’s MDG awards held<br />
at the national Museum of Kenya,<br />
many Kenyan and East african<br />
leaders attended as the likes of<br />
Safaricom, Coca Cola and the<br />
Kenya red Cross Society, were<br />
honored with awards for their<br />
efforts to achieve the Millennium<br />
Development Goals (MDGs).<br />
MDG 1, Eradication of Extreme<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
Poverty and Hunger, went to<br />
amiran Kenya for the amiran<br />
Farmers Kit.<br />
In addition to a rich CSr<br />
portfolio that amiran has built<br />
as a big Kenyan company, it has<br />
made a business out of making<br />
money for its clients – the farmers<br />
of Kenya, large and small scale.<br />
recently, the world marked<br />
the International Day for The<br />
Eradication of Poverty. Here<br />
in Kenya the central event was<br />
held in Murang’a County, hosted<br />
by the Ministry of Planning<br />
Development and Vision 2030, the<br />
Poverty Eradication Commission,<br />
the MDGs Trust Fund, amiran<br />
Kenya and Hon Captain Clement<br />
Wambugu, MP for Mathioya<br />
District. re-affirming their<br />
commitment to the important<br />
theme of the day, the Honorable<br />
MP and the local CDF launched<br />
an ‘amiran Farmers Kit for<br />
schools project’ in 25 secondary<br />
and primary schools joining<br />
over 450 Kenyan schools and<br />
over 100,000 thousand Kenyan<br />
students who are now part of the<br />
amiran next Generation Farmers<br />
Initiative, which aims to place<br />
an aFK in every school in the<br />
country and create a generation<br />
of young Kenyan agropreneurs.<br />
amiran also joined hands with<br />
the Ministry of youth affairs<br />
and Sports in the ‘amiran-youth<br />
Polytechnics next Generation<br />
Farmers Initiative’ launch by<br />
Honorable Dr. Paul Otuoma,<br />
Minster of youth affairs and<br />
Sports in june after over 100<br />
aFKs were installed in youth<br />
Polytechnics throughout Kenya<br />
as part of the new agribusiness<br />
Curriculum introduced by the<br />
Ministry’s Director of youth<br />
Training, Dr. Dina Mwenzi.<br />
It is told in the hallways of<br />
radio africa that the match<br />
made between the Kenya red<br />
Cross Society and amiran Kenya,<br />
was made in the studios of the<br />
KISS FM ‘Breakfast Show’, where<br />
abbas Gullet was directed to<br />
visit the Schools Project initiated<br />
by Honorable Charles Kilonzo<br />
and the yatta CDF committee<br />
installing the first aFKs in
secondary schools in the water<br />
scarce constituency. While the<br />
rest of the country’s CDFs copy<br />
the yatta model, Honorable<br />
Kilonzo has aleady tasked<br />
amiran to install newly designed<br />
1 acre gravity fed drip irrigation<br />
systems, complete with all of<br />
the aFK components in primary<br />
schools in the constituency.<br />
Whether the match between<br />
abbas Gullet and amiran was<br />
made on the ‘Breakfast Show’<br />
or whether a higher power had<br />
some involvement, the result<br />
was the scaling up of the schools<br />
model to reach many of the<br />
drought stricken areas of the<br />
country, bringing the aFK and a<br />
glimpse of prosperity, hope and<br />
dignity to men and women, who<br />
are bringing in a good income<br />
for their families without having<br />
to put their hand out for help.<br />
In the middle of a huge desert<br />
people have created green, in<br />
Israel and now in Kenya. Imagine<br />
the potential of greening our<br />
desert?<br />
In a country where agriculture<br />
is the most available means of<br />
wealth creation and 20 million<br />
youth are jobless and dream less,<br />
agribusiness done “the amiran<br />
Way” is drawing the attention<br />
of young Kenyan entrepreneurs<br />
who are rushing from the cyber<br />
cafes to the fields to build their<br />
own businesses, to become<br />
amiran Farmers like many who<br />
have gone from owning their<br />
first aFK two years ago and now<br />
own 10 kits producing above<br />
5 million shilling in less than<br />
a year and supplying Kenya’s<br />
leading grocers. Flocking to<br />
the company’s Facebook page<br />
to discuss agribusiness, a new<br />
breed of Kenyan agripreneur,<br />
who emails his or her prices to<br />
their clients is being grown here<br />
in Kenya.<br />
A Walda boy savours the taste of ripe tomatoes<br />
aSK CEO Muthoka and<br />
amiran were aiming at the<br />
youth when they launched<br />
the “Farming is Cool”<br />
campaign, which joined Dj and<br />
Greenhouse in an attempt to<br />
attract youth to take a closer<br />
This girl from Walda holds on to her tomato<br />
look at the technology. Kenyan<br />
youth perceive of agriculture<br />
as a ‘punishment’, something<br />
one does after retirement<br />
or to survive and not starve.<br />
amiran surprised everyone by<br />
launching the “Farming is Cool”<br />
campaign using 50 agriculture<br />
and Communications students<br />
from Egerton university and<br />
jKuaT to both dance and<br />
explain agriculture to show<br />
gowers at this year’s nairobi<br />
International Trade Fair. amiran’s<br />
Pr Department admits that the<br />
company’s “Farming is Cool”<br />
campaign recently launched by<br />
assistant Minster of agriculture<br />
Honorable Gideon ndambuki<br />
and the new ambassador of<br />
Israel, HE Gil Haskel stealing the<br />
show at this year’s nairobi aSK<br />
Show, is based on same phrase<br />
coined by Caroline Mutoko<br />
herself live on the breakfast<br />
show “Farming is Cool’’.<br />
In his speech at the<br />
International World Poverty<br />
Eradication event in Murang’a<br />
the amiran representative<br />
said that he believed that<br />
Kenya had been blessed by<br />
God, that our land was fertile<br />
and that if the power of our<br />
young small scale farmers<br />
could be harnessed together<br />
with the right knowledge,<br />
the “do how” and the right<br />
agricultural, ‘agro-tech’<br />
inputs we could become the<br />
world’s food basket. Imagine<br />
Kenya first in athletics, First in<br />
Flowers, First in Horticluture! If<br />
Kenya was feeding the world<br />
with vegetables and fruits it<br />
would not have to worry about<br />
feeding itself.<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 17
By CATHERINE RIUNGU<br />
any time is flower time.<br />
Welcome to russian where<br />
they love flowers so much,<br />
no meeting occurs without<br />
people exchanging bouquets.<br />
When people meet for coffee,<br />
they carry flowers. all Parties<br />
– birthdays, weddings, name<br />
them, are not attended without<br />
a flower. When children join<br />
or reopen schools, they carry<br />
flowers for their teachers.<br />
The biggest flower day in<br />
this Eastern European nation<br />
is International Mother’s Day<br />
celebrated on March 8 annually.<br />
This day is to the country what<br />
18<br />
The blooming flower<br />
market of Moscow<br />
florists sell round-the-clock<br />
Ravi Patel, the Finance Director, Subati Flowers Ltd. The firm exports mainly to Russia.<br />
Valentine’s Day (<strong>February</strong> 14) is<br />
to the rest of the world. The big<br />
difference though is that every<br />
female including a baby girl<br />
receives a flower!<br />
“russia has the most romantic<br />
culture in the world”, said ravi<br />
Patel, Finance Director, Subati<br />
Flowers Ltd, a Kenyan grower<br />
that has excelled in this blooming<br />
market.<br />
russia is the world’s 6th<br />
biggest market for cut flowers,<br />
importing about $1billion worth<br />
of blooms a year mainly from<br />
growers in Kenya, Ecuador and<br />
Columbia. Most of these are sold<br />
in Moscow where florists are<br />
scattered all over the city, many<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
trading 24 hours.<br />
according to Mr Patel, due to<br />
increasing costs of production<br />
in South america, Kenya is<br />
increasing becoming the main<br />
supplier for this market, that<br />
was traditionally dominated by<br />
the former due to proximity. But<br />
flowers from South america are<br />
more costly forcing the country<br />
to source for supplies from other<br />
growers, Mr Patel said.<br />
according to the Kenya Flower<br />
Council (KFC) CEO jane ngige,<br />
the outlook in Moscow is very<br />
promising because the flower<br />
culture there is complimented<br />
by a good economy creating a<br />
high demand.<br />
Mrs ngige welcomed the<br />
World Trade Organization’s<br />
recent admission of russia,<br />
which will make it easier to<br />
trade with the country, whose<br />
market structures make it a tight<br />
destination. “russia is a very<br />
good market but has equally<br />
tough challenges among them<br />
language, the many federations<br />
with different import regimes<br />
and cartels”, she said.<br />
russian businessmen in<br />
nairobi have started forming<br />
linkages to markets at home, a<br />
development Mrs ngige terms<br />
positive as it is likely to deepen<br />
market penetration considering<br />
these people are familiar with<br />
both worlds and will cut the<br />
language barriers as well as<br />
advise on market dynamics.<br />
She pointed out that the<br />
flower industry, in conjunction<br />
with the Kenya Ministry of<br />
Foreign affairs and the russian<br />
Embassy in nairobi have started<br />
initiatives to unravel this market.<br />
In august last year, a delegation<br />
of 30 growers was sent to<br />
Moscow to sample the market.<br />
“We, for instance, need to<br />
understand the dynamics of this<br />
market such as it severe winter<br />
that has a bearing on flower<br />
sales,” she said. The country’s<br />
autumn is awful, so is winter and<br />
spring during which everyone<br />
yearns for green leading to an<br />
explosion of flowers in the short<br />
summer period.<br />
Flowers in russia are also<br />
expensive relative to average<br />
incomes, with a single rose<br />
costing around 70 rubles ($2)
HIGH CONCENTRATION POTASSIUM<br />
SOLUTION TO CORRECT DEFICIENCIES<br />
OF POTASSIUM IN FLORICULTURE,<br />
HORTICULTURE AND FIELD CROPS<br />
hyK is a concentrated inorganic formulation<br />
containing potassium and nitrogen. Potassium<br />
is the second major nutrient required by all<br />
crops, highly mobile and quickly distributed<br />
within the plant.<br />
The main function of Potassium within the plant is<br />
as a water regulator which in turn affects many plant<br />
processes such as:<br />
regulation of cell water content,<br />
cell turgidity<br />
transpiration rates<br />
translocation of photosynthesates and enzymes.<br />
Low levels of potassium can critically affect the growth of the crop,<br />
subsequently affecting quality and yield. hyK is a unique formulation<br />
containing a high concentration of potassium. This high analysis ensures<br />
optimum uptake of the potash where required and also assists the plant to<br />
create a leaf environment unfavourable to disease development.<br />
Analysis of hyK Weight/Volume Weight/Weight<br />
Total Nitrogen (N) 3.00% 1.95%<br />
Potassium (K2O) 50.00% 33.00 %<br />
pH: (10% solution) 11.0 – 12.5<br />
Directions of use:<br />
1. Always shake container before use.<br />
2. Fill half the required amount of water in the spray tank.<br />
3. Measure the required amount of hyK and add to tank. Maintain constant agitation.<br />
4. Add remaining water to correct dilution.<br />
5. Spray and ensure full coverage.<br />
6. The product should always be used with a compatible wetter/sticker (not a buffer).<br />
Tank Mixing Compatibility<br />
Recommended Rate: 3 litres per hectare<br />
Water volume: 1000 litres<br />
Frequency of application: Apply 10-14 day intervals<br />
Although it is compatible with most, but not all pesticides, growth regulators and micro-nutrients, it is advisable to use hyK on<br />
it’s own in a tank mix with a compatible wetter only (not a buffer). Always carry out a phytotoxicity test on a small area before<br />
large scale application.<br />
Liability cannot be accepted for any loss or damage as not all pesticides and fertilisers have been tested for compatibility.<br />
Efficacy of any mix will depend upon crop type and growth stage, pesticide concerned, climatic conditions, water volumes and<br />
various other factors.<br />
Storage & Shelf life<br />
Store in a cool dry place away from the heat and sunlight with optimum storage range between 5-40ºC.<br />
Although hyK is low in toxicity, it can cause eye and skin irritation in concentrated form. It is non-hazardous and<br />
non-flammable. However, when handling the concentrate, protective gear should be used such as gloves and face shield.<br />
For agriculture use only<br />
A product of UK ● Available in 10 Litre<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 19<br />
Recycle Paper
Workers at Subati Flowers Ltd, pack their harvest. There are over 900 workers at the<br />
flower farm which is located in Nakuru.<br />
and the average bunch of flowers selling for<br />
around 500 rubles ($16). This is in partly due to<br />
the expensive transportation cost attached to<br />
each flower but also a result of high customs<br />
duties of around 10 rubles (30 cents) per flower.<br />
During the Women’s Day here, men lavish<br />
bouquets on their wives and colleagues and<br />
just about anyone else from the fairer sex they<br />
know. March 8, is the day florists reap enough<br />
profits to keep them going for the rest of the<br />
year.<br />
“This one day in March feeds a florist for a<br />
whole year,” florists in Moscow boast, with<br />
many reporting sales of about 20,000 blooms<br />
for the Mother’s Day week, ten times the usual<br />
amount.<br />
Others say that while on other days<br />
blemished blooms are discarded, on March 8,<br />
just everything will be sold, with an impressive<br />
25 million flowers sold annually in Moscow<br />
alone, according to market reports. Valentine’s<br />
Day, the date which sends imports soaring<br />
in most other countries, is a relatively new<br />
phenomenon in russia, but one that is steadily<br />
growing in popularity.<br />
Despite this rosy picture, it is also reported<br />
that feminists have been heard to complain<br />
that men have turned the day into a celebration<br />
of sexism as russian men heap compliments and<br />
gifts on their female colleagues and “sputniks”<br />
(satellites) – the word for their other halves.<br />
Other flowery reports indicate that russian<br />
men are incurable romantics and “infidelity is<br />
big business.”<br />
Like any other industry, the flower market<br />
is subject to significant spikes and drops<br />
20<br />
in demand. The russian flower industry is<br />
characterized more by sudden demand hikes<br />
than most other countries because russia has so<br />
many national holidays at which it has become<br />
the custom to give flowers.<br />
The industry is not immune to global shocks<br />
and was not spared a large-scale slump in sales<br />
especially after the 2008 economic crisis, when<br />
lower imports to dropped by around half,<br />
amounting to some $500 million in 2009.<br />
although domestically produced blooms<br />
only constitute around 2-3 percent of russian<br />
cut flower sales, the high importation costs are<br />
causing many in the industry to look to the local<br />
market for future supplies.<br />
recently flower plantations have been<br />
appearing in the Moscow region, and around<br />
the towns of Kaluga, yaroslavl and Dmitrov but<br />
the climate poses a barrier to mass production.<br />
Some producers are moving to warmer places<br />
like Krasnodar region near the Black Sea and<br />
making use of technology, but this may not<br />
be sustainable in terms of cost leaving african<br />
producers as the best bet.<br />
Dutch company Meilland specializes in<br />
breeding new varieties of roses and has<br />
developed a frost-resistant variety to grow in<br />
russia and other cold climates. The breed is<br />
either sold under contract to russian industrial<br />
growers or as individual plants for landscape<br />
gardening projects.<br />
While the rose plant industry is relatively<br />
underdeveloped in russia, it has huge potential,<br />
because roses are the most popular cut flowers<br />
on the russian market, constituting some 80-90<br />
percent of all sales.<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
Subati<br />
Flowers<br />
rocking in<br />
Russia<br />
During the first international flower<br />
exhibition in russia in august last year,<br />
Subati was the only firm from this<br />
part of the world that carried home<br />
a gold trophy. “We entered the spray<br />
rose variety which in our experience<br />
is popular in this market because of it<br />
being a single stem with many heads”,<br />
said ravi Patel, the director.<br />
“The award is a loud statement that<br />
Kenya is a world winner when it comes<br />
to flowers”, he added with a boast<br />
that, “Kenyan roses are the best in the<br />
world mainly because of a suitable<br />
climate, and competence of growers<br />
to stay ahead in meeting market<br />
requirements.<br />
Subati, tucked in the heart of the rift<br />
Valley in nakuru has about 89 hectares<br />
out of which 27.5 is in production. at<br />
an altitude of 2200-2400 meters above<br />
sea level, the farm sits on a<br />
conductive environment for<br />
optimum rose production. “Here,<br />
temperatures are warm during the<br />
day and very cool at night, just what<br />
flowers require for long stem and large<br />
bud development while the clean<br />
air from the hills and surrounding<br />
mountains has created a microclimate<br />
that helps keep pests and diseases at<br />
bay, leading to production of the very<br />
best T-hybrids that Kenya produces”<br />
said Mr Patel.<br />
Subati Flowers Ltd was Incorporated<br />
in 2007 when the directors bought<br />
Subati<br />
Ltd and employs over 900<br />
permanent and casual staff. The farm<br />
has been expanded from 12 Ha to 27.5<br />
hectares in two years, and is poised<br />
for further growth. It is selling around<br />
31 million stems annually to russia,<br />
Europe and japan.
For over 30 years farmers have<br />
trusted Meltatox ® in controlling<br />
powdery mildew. It is an<br />
excellent product to use when<br />
powdery mildew arises as it<br />
cures it. Thus leaving the roses’<br />
aesthetics preserved ensuring<br />
good market prices.<br />
BASF East Africa Ltd<br />
Tel: +254 204443457<br />
email: patrick.ngugi@basf.com<br />
email: francis.karanja@basf.com<br />
papillongroup.co.za<br />
Preventative sprays are recommended<br />
in order to minimize<br />
disease risk, however a curative<br />
spray after max. 48 hours after<br />
infection is nothing Meltatox ® can’t<br />
handle. It has long lasting effects<br />
which ensures spotless flowers,<br />
while offering a short re-entry<br />
interval allowing workers to quickly<br />
get back into the greenhouses.<br />
Meltatox ® can be incorporated<br />
into an IPM programme as it is<br />
compatible with beneficial insects<br />
and predatory mites. Since the<br />
launch of Meltatox ® no resistances<br />
have been reported, making it your<br />
number 1 trusted brand.<br />
MELTATOX ®<br />
Cultivating prosperity.<br />
Dose Rate: 2.5 /1000-1500<br />
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H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 21
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The flower industry<br />
in Kenya is in the<br />
process of setting<br />
up a pooled carbon<br />
credit scheme.<br />
The Kenya Flower Council chief<br />
executive officer, jane ngige, says<br />
the industry is looking at counting<br />
all trees planted by each farm to<br />
form a “flower industry forest”<br />
and front the numbers as a single<br />
carbon sink.<br />
“We are in the process of auditing<br />
existing clean energy schemes<br />
with a view to replicate these in all<br />
farms to collectively earn credits<br />
that would be ploughed into<br />
more activities so that in the final<br />
analysis, the entire industry can<br />
lay claim to being a major player<br />
in climate change intervention<br />
measures,” she said.<br />
The Ministry of Environment is<br />
already working with two growers on<br />
a pilot scheme to convert farm waste<br />
into biogas, and if successful, the<br />
firms- Simbi roses in Thika and Pj Dave<br />
in Kitengela will be used as models to<br />
replicate the concept in others.<br />
Pj Dave farm manager, Peter<br />
Kiarie, said flowers produce<br />
substantial waste which, if<br />
converted into biogas, would save<br />
the country considerable hydro<br />
electricity units.<br />
Currently, most of the flower<br />
waste is composted and in a few<br />
farms, such as Vegepro, is being<br />
used to make liquid organic<br />
fertilizer.<br />
a number have already installed<br />
clean energy projects key among<br />
them Oserian Development<br />
Company that has established<br />
the world’s largest geothermal<br />
heated greenhouse. The farm<br />
generates 95 per cent of its energy<br />
requirements.<br />
another milestone is the giant<br />
24<br />
solar energy plant run by Bilashaka<br />
Flowers, the clearest indication<br />
that the country is yet to exploit<br />
clean energy. Managing director,<br />
joost Zuurbeir, says that two years<br />
after the multi-million project was<br />
launched in 2006, the farm had<br />
recouped its investment and has<br />
since made substantial savings on<br />
the kerosene that was initially used<br />
to heat the greenhouses. “The<br />
result is a cleaner, healthier flower<br />
from a cleaner environment”, he<br />
said adding that their flowers are<br />
rated premium in the markets<br />
because they score highly on<br />
environmental audits.<br />
Mr Stephene Mutimba, the<br />
managing director of Camco, an<br />
energy consultancy firm, that has<br />
been contracted by the flower<br />
industry to study the existing<br />
and untapped potential of<br />
producing and using clean energy<br />
recommends pooling of resources<br />
and supporting the smaller farms<br />
to install solar panels depending<br />
on size of farms and other possible<br />
initiatives. “The idea is to establish<br />
a revolving fund where farms can<br />
|| ENVIRONMENT ||<br />
Flower farms to pool Carbon credits<br />
Kenya Flower Council CEO, Jane Ngige at Bilashaka Flowers<br />
in Naivasha. In the background are the solar panels that<br />
have helped the farm produce roses in a clean energy<br />
environment.<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
borrow money to set up clean<br />
energy initiatives,” he said.<br />
If the programme, that is expected<br />
to kick off mid next year succeeds,<br />
Kenya will reaffirm the position that<br />
flowers produced in the country emit<br />
less carbon despite being airlifted to<br />
the markets.<br />
Four years ago, there was a major<br />
debate in Europe as claims gained<br />
currency that transporting flowers<br />
and other horticultural produce<br />
amounted to huge carbon miles,<br />
with some activists clamouring for<br />
a boycott of air freighted produce.<br />
This prompted a study which<br />
established that growing and flying<br />
fresh produce from the country<br />
produced far much less carbon than<br />
European grown products because<br />
of the high energy requirements<br />
there to heat greenhouses and<br />
extend day-light.<br />
In addition, Mr Mutimba said,<br />
there are no special cargo planes<br />
that deliver fresh produce only<br />
but the stuff sits in the belly of<br />
passenger planes meaning there is<br />
no increase in carbon per unit.<br />
a World Bank study that looks<br />
at the impact of climate change in<br />
the flower industry has established<br />
that growing zones have shrunk<br />
because ideally, they do well in<br />
temperatures ranging between<br />
25-30 degrees Celsius. “Due to<br />
global warming, temperatures<br />
in most traditional zones are<br />
going above this range. In certain<br />
regions, boreholes have dried up<br />
leading to increased spending on<br />
water and energy making farms<br />
unsustainable”, the report says.<br />
according to Camco that carried<br />
out the World Bank study, countries<br />
with less harsh climates such as<br />
uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia<br />
could in future be more attractive<br />
than Kenya as flower producing<br />
regions.<br />
The study recommends that<br />
flower farms pool together<br />
to form a grand carbon credit<br />
scheme and collaborate in various<br />
environmental-friendly activities<br />
such as planting more trees,<br />
collecting and recycling water.<br />
Farms such as Kisima in Timau have<br />
shown that if all farms collected all<br />
the water captured by greenhouses<br />
when it rains, they can last a season<br />
and contribute massively to water<br />
saving efforts. Martin Dyer, the Kisima<br />
general manager recommends that<br />
the industry should have a policy<br />
that ensures all greenhouses collect<br />
both roof and storm water when<br />
it rains which would make a lot of<br />
difference in the water situation in<br />
the country.<br />
Kisima and a neighbouring<br />
flower farm in the nanyuki region<br />
Tambuzi have also joined in the<br />
clean energy efforts, with the latter<br />
developing solar lanterns for its<br />
staff while the former has set up<br />
a community biogas plants that<br />
is being used by villagers in Buuri<br />
district for cooking.<br />
C<br />
M<br />
Y<br />
CM<br />
MY<br />
CY<br />
CMY<br />
K
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 25
26<br />
Fetching potatoes from Kisima<br />
“Kisima wants to become Kenya’s leading potato seed supplier and our sights are set<br />
well beyond the national boundaries”, Martin Dyer<br />
Martin Dyer, Kisima General Manager is passionate about<br />
potatoes<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
By CaTHErInE rIunGu<br />
It all started with an<br />
advertisement placed<br />
by Kenya’s Ministry<br />
of agriculture calling<br />
for a potato industry<br />
stakeholders’ meeting in nairobi.<br />
Martin Dyer, the general<br />
manager of Kisima Farm, saw an<br />
opportunity to explore a desire<br />
he always haboured – to venture<br />
into potato growing. “The ministry<br />
said it was looking for private<br />
sector players to partner with in<br />
production of potato seed and I<br />
decided to attend the meeting,”<br />
Mr Dyer said.<br />
Three years later, that<br />
meeting has culminated in the<br />
establishment of one of the<br />
largest high technology potato<br />
seed production units in East<br />
africa. “The potential for potato<br />
seed in the country is huge”, Dyer<br />
said adding that what is required<br />
now are multipliers. “We would<br />
like many more farmers to get into<br />
the business of multiplying potato<br />
seed and the investment pays well<br />
because the demand far outstrips<br />
supply, we can hardly meet it,” he<br />
added, pointing out that farmers<br />
need to be educated on the<br />
importance of planting clean seed<br />
every season instead of relying on<br />
own seed, which leads to spread of<br />
diseases and low yields.<br />
Encouraged by the positive turn<br />
of events, Kisima Farm is planning to<br />
increase capacity to produce more<br />
minitubers, seed multiplication,<br />
production and building a cold<br />
storage facility for 1,000 tonnes of<br />
G3.<br />
“There is no turning back,” Mr<br />
Dyer said with a tinge of satisfaction<br />
from seeing his dream coming to<br />
life. “Kisima has already doubled the<br />
size of the aeroponics at our own<br />
expense and next year we hope to<br />
be able to grow over 20,000 plants<br />
per season producing in excess of<br />
1.25 million mini tubers annually,”<br />
he said.<br />
The Timau-based farm is<br />
favoured by many factors among<br />
them an ideal climate for potato<br />
production, with two rainfall<br />
seasons guaranteeing two crops<br />
in a year. Better still it has plenty<br />
of land that allows for adequate<br />
rotation, and readily available<br />
alternating crops like wheat. “Kisima<br />
is ideally suited for this project with<br />
the existing aeroponics system<br />
and adequate land to be able to<br />
rotate 40+ hactares per season<br />
with wheat and brassica crops with<br />
a seven- year rotation break for<br />
potato seed production”, he said<br />
adding, “We have plenty of land for<br />
rotating potatoes for up to seven<br />
years meaning seed from our farm<br />
will always be vigorous because it is<br />
growing on virgin land.<br />
The farm, rated by the<br />
International Potato Centre (CIP) as<br />
the most successful private sector<br />
initiative in this endeavour so far,<br />
has increased the acreage under<br />
seed potato to over 40 hectares up<br />
from 10 hactares in 2009. The farm<br />
has invested in seed machinery<br />
for planting, harvesting, sorting,<br />
and grading. It has two aeroponic<br />
units with a capacity of about 3,600<br />
plantlets. “We are really excited that<br />
we got involved in the project. The<br />
speed and efficiency of multiplying<br />
seed, using the aeroponics<br />
technology, are amazing. We are
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 27
It is planting time. Workers at Kisima Farm prepare the invitros for next season.<br />
happy that our seed has reached<br />
every part of the country. We have<br />
received positive feedback on its<br />
performance and consequently<br />
seed demand is increasing every<br />
season,” My Dyer said.<br />
The farm’s initial aeroponics<br />
was set up in 2009 with assistance<br />
from uSaID and GIZ on a 50-50<br />
basis. Kisima supplied the green<br />
28<br />
houses, power, water supply<br />
and half the growing tables. The<br />
pumps, nebulizers and half the<br />
growing tables were donated<br />
by the agencies. From that initial<br />
partnership Kisima has covered all<br />
running costs including invitro plant<br />
purchases, with plenty of technical<br />
help from CIP. “We are interested<br />
in working more closely with other<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
organizations on this project,<br />
especially KEPHIS and KarI .<br />
The total area is 14mX20m and<br />
grows around 2,200 mini tubers.<br />
The main varieties grown<br />
are: Tigoni with a yield potential<br />
of over 40+ MTs;asante with<br />
potential of 25-30 MTs; Sherekea<br />
yield potential of 40+ MTs; Kenya<br />
Mpya yield potential of 50+ MTs<br />
A worker inside the Kisima Farm aeroponics unit in Timau, preparing for the next planting season.<br />
and Purple Gold with low yields of<br />
less than 20 MTs. Mr Dyer says that<br />
at Kisima they have experienced<br />
the benefits of aeroponics<br />
which include high yields, seed<br />
quality and cleanliness, speed of<br />
production and multiplication,<br />
disease control and no soil<br />
disease contamination. all seed is<br />
inspected by KEPHIS and sold with<br />
a certification label, but the farm<br />
would like the inspection body to<br />
shorten the time it takes to give<br />
the final nod.<br />
Despite its magic in turning<br />
around production, the system<br />
has its flipside, the most notable<br />
being the high initial of set up cost.<br />
Considering that it is a controlled<br />
growing environment, good<br />
water and soluble fertilizers and<br />
backup power are musts, and a<br />
break in the chain can destroy the<br />
entire crop. The aeroponics system<br />
is attended to 24 hours to ensure<br />
that temperatures and water are as<br />
per prescribed dosage, not a point<br />
less. “It is a high risk operation<br />
where you can suffer total loss<br />
unless on 24-hour-seven-day -day<br />
vigilance. High hygiene must be<br />
observed and dust must not get<br />
inside,” Mr Dyer said
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H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 29
!<br />
Plant potatoes in a site<br />
where tomatoes or<br />
other crops belonging<br />
to the same family<br />
as potatoes have not<br />
been planted during the previous<br />
two seasons. This helps to reduce<br />
the spread of soil borne diseases<br />
and pests.<br />
Land preparation<br />
Prepare the land well and early<br />
enough before the start of the<br />
rains. Make furrows in straight<br />
lines, 8-10 cm deep.<br />
Fertilizers and manure<br />
Farmers should perform a soil test<br />
regularly so as to get an indication<br />
of how much fertilizer and manure<br />
to use. a general recommendation,<br />
which depends on the fertility of<br />
the land, is to apply Diammonium<br />
phosphate (DaP) fertilizer at the<br />
rate of 200 kg/acre. The fertilizer<br />
should be mixed with the soil after<br />
application to avoid contact with the<br />
seed which can lead to ‘burning’ of<br />
the sprouts. Only well decomposed<br />
manure should be used so as to<br />
avoid the spread of a disease called<br />
rhizoctonia. The application rate is<br />
2-4 tonnes/acre.<br />
30<br />
Growing potatoes successfully<br />
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is variously referred to as Irish potato, English potato or round potato.<br />
Other names are viazi or viazi mviringo in Kiswahili. It is an important staple food in Kenya. Table or<br />
ware potatoes refer to potatoes that are grown for consumption as opposed to seed potatoes. Such potatoes<br />
can be boiled, fried, baked, mashed or made into chips or crisps. They can also be eaten in salads,<br />
stews or in mixed foods such as bananas, beans, maize and rice. There many potato recipes available.<br />
By LUNG’AHO C, NyONGESA M, KARINGA J<br />
and KINyAE, P M<br />
Choice of varieties<br />
a large number of potato<br />
varieties are grown in Kenya. The<br />
varieties differ in time of maturity,<br />
yield, appearance, cooking and<br />
marketing qualities and resistance<br />
to various diseases and pests as<br />
well as growth habit and tolerance<br />
to moisture stress. Growers are<br />
therefore advised to choose the<br />
correct variety for their intended<br />
use and growing conditions. a list<br />
of some of the varieties is shown in<br />
the following table.<br />
Key: Maturity period: Early (less<br />
than 90 days), Medium early (91-100<br />
days), Medium late (101-110), Medium<br />
late (111-120 days), Late (121-130 days),<br />
Very late (More than 131 days)<br />
yields: Low (Less than 20t/ha),<br />
Medium (21-30 t/ha), High (31-40 t/<br />
ha) and very high (More than 40 t/ha)<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
Characteristics of some of the commonly grown potato varieties<br />
Variety Skin Shape Maturity Yield Utilization<br />
Colour<br />
Period<br />
Boiling Chipping Chipping<br />
Asante Red Round Medium Very Fair Good Fair<br />
early high<br />
Red Oval Early Medium Good Good Good<br />
Red Round Medium<br />
late<br />
Medium Good Good Fair<br />
Red Round Late High Good Good Good<br />
Desiree<br />
Dutch<br />
Robijn<br />
Kenya<br />
Karibu<br />
Kenya<br />
Mavuno<br />
Kenya Mpya<br />
Kenya Sifa<br />
Kenya<br />
Sherehekea<br />
Purple Gold<br />
Tigoni<br />
White<br />
White<br />
Red<br />
White<br />
Purple<br />
White<br />
Round<br />
Oval<br />
Round<br />
Round<br />
Round<br />
Round<br />
Late<br />
Medium<br />
early<br />
Late<br />
Late<br />
Late<br />
Medium<br />
High<br />
High<br />
High<br />
Very high<br />
Medium<br />
Very high<br />
Good<br />
Good<br />
Good<br />
Good<br />
Good<br />
Good<br />
Good<br />
Good<br />
Good<br />
Good<br />
Good<br />
Fair<br />
Good<br />
Good<br />
Good<br />
Good<br />
Good<br />
Good
Sources of<br />
seed<br />
Farmers should use good quality seed to grow<br />
their potato crops. Certified seed potatoes are<br />
available from the KarI Seed unit, agricultural<br />
Development Corporations and other private<br />
seed multipliers. Farmers should consult their<br />
local agricultural officers on where to source for<br />
good quality seed.<br />
Seed size and sprouting<br />
The seeds should be the size of an egg (35-45<br />
mm) and well sprouted with at least 4-5 sprouts<br />
per tuber to optimize yields. avoid seeds without<br />
sprouts, seeds with only one sprout or very old<br />
seed tubers because use of such seeds results in<br />
poor yields.<br />
Planting and spacing<br />
Plant seed tubers in furrows at a spacing of 75<br />
cm between rows and 30 cm within rows (75 cm<br />
x 30 cm) with the sprouts facing up.<br />
Weeding and Ridging<br />
First weeding should be done 2-3 weeks after<br />
crop emergence while the second weeding<br />
should be done 2-3 weeks after the first weeding.<br />
Earthing-up helps the crop to form more tubers<br />
and also prevents greening of tubers. It should<br />
be done along the row during weeding. The final<br />
ridge should be approximately 25 cm high.<br />
Rotation<br />
Where possible, practice at least a 3 season<br />
rotation programme so as to sustainably grow<br />
the crop and reduce build-up of disease. Crops<br />
like maize and beans can be used.<br />
Pests and diseases<br />
!<br />
Common Diseases<br />
Late blight: The disease usually appears as<br />
water soaked spots on the leaves and stems,<br />
which turn black. a white mould sometimes<br />
appears on the underside of the leaves.<br />
Control: use tolerant varieties and suitable<br />
fungicides.<br />
Bacterial wilt: The disease is characterized by<br />
wilting of plants even when the soil has enough<br />
water. It is spread by infected seed tubers or<br />
infected soil.<br />
Control: There is no chemical control yet.<br />
use disease free seed and suitable rotations.<br />
Infected plants and tubers together with the<br />
surrounding soil should be uprooted and burnt<br />
or buried in a deep pit.<br />
rhizoctonia diseases of potatoes (stem canker<br />
and black scurf): These diseases are caused<br />
by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. The fungus<br />
causes considerable damage to emerging<br />
sprouts when growing conditions do not favour<br />
rapid emergence. The fungus forms dark brown<br />
to black hard masses on the surface of the tuber<br />
called sclerotia. Cankers may girdle the stems<br />
and result in aerial tuber formation, plant wilt<br />
and death. Infected plants may also produce<br />
many small tubers.<br />
Control. use good quality seed. Long crop<br />
rotations and use of well decomposed manure<br />
may also minimize incidence of the disease.<br />
application of suitable soil fungicides may also<br />
help.<br />
Viruses: Viruses disrupt the plants’ normal<br />
growing pattern and cause inefficient use of<br />
nutrients as well as reduced tolerance to other<br />
stresses. Some of the important viruses in the<br />
country are potato leaf roll virus, potato virus<br />
y, potato virus X and mosaics. Plants that are<br />
infected produce diseased tubers. Symptoms<br />
include chlorosis, dwarfing, leaf rolling,<br />
erectness, leaf deformations, crinkling and<br />
mosaics.<br />
Control: Viruses cannot be cured with<br />
chemicals. The best preventive method is<br />
planting only healthy seed tubers, elimination<br />
of infection sources and controlling vectors.<br />
Pests<br />
aphids: These are tiny insects that feed on<br />
the plants or tubers and spread virus diseases.<br />
Control: use appropriate insecticides both in<br />
the field and during storage.<br />
Potato tuber moth: This pest attacks potato<br />
plants by mining of foliage and on tubers.<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 31
Control: Spray the potato crop<br />
with a suitable insecticide and dust<br />
stored potatoes with a suitable<br />
insecticide.<br />
Cut worms: These cut the stems<br />
of emerging plants. Exposed tubers<br />
may also be damaged.<br />
Control: Spray with suitable<br />
insecticides.<br />
Leaf miners: These mine the<br />
leaves and cause tunnels. The<br />
yields of infected plants are<br />
severely reduced.<br />
!<br />
32<br />
Harvesting<br />
Highest yields are obtained by<br />
leaving potatoes in the ground<br />
until they mature. Hardening of<br />
the skin of tubers is made faster by<br />
cutting or pulling the haulm (stems<br />
and leaves) 10-14 days before<br />
harvesting of the crop. Harvest<br />
the crop using blunt objects like<br />
sticks so as to minimize damage<br />
to tubers.<br />
Grading and Storage<br />
remove misshapen, diseased,<br />
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute<br />
Strengthening Kenya’s food security & income<br />
Kaptagat Road, Loresho. P O Box 57811-00200, Nairobi Kenya. Tel+254 20 4183301-20<br />
Email:resource.centre@kari.org www.kari.org<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
Harvesting, grading,<br />
storage and marketing<br />
greened and damaged tubers before<br />
packing potatoes for sale or storage.<br />
Potatoes can be graded by sizes into<br />
baby potatoes (less than 30 mm),<br />
small (30-45 mm), medium (45-65<br />
mm) and large (65-80 mm). Keep<br />
tubers for eating in dark stores to<br />
prevent greening. The store should<br />
be cool with enough circulation of<br />
air.<br />
Marketing<br />
Marketing of potatoes is<br />
generally the responsibility of the<br />
grower and is characterized by a<br />
strong presence of brokers. Farmers<br />
may enter into contracts to supply<br />
processors with desired potato<br />
varieties. according to legal notice<br />
no. 44 of 2005, ware potatoes for<br />
trade should sorted and graded<br />
and only be packaged in sisal or jute<br />
bags. The size of such a bag should<br />
be enough to accommodate ware<br />
potato of 110 kg. The legal notice<br />
no. 113 of 2008, empowers local<br />
authorities to enforce the regulations<br />
on ware potato packaging.
Anti-counterfeits committee chairman DK Kagwe<br />
are we winning?<br />
Fakes 5% down<br />
This is the million<br />
dollar question facing<br />
the agrochemical<br />
fraternity as it enters<br />
the second year since<br />
the law dealing in counterfeits was<br />
revised.<br />
“We are not there yet but we are<br />
on track”, said the anti-counterfeits<br />
committee chairman DK Kagwe<br />
who argues for a good measure that<br />
although the fruits of the efforts on the<br />
ground over the past 24 months are<br />
yet to be appreciated there has been a<br />
gradual reduction in the frequency of<br />
fake pest control products.<br />
Sources in the sector say the Pest<br />
Control Products Board (PCPB) that<br />
|| counterfeits ||<br />
is mandated relevant authorities and agencies. not registered under the umbrella.<br />
by law to arrest The agrochemicals sector is as a measure to counter<br />
and align before currently working closely with the the counterfeiters, the kadogo<br />
courts those Kenya anti-Counterfeits agency economy has found its way in the<br />
caught in the act, to beef up the fight. reports agrochemical sector with companies<br />
nothing much indicate that the business in fakes now packaging in smaller packs to<br />
has been coming has reduced by over 5 per cent, an avoid decanting of products, that<br />
from that end. indication that the war is gradually has been blamed for fuelling faking.<br />
“PCPB has being won. Estimates are that “The small packs are pocket friendly,<br />
the fakes cost the industry more safe and good for the environment<br />
than Ksh 2 billion annually, because farmers don’t need to store<br />
not considering them since most are for single spray<br />
the damage to applications”, said Mr Kagwe. The<br />
public health and packs are labelled in both English<br />
environment. This is and Kiswahili.<br />
partly attributed to according to the anti-counterfeits<br />
the revised fines of committee, it is important that<br />
a minimum of Ksh farmers only purchase products that<br />
250,000 – I million bear both the aaK and PCPB logos<br />
or a two years which give a considerable degree<br />
imprisonment or both, of being genuine, and to always<br />
up to Ksh 20,000 fine two call both institutions whenever in<br />
years ago, which a suspect doubt.<br />
would pay up and continue To minimize on the possibility<br />
in business. “The hefty fines of stockists applying double<br />
seem to have deterred a standards and aid counterfeit trade,<br />
number of counterfeiters and companies have been asked to<br />
fakers, “ Mr Kagwe said.<br />
register their distributors with aaK,<br />
The anti-counterfeits education who in turn are supposed to be<br />
seeks to bring farmers and stockists licensed by PCPB. “This will make it<br />
up to speed with the skills and easier for the fraternity to get a non<br />
actions they need to employ to complying agent displined or even<br />
detect fakes. “It has been agreed deregistered if they are found to be<br />
that all agrochemical training stocking fakes. We will name and<br />
been more reactive than proactive sessions include a component of shame culprits and run them out of<br />
when it comes to arresting the anti-counterfeit message, and this fake business”, Mr Kagwe added.<br />
malpractice”, a source who spoke has been agreed on by members a listing of registered stockists<br />
on condition of anonymity said. of the agrochemical association of will be availed to farmers during<br />
Despite the sluggish record, Kenya (aaK).<br />
farmer meetings, field days,<br />
there is no let-up, said Mr Kagwe It is being recommended that exhibitions, shows and during<br />
who asserts that farmer education farmers and stockists deal only training activities , and the clarion<br />
will be enhanced this year since with companies falling under aaK call; always obtain and maintain a<br />
it is important for the message to because outside the association, it receipt for all purchases is being<br />
stay alive. “Counterfeiters target is almost impossible to trace back repeated. “This is always the safest<br />
well known products especially a product source, while no code bet, to trace the origin of a product<br />
when demand is high and supply of conduct binds non members whenever its efficacy is questioned.<br />
low therefore, it is important for to comply with the regulations. again we want to discourage<br />
companies to ensure that their In addition, aaK takes over the farmers from buying agrochemical<br />
products are always in stock to responsibility of following up on products from van salesmen who<br />
avoid creating the vacuum that reported cases of counterfeits, a sell agrochemicals during market<br />
attracts the fakes,” he said adding situation that wouldn’t obtain if days from the back of a pick-up or<br />
that if the shortage is inevitable, a farmer or a stockist was dealing saloon cars.<br />
this should be communicated to with a company’s product that is<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 33
Agrochemicals Association of Kenya, Cooper Center, Kaptagat Rd, P.O.Box 13809<br />
Tel: 4184960, 4184966, Fax: 4181213, Email: info@agrochem.co.ke<br />
34<br />
MEMBER COMPANY CONTACT ADDRESS TELEPHONE EMAiL MEMBER NO.<br />
1 DASCOT LTD MR. DAVID TYRRELL 1262,00606 NBI 733604078 dascot@nbi.ispkenya.com AAK/332<br />
2 ENVIRONMENTAL & COMBUSTION CONSULTANTS DR. PHILIP MWABE 72828,00200 NBI 556242 eccl1995@yahoo.com AAK/340<br />
3 JAL AGRI RESEARCH & TRAINING CONSULTANT MR. JACK APOLLO 1996, NAIVASHA 050-2021249 jal@africaonline.co.ke AAK/346<br />
AGRiCULTURAL RESEARCH, TRAiNiNG & CONSULTANCY<br />
MEMBER COMPANY CONTACT ADDRESS TELEPHONE EMAiL MEMBER NO.<br />
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OVERSEAS<br />
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GROWERS<br />
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23 VERMKIL CONSULTANTS Ltd MR. KAIMENYI 686, 00618 NBI vermkil@gmail.com AAK/353<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
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2 ANTIPEST KENYA LTD MR. J.R. ASHWORTH 5378-00506 NBI 602731/2 sales@antipest.co.ke AAK/154<br />
3 CASH AND COLLECT MR. NAZIR DHALLA 44447-00100 NBI 210278/311133 - AAK/337<br />
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9 ELDORET PACKERS LTD MR.R.C. KACHELA 4058,ELD 053-61260/63005 superveg@africaonline.co.ke AAK/334<br />
10 FARMERS WORLD LTD MR. J. MWANGI 2939, NKR 051-214635/6 farmers@africaonline.co.ke AAK/253<br />
11 HENCHEM LTD MR. HENRY KINUTHIA 14690-00100 NBI 316744 henchem@henchem.co.ke AAK/325<br />
12 HYGROTECH E.A. LTD MR. OSCAR SHILLIEBO 41446-00100 NBI 066-73286/73567/8/9 info@hydrotech.co.ke AAK/319<br />
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15 KFA MR. JACKSON ITALAKUA 35,NKU 051-2211615 kfahq@wananchi.com AAK/237<br />
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21 ORGANIX LTD MR. A. T. SHAH 14494,00800-westl 3741482 info@organix.co.ke AAK/281<br />
ASSOCiATE MEMBERS<br />
44 UNGA FARMCARE E.A. LTD Dr. Josef Kitur, Kipkemoi. 41788, 00200NBI 536356-64 information@unga.com AAK/256
Harakisha....wapi page za AAK? you need to include the AAK logo and the Pesticides<br />
Control Boad Logos - zitafute kwa internet, and brand all the pages with both - at the<br />
bottom and top, and pick also the AAK address and put it at the bottom of the pages -<br />
important. I want to see it as soon as its done beep me and weka kwa this email.<br />
Catherine<br />
Here, the article, layout on one page - it can turn if it doesnt fit, caption the picture:<br />
Profarm Africa managing director Daniel Kagwe and Carnnex World Sales Manager<br />
Shaun Jayatranam discuss the efficacy of Nutragreen in Nairobi. Photo/correspondent.<br />
Save as nutragreenarticle.<br />
MEMBER COMPANY CONTACT ADDRESS TELEPHONE EMAiL MEMBER NO.<br />
1 AGRICHEM & TOOLS MR.SHIRAZ KARMALI 49430 00100, NBI 820497 sales@agrichemandtools.com AAK/339<br />
2 AMIRAN KENYA LTD EVA PAMBA 30327 ,00100, NBI 824840-6 afk@amirankenya.com AAK/219<br />
3 ANSET INTERNATIONAL LTD MR. FRED INZIRA 63716, 00619,NBI 2726901/2726868 tesna@ansetinti.com AAK/317<br />
4 ARYSTA LIFE SCIENCE CORPORATION MR. GODFREY MURAMARA 30335-00100 NBI 3873247 gerard.gendron@arystalifescience.com AAK/328<br />
5 BASF MR. FRANCIS KARANJA 24271-00100 4443454/5/6 info@basf.co.ke AAK/220<br />
6 BAYER E. A. LTD MR. A. GAKENA 30321, 00100-NBI 8560670-74 info@bayerea.com AAK/128<br />
7 BELL INDUSTRIES LTD. MR. T. K. IBUI 18603,NBI 535828/9 info@bellindustrieskenya.com AAK/211<br />
8 BIOMEDICA LABORATORIES LTD MR. MICHAEL MUTHEE 66627, 00800 NBI 2018540 info@bio-medica.co.ke AAK/341<br />
9 CHEMRAW LTD MANAGING DIRECTOR 47358 00100,NBI 532178/9,533835/020-2300039 chemraw@africaonline.co.ke AAK/204<br />
10 CHEMTURA CORPORATION MR. FELIX OCHIENG’ 2785-00200 NBI 2042846/650557 felix.crompton@swiftkenya.com AAK/229<br />
11 COOPER K BRANDS M/S SERAPHINE KABUTHA 40596 00100, NBI 4180612-7 info@cooper.co.ke AAK/133<br />
12 DERA CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES MR. S. SHAH 45145 00100,NBI 540081/558702/541398 dera@iconnect.co.ke AAK/142<br />
13 ELGON KENYA LTD MR. NZIOKA 46826, 00100, NBI 534410 info@elgonkenya.com AAK/232<br />
14 FARMCHEM LTD DENIS AMUHAYA 18407,00500-NBI 550448/552711/552718 farmchem@farmchemafrica.com AAK/107<br />
15 FEDO AGENCIES MR. DOMINIC MUSILI 1977, 00200 NBI 825461/825263 fedo@wananchi.com AAK/307<br />
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23 LAIBUTA CHEMICALS LTD MR. DOMIZIANO MITHIKA 10979,00400 NBI 242637 laibutachems@yayoo.com AAK/342<br />
24 MBAKI AGRIC-INPUTS DISTRIBUTORS MR. D. P. MARANGU 39389, 00623, NBI 4444639/40 mbaki@wananchi.com AAK/300<br />
25 MEA LTD MR. D.M. NDEGWA 44480, NBI 8560517/8560103/8561531 unigrain@nbnet.co.ke AAK/228<br />
26 MONSANTO KENYA LTD MS. SANDRA ALAI 47686, 00100 NBI 3004570, 2060922/944 sandra.alai@monsanto.com AAK/113<br />
27 MURPHY CHEMICALS E.A. LTD MR. JOE MBUGUA 20495, 00200,NBI 8561015/14 murphy@murphychemicals.co.ke AAK/108<br />
28 NORBROOK KENYA LTD DR. BARNARD ASETO 1287-00606 NBI 2019457/8 enquiries@norbrook.co.ke AAK/336<br />
29 OSHO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES MR. MANOJ 49916, 00100,NBI 532939/40,531428/650195/6 oshochem@oshochem.com AAK/275<br />
30 ORBIT CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES MANAGING DIRECTOR 48870,NBI 821648 orbit@orbitchem.com AAK/121<br />
31 ORION EAST AFRICA LTD MR. RUO MAINA 10170, 00100,NBI 785414/786320 kilimofaida@orioneastafrica.co.ke AAK/202<br />
32 PRESTIGE AGRICULTURE LTD MR. YUSUF ORLOOH 1524,NKR 051-2214587 prestige@africaonline.co.ke AAK/323<br />
33 PROFARM AFRICA LTD MR. D. K. KAGWE 1302-00515 WESTLANDS, NBI 3749022/220 dkkagwe@profarmafrica.co.ke AAK/349<br />
34 PYTECH CHEMICALS GMBH MR. ERIC KIMUNGUNYI 55764-00200 NBI 2712829 eric.kimunguyi@cheminova.com AAK/355<br />
35 RENTOKIL INITIAL KENYA LTD MR. PARTRICK NYAGA 44360, 00100,NBI 530228/552300 rentokil@africaonline.co.ke AAK/103<br />
36 ROTAM E.A. LTD MR. MICHAEL MACHARIA 8190,00100, NBI 3004848/2727068 leahnjoroge@rotam.com AAK/345<br />
37 SAFINA (EA) LIMITED MR. JOHN MUYA 8354, 00200 NBI 2210417/371/272/2223016 safina@wananchi.com AAK/120<br />
38 SINERIA EAST AFRICA LTD MR. PAUL KAMOTE 74194, 00200 NBI 720848255 kamakip@yahoo.com AAK/357<br />
39 SYNGENTA E. A. LTD MS SUSAN NJOROGE 30393, 00100, NBI 27,148,272,714,836 syngenta.east_africa@syngenta.com AAK/226<br />
40 TOPSERVE E.A. LTD MR. A.K. OTIENO 47341-00100 NBI 3746402/3/6 info@topserve.co.ke AAK/329<br />
41 TROPICAL FARM MANAGEMENT MR. KURIA GATONYE 260,TKA 067-21637/8 info@twiga-chem.com AAK/321<br />
42 TWIGA CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES PATRICK AMUYUNZU 30172, 00100, NBI 3942300/3942000 info@twiga_chem.com AAK/102<br />
43 ULTRAVETIS E.A. LTD MR. WACHIRA MUREITHI 44096,00100-NBI 6537665/6-2358205 info@ultravetis.com AAK/311<br />
44 UNGA FARMCARE E.A. LTD Dr. Josef Kitur, Kipkemoi. 41788, 00200NBI 536356-64 information@unga.com AAK/256<br />
Fax: 4181213<br />
Email: info@agrochem.co.ke<br />
Agrochemicals Association of Kenya<br />
Cooper Center, Kaptagat Rd.<br />
P.O.Box 13809<br />
Tel: 4184960, 4184966<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 35<br />
Pls, save the singapore advert as nutragreenad.<br />
Hi,<br />
AAK MEMBERS 2011<br />
Protect to Provide<br />
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
use clean water for post-harvest<br />
john Mbaria talks to Ellen Merk (above)<br />
Sales Engineer, Hatenboer-Water b.v<br />
De s c r i b e<br />
c o m m o n<br />
i m p u r i t i e s<br />
in water and<br />
their effects<br />
on fresh produce<br />
Water is the basis of all life. We<br />
all need water to live and grow.<br />
So does your crop. The quality of<br />
water can really make a difference.<br />
Depending on what water<br />
source you are using, you will meet<br />
different kind of water quality<br />
<strong>issue</strong>s.<br />
When starting from rain water<br />
(harvested from the roof of your<br />
36<br />
greenhouse for instance), you<br />
will have (chemically speaking) a<br />
very good quality water. However<br />
you should take into account,<br />
that biology – all kind of micro<br />
organisms - can grow in your basin<br />
or silo and create biofilms. Biofilms<br />
are the perfect surrounding for<br />
more micro organisms (bacteria,<br />
viruses, fungi) to grow in.<br />
Or you might be using surface<br />
water from a river or a lake. Water<br />
from the lake could have a good<br />
water composition; however the<br />
quality will fluctuate, depending<br />
on all kind of influences. For<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
instance rainfall can strongly<br />
influence the quality. Water could<br />
contain a lot of fine particles of clay<br />
or dust. During drought periods,<br />
meanwhile the water quality can<br />
be very different again. Salinity of<br />
the water can vary in time. also<br />
temperature and other seasonal<br />
changes can affect the water<br />
quality. Surface water is therefore<br />
a water source not always as<br />
trustful with respect to availability<br />
and quality.<br />
What are the effects of<br />
utilizing unclean water in post<br />
harvest stage? Please state the<br />
specific difficulties that could<br />
arise or which normally arise<br />
whenever flowers or other fresh<br />
produce are washed, or stored<br />
in unclean water<br />
unclean water can affect flowers<br />
in every stage. From the post<br />
harvest stage to the water that the<br />
consumer uses in the vase.<br />
The effects of the above<br />
mentioned micro organisms and<br />
pollution on the flowers can be<br />
of all kind. a flower, like every<br />
living creature, needs good water<br />
of a stable quality to remain in<br />
an optimum condition. When<br />
water is polluted by biology,<br />
diseases have a breeding ground<br />
for development, causing lower<br />
quality and unconstant quality<br />
flowers.<br />
The post harvest stage is<br />
important. The flower is freshly cut<br />
and needs optimum and stable<br />
circumstances.<br />
your treatment product such<br />
as flower food and care have a<br />
proven enhanced effect on the<br />
vase life of flowers in combination<br />
with clean water.<br />
How important is it to ensure<br />
the water used up in the post<br />
harvest stage is purified?<br />
The flower is cut from its<br />
roots but still needs to be fed.<br />
Without good water it would not<br />
survive. Moreover the grower<br />
wants to supply a stable quality<br />
product to the market. Therefore<br />
it is important that the water is<br />
of a stable and constant quality.<br />
Surface water (from a lake or river)<br />
can vary in quality through the<br />
season. after heavy rainfall the<br />
water will be very different from<br />
water in drought periods. all kind<br />
of seasonal influences play an<br />
important role. Temperature is of<br />
course an important influence as<br />
well.<br />
a very interesting effect of<br />
starting with clean water is: the<br />
water can be re-used! re-use of<br />
water = saving water = saving<br />
costs!<br />
Is it true that you can increase<br />
the shelf life of horticultural<br />
products by using purified<br />
water during the post-harvest<br />
stage?<br />
yes, this is very much true! The<br />
consumers satisfaction depends<br />
on the quality of the flowers.<br />
Through the whole flower chain<br />
there are several influencing<br />
factors like time and temperature.<br />
Post harvest circumstances are the<br />
first step in the chain. By giving the<br />
flower clean water of a stable and<br />
constant quality, your flower food<br />
products will have more effect. This<br />
will lead to an increased vase life.<br />
The fact remains that the next steps<br />
in the chain must be dealt with care<br />
as well to have a healty and long<br />
lasting product at the consumer.
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 37
Tigoni in the field at Kisima Farm in Timau.<br />
Are you saying that rain<br />
water is not clean or should<br />
not be taken as pure water<br />
that can be used by growers<br />
during post-harvest period?<br />
rain water is very clean<br />
and perfect for flowers. as it is<br />
free it is also very economic to<br />
harvest as much rainwater as<br />
you can. However, we should<br />
take into consideration, that in<br />
Kenya rain water is not always<br />
unlimited available. also, the<br />
rainwater collected from the<br />
greenhouse rooftops can<br />
be polluted by dirt from for<br />
instance birds and insects.<br />
Of course all impurities<br />
can be removed by water<br />
treatment, for example<br />
filtration and uV disinfection.<br />
Obviously this requires<br />
investments.<br />
a very secure alternative is<br />
bore hole water. This water is<br />
stable and of a constant quality.<br />
The composition of bore<br />
hole water is often not good<br />
enough for your post harvest<br />
or irrigation water, therefore<br />
you can desalinate the water<br />
by reverse osmosis. With this<br />
technology you will remove the<br />
unwanted elements like sodium<br />
or bicarbonates up to high<br />
percentages > 90-99%.<br />
38<br />
How much would it cost<br />
(in Euros) for a grower to<br />
adopt the technical solutions<br />
manufactured by your<br />
company?<br />
a solution is different for<br />
every situation. It is vital to make<br />
a inventory of the needs wi th<br />
respect to quantity and quality.<br />
Furthermore the water quality<br />
from the bore hole is leading for<br />
the design of a system. The choise<br />
Containerised water treatment for flexibel solutions<br />
HORTINEWS CHAT<br />
Reverse osmosis installation for desalination of bore hole water<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
of components depends directly<br />
on the different ions in the water.<br />
So an extended inventory is the<br />
first step. The operational costs<br />
can differ from € 0,25 to about €<br />
0,60/m3 water.<br />
Every grower would like to<br />
minimize cost of production.<br />
Would you agree with those<br />
who say that the cost of treating<br />
water, particularly for storing<br />
flowers, is an unnecessary cost?<br />
no. We have seen that companies<br />
that invest in water treatment for<br />
post harvest benefit directly by<br />
higher quality flowers. Of course<br />
there are costs involved, but<br />
profits will exceed these costs.<br />
In the end it is the buyer (e.g. the<br />
supermarket), that determines<br />
what kind of quality flowers<br />
he desires. Flowers that scent,<br />
flowers that open, flowers that last<br />
at least 7 days at the consumer.<br />
With good water the grower can<br />
deliver this high quality. another<br />
demand from the customer is the<br />
need for sustainable production.<br />
Water re-use is fitting very well in<br />
this image.<br />
Have you calculated how<br />
much, in terms of post harvest<br />
losses, that a grower stands<br />
to benefit by adopting your<br />
company’s technical solutions.<br />
Every grower has his own<br />
protocol with the different steps<br />
in the complete flower chain.<br />
In the field we experience very<br />
enthusiastic results. The quality<br />
of the flowers is improving and<br />
vase life is extended. I would<br />
not be able to give you any<br />
sharp figures on this and every<br />
situation is different, but our<br />
customers are experiencing high<br />
quality improvement in short<br />
time. With longlasting flowers<br />
of high quality he can make the<br />
difference!
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 39
By CATHERINE RIUNGU<br />
Kenya’s leading<br />
microfinance<br />
leader Equity Bank<br />
has received a Ksh<br />
2 billion (Euro 15<br />
million ) loan from the German<br />
Development Bank (KFW) for<br />
lending to small scale businesses.<br />
The new cash will be loaned out<br />
to small and medium enterprises<br />
in Kenya, uganda, Tanzania,<br />
Southern Sudan and rwanda.<br />
Equity Bank CEO, james<br />
Mwangi, said the money will be<br />
lent out at interest rates ranging<br />
from between 5 and 12 per cent<br />
depending on the risk factor of<br />
a particular SME. The loans will<br />
come as a big relief to businesses<br />
who currently have to pay interest<br />
rates as high as 25 per cent. Dr<br />
Mwangi said the small enterprises<br />
targeted under the arrangement<br />
are those involved in import and<br />
export businesses.<br />
The loan will be accompanied<br />
by a financial contribution for<br />
capacity development within<br />
Equity Bank and for their<br />
customers, “The funds provided<br />
by Germany will be used to<br />
expand and strengthen Equity<br />
Bank’s lending activities towards<br />
micro, agricultural and small<br />
scale business customers as well<br />
as the absorption capacities of<br />
their customers and is designed<br />
to provide for long-term<br />
sustainability of this field of<br />
40<br />
businesses,” Dr Mwangi said.<br />
The funds have been advanced<br />
on behalf of the German<br />
Federal Ministry for Economic<br />
Cooperation and Development ,<br />
and Equity Bank was earmarked<br />
because of its vision “To be the<br />
champion of the socio-economic<br />
prosperity of the people of<br />
africa” and its mission to “offer<br />
inclusive, customer focused<br />
financial services that socially and<br />
economically empower our clients<br />
and other stakeholders”<br />
Equity Bank vision is in line<br />
with KfW’s thrust, which is<br />
the promotion of sustainable<br />
economic development including<br />
microfinance and the general<br />
improvement in the supply of<br />
financial services for ordinary<br />
people and small scale businesses.<br />
KfW has been active in this sector<br />
in Sub-Saharan africa since the<br />
independence of the african<br />
countries.<br />
Equity’s wide rural<br />
outreach and regional<br />
presence strengthened the<br />
FINANCE<br />
Equity Bank and Germany’s<br />
KfW in Ksh2 billion deal for SMEs<br />
The funds will be used to expand and strengthen<br />
micro, agricultural and small scale businesses<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
Dr James Mwangi, Equity Bank Group CEO<br />
partnership since Germany is<br />
a main supporter of regional<br />
integration.<br />
Most SME businesses are<br />
currently not yet fully served<br />
by the banking sector yet their<br />
Equity Bank’s vision is in line with KfW’s<br />
thrust, which is the promotion of sustainable<br />
economic development including<br />
microfinance and the general improvement<br />
in the supply of financial services for ordinary<br />
people and small scale businesses<br />
success is a decisive component<br />
in enhancing viable improvement<br />
of the economic, social and<br />
ecological development of the<br />
region.<br />
KfW is one of the world´s<br />
leading and most experienced<br />
promotional banks. Established<br />
in 1948 as a public law<br />
institution, KfW is owned 80 per<br />
cent by the Federal republic<br />
of Germany and 20 per cent<br />
by the federal states. Its goal is<br />
to combat poverty, secure the<br />
peace, protect the environment<br />
and climate and make<br />
globalization fair. It has 70 offices<br />
worldwide.
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 41
In Kenya, most of the fruit<br />
tree planting materials<br />
are propagated by seeds<br />
and vegetative means<br />
and are sourced from<br />
nurseries. Most of these<br />
nurseries operate as small<br />
scale and medium scale<br />
businesses. Other nurseries<br />
are government institutional<br />
nurseries which include<br />
Kenya agricultural research<br />
Institute (KarI), Kerio Valley<br />
Development authority<br />
(KVDa), Tana and athi river<br />
Development authority<br />
42<br />
Certified nurseries<br />
(TarDa), GK prisons, among<br />
others. The nurseries usually<br />
provide planting materials<br />
within their localities.<br />
The overall objective of<br />
nursery inspections is to<br />
ensure that farmers have<br />
access to clean propagation<br />
material which is free from<br />
pests and diseases. also:<br />
• To ascertain the<br />
status of the nurseries<br />
• To certify compliance<br />
to phytosanitary<br />
requirements, and<br />
• To prevent introduction<br />
Name of Location Contact Seedling<br />
Nursary<br />
Rift Vally<br />
KVDA Arror<br />
FPI Ampath<br />
Beautyline<br />
Long’onot<br />
farm<br />
Savana Interl<br />
Slopes<br />
Mukulima<br />
Nakuru<br />
Prisons<br />
Nursery<br />
Friends Tree<br />
Nursery<br />
Umoja<br />
Nursery<br />
Ngaishi<br />
Environment<br />
Project.<br />
Tabby tree<br />
Nursery<br />
Benjamin<br />
Lukano<br />
KVDA Suam<br />
catchment<br />
(kotoruk)<br />
KVDA Suam<br />
catchment-<br />
Chepsurur<br />
Arror-<br />
Marakwet<br />
West<br />
Eldoret<br />
municipality<br />
Naivasha<br />
Naivasha<br />
Naivasha<br />
Naivasha<br />
Nakuru Town<br />
O723555357Titus, Sauroki<br />
Lamale 0723900159<br />
0726295493 Mr. Mahugu<br />
BENZI Tel.0723890581<br />
Paul Dondi<br />
Tel.0722605689<br />
LUKULU Tel.0723819152<br />
Paul Ndungu<br />
Tel.0722342336<br />
Joseph Opande<br />
Tel.0725658913<br />
Nakuru Town Faith Ikara<br />
Bahati<br />
Nakuru<br />
Subukia<br />
Nakuru<br />
Kimana<br />
Oloitok tok<br />
Rombo<br />
Oloitok tok<br />
Kapsara<br />
Eldoret<br />
Kishaunet-<br />
Kapenguria<br />
Kishaunet-<br />
Kapenguria<br />
Peter Githuka Njoroge<br />
Joseph Mwangi<br />
Tel.0724412461<br />
0717051683<br />
Parsanke Sayianka<br />
Email:psayianka@yahoo.<br />
com<br />
Dorcas wanjiku Tel.<br />
No.0725345626<br />
0733990574, 0725170692<br />
Benjamin<br />
0727984016 Chelimo<br />
0538003859 Elijah<br />
citrus, mango<br />
passion<br />
Gypsophillas, Solidago, Bending<br />
plants, Chrysanthemum,<br />
Impatient, Begonia,<br />
Carnations, Agro-forestry<br />
Assorted vegetables, T-Tree<br />
for oil. All commercial, Agroforestry<br />
Bedding plants,<br />
Chrysanthemum, Carnations,<br />
Pelargonium’s, Agro-forestry<br />
Assorted forest trees,<br />
Avocadoes,Tree tomato, Agroforestry<br />
Ornamentals, Assorted forest<br />
trees, Passion fruits, Avocadoes,<br />
Tree tomato, Kiapples , Tree<br />
tomato, Agro-forestry<br />
Ornamentals, Assorted forest<br />
trees, Mangoes, Avocadoes<br />
, Tree tomato, Kiapples,<br />
Pawpaws, Agro-forestry<br />
Ornamentals, Assorted forest<br />
trees, Mangoes Avocadoes, Tree,<br />
tomato, Kiapples, Rubber Tree,<br />
Agro-forestry<br />
Ornamentals, Assorted forest<br />
trees, Mangoes, Avocadoes,<br />
Tree tomato, Kiapples, Oranges,<br />
Passion fruits, Papaws, Agroforestry<br />
trees<br />
Guavas, Avocado, Pawpaw,<br />
Mangoes, Apples, Bananas,<br />
Passion, Citrus, Indigenous<br />
agro-forestry species<br />
Loquats, Passion, Avocado,<br />
Citrus, Pawpaw, Ashok,<br />
Matomoko<br />
Avocado, passion, mangoes<br />
Avocado, mango, guava,<br />
pawpaw<br />
Forest Trees and fruit seedlings<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
and spread of harmful<br />
pests and diseases<br />
through exchange of plant<br />
materials<br />
The target nurseries are<br />
those producing fruit tree<br />
seedlings.<br />
The following list<br />
comprises of nurseries<br />
inspected by Kenya Plant<br />
Health Inspectorate<br />
Service (KEPHIS) and<br />
found to have nursery<br />
management systems in<br />
place to control pests and<br />
diseases.<br />
Menofa CBO<br />
Kitale Annex<br />
prison<br />
FPI Ampath<br />
Alime<br />
commercial<br />
Sweet-waters<br />
F.N<br />
Mac-nut<br />
products<br />
Gee Mac Agri.<br />
Nurseries<br />
Mbari ya<br />
Mboche<br />
Nursery<br />
JKUAT<br />
enterprise<br />
Nursery<br />
KARI -THIKA<br />
Maranjau G.K<br />
Prisons<br />
Mwea (G.K)<br />
Prison<br />
Kerugoya G.K<br />
Prison<br />
Julia<br />
Nurseries<br />
Kibirigwi Coop<br />
soc.<br />
Mahiga-ini<br />
Springs<br />
flowers &<br />
Fruit tree<br />
Solidarity<br />
G.K Prisons<br />
Chepchonia<br />
Waitalukkitale<br />
Eldoret<br />
municipality<br />
Laikipia<br />
central<br />
Nanyuki<br />
Kiriaini/<br />
Kangema<br />
Nginda-<br />
Maragwa<br />
-Muranga<br />
Kariua –<br />
Muranga<br />
Juja- Thika<br />
Samuru -<br />
Thika<br />
Kabiti<br />
–Makuyu.<br />
Gathigiriri<br />
Kirinyaga<br />
Kerugoya<br />
Kibirigwi/<br />
Kirinyaga<br />
Kibirigwikirinyaga<br />
Nyeri<br />
Nyeri<br />
Kingongo<br />
,Nyeri<br />
0717186981Cleophas<br />
wayongo<br />
0722448027Mr.Maina<br />
0726295493Mr. Mahugu<br />
0723818160<br />
0723818160<br />
Central<br />
Mr. Mugi Tel:0722332496<br />
Macharia Kabui Tel. No.<br />
0722706037<br />
Peter Gicheru Tel No.<br />
0721867625<br />
Francis Kimuyu Tel. No.<br />
0722333685<br />
Wilson Cheluget Tel. No.<br />
0722644315<br />
Peter Mbuthia Tel. No.<br />
0727592879<br />
Farm manager<br />
0721367578<br />
Farm manager<br />
02034597845<br />
M. Njogu. Box 619<br />
Karatina<br />
Nursery in-charge<br />
0710728451<br />
0701258645<br />
0204756985<br />
Chirchir 0721974958<br />
Gerald Muchiri Tel<br />
No.0723917922<br />
Disclaimer:<br />
The nursery materials<br />
can only be confirmed<br />
to be clean at the time of<br />
inspection and KEPHIS does<br />
not bear any responsibility<br />
for any propagation<br />
materials found infested after<br />
inspection<br />
Inspections and certifications<br />
are based on the appropriate<br />
procedures derived from<br />
national legislations (Plant<br />
Protection act (Cap 324) and<br />
Plant Varieties act (Cap 326).<br />
Fruits tree seedlings, passion<br />
Mango, avocado, passion<br />
Passion<br />
Avocado, Pawpaw, Passion<br />
fruitsmangoes<br />
Mangoes, Passion, Loquats,<br />
Avocado<br />
Passion fruits, Avocado, Pawpaw,<br />
mangoes<br />
Passion fruits, Avocadoes,<br />
Mangos<br />
Passion fruits, Avocadoes, Mangoes,<br />
Paw paws and Tamalilo.<br />
Citrus, Passion Fruits, Mangoes,<br />
Avocadoes, Paw-paws,<br />
Grapes,T.C bananas<br />
Mangoes, Avocadoes, Citrus,<br />
Paw paws, Passion Fruits,<br />
Grapes, Tree tomato and<br />
strawberries.<br />
Paw paws, Mangoes, Avocadoes,<br />
Passion Fruits, Apples<br />
and citrus<br />
Mangoes,Passion Fruits, Pawpaw’s,<br />
Citrus, Avocadoes<br />
Passion, Mangoes, Avocado,<br />
Citrus<br />
Avocado, Passion, Mangoes<br />
Pawpaw,<br />
Passion, Avocado, Macadamia<br />
Avocado,<br />
Oranges, Mangoes, Avocado,<br />
Apple,T<strong>issue</strong> Bananas, Tree<br />
tomato<br />
Passion Fruits, Mangoes, Avocadoes,<br />
Paw paws and citrus
Jos Hansen (EA) Ltd, a pump supplier in the East Africa region for over 50 years, with experience in<br />
the design and turnkey erection or rehabilitation of complete water supply schemes.<br />
Authorised agent for KSB pumps, with a complete range of pumps in stock including:<br />
•<br />
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High pressure multistage pumps for general water supply, booster plants etc<br />
Horizontal single stage pumps for domestic and industrial purposes<br />
Vertical High pressure in-line pumps<br />
Submersible sewage pumps for pumping all types of effluent<br />
Submersible borehole and well pumps<br />
We have the technical expertise and 60 years experience in Water Engineering. We guarantee<br />
•Competitive prices •Superior quality •Reliable after sales service<br />
Baba Dogo Road – Ruaraka, Nairobi, P.O,Box 30196, 00100 Nairobi, Telephone: +254-20-232 4506 / 8561637-38<br />
Mobile: +254-0722 203638 / 0733 333472, Telefax: +254-20-8561640<br />
Email: pumpsales@hansenkenya.com, Website: www.joshansen.com<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 43
Avocado Nyeri/Tetu<br />
master Nursery<br />
Erastus Ng’iru<br />
Ramuchi<br />
Nduma<br />
nursery<br />
Wamulu CBO<br />
Good<br />
Neighbors<br />
Hamisi<br />
constituency<br />
Hort. Devt<br />
group<br />
Hamisi<br />
constituency<br />
Hort. Devt.<br />
group<br />
Bosco Ooko<br />
Nyambok<br />
women group<br />
Kibos prisons<br />
Nyandera<br />
Green valley<br />
Nyandera ADP<br />
Young<br />
equator<br />
Umoja tree<br />
Nursery<br />
Mitunguu<br />
Irrigation<br />
Scheme<br />
Joe June<br />
Vision Growers<br />
Agency<br />
Meru Victory<br />
Agro-forestry &<br />
F.T.N.<br />
Kamiru F. T. N Embu<br />
Karanja Embu<br />
Njuguna<br />
ATC Garissa Garissa town<br />
G.K farm fruit & Garissa Kisyoka/ Box 38 Garissa/<br />
tree Nursery<br />
0720800849<br />
Jamhuri Fruit Garissa John Muthengi<br />
Tree Nursery<br />
0723259808<br />
Garissa Me- Garissa OICBox 50<br />
dium Prison<br />
Garissa/0208020348<br />
Bidii Tree Mwingi JamesBox 26 Mwingi<br />
Nursery<br />
0722893148<br />
ABC Fruits & Kibwezi Dist. Peter Kimweri<br />
Agro forestry Kikumbulyo 0701537373<br />
Nursery loc.<br />
Makindu Hand Kibwezi Solomon0724744432,<br />
Craft Coop- District James<br />
erative Society Nguumo loca- 0719533907/Member<br />
Nursery tion<br />
0723553433<br />
44<br />
Nyeri / town<br />
Nyeri<br />
Mukurweini<br />
Kanduyi<br />
East Bukusu,<br />
Bungoma<br />
Naitiri<br />
Bungoma<br />
Hamisi<br />
Hamisi<br />
Homabay<br />
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Kisumu<br />
Bondo<br />
Bondo<br />
Meru<br />
Marimanti -<br />
Meru<br />
Meru<br />
Meru<br />
Meru<br />
Imenti North<br />
David Murigi/<br />
0723367724<br />
0736943308<br />
0712288596<br />
Western<br />
0720931793,0738507570<br />
Robert<br />
0722220889 Zippy Simiyu<br />
Evans Anusu<br />
Margaret Amimo<br />
Bosco Ooko<br />
Augustine Osunga<br />
Mr. Okoth0720002080<br />
Peter Ogutu 0735623599<br />
Daniel Onyango Odando<br />
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Julius<br />
0720421456<br />
0734771336<br />
0728028134<br />
Patrick 0712438698<br />
0722425587<br />
0722827590<br />
0722895429 Julia<br />
0723813914, 0713115111<br />
Mukono Mikunchiri -<br />
Mwangaza Meru<br />
CCS - Tigania/ Gitonga/Box 42 mitunguu<br />
Mitunguu Mitunguu<br />
ICRAF/ Nkubu Gitonga/ P.O Box 112<br />
KAGURU FTC<br />
Nkubu<br />
Rwika mango Mbeere North 0722334026<br />
nursery<br />
Siakago Agro- Mbeere North 0713021442 Josephat<br />
forestry<br />
Njeru<br />
Siakago Siakago,Embu 0713021442<br />
0723780954<br />
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0722334026<br />
Certified nurseries<br />
Apple, Avocado, Grape,Giant<br />
/golden passion, yellow<br />
passion<br />
Avocado, Passion, Pawpaw,<br />
Mangoes, Tree tomato,<br />
Macadamia<br />
T<strong>issue</strong> culture banana<br />
Passion , avocado<br />
Passion, avocado<br />
TC bananas<br />
TC bananas<br />
Mango, citrus, passion fruits,<br />
pawpaw.<br />
Mangoes, Avocadoes<br />
Passion fruits, Mangoes,<br />
lemons, avocadoes,<br />
Passion fruits, Mangoes,<br />
pawpaw, loquards.<br />
Mangoes<br />
Passion Fruits<br />
Mangoes, Avocadoes<br />
Mangoes, Pawpaw, Avocado,<br />
Passion fruit<br />
T<strong>issue</strong> culture banana<br />
Mangoes, Avocado, Passion<br />
fruits, Pawpaw, Guavas<br />
Mangoes, Citrus, Passion<br />
fruits<br />
T<strong>issue</strong> culture, banana<br />
Mangoes, Passion citrus<br />
Mangoes-Avocado, Passion,<br />
Tree tomato, Guava<br />
Mangoes, Passion fruits,<br />
Citrus spp.<br />
Mangoes, Passion fruits, Pawpaw,<br />
Guavas, Butternuts<br />
Avocado, Mangoes, Passion<br />
Avocado, Mangoes, Loquats<br />
Mangoes, Avocado Passion<br />
fruits,Paw paws<br />
Mangoes, Citrus<br />
Mangoes, Grapes, Loquats,<br />
Citrus, Guavas, Pawpaws<br />
Mangoes, citrus<br />
Mangoes, Mangifera indica, Passifrola,<br />
Pawpaws, Citrus spp.<br />
Mangifera, Avocado,<br />
Pawpaw,Citrus<br />
Passion Fruits, Pawpaw ,<br />
Tamarind Mangoes, Citrus,<br />
agro forestry<br />
MangoesAvocados, passion<br />
fruit, Pawpaw Agro forestry<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
Francis Muli<br />
Ndunda<br />
Nursery<br />
AIC Malooi<br />
Youth<br />
Nursery<br />
ABC/ARTC<br />
Nursery<br />
Mwanzo<br />
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and Fruit<br />
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Help Group<br />
Johnstone<br />
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Biotech<br />
Institute<br />
Pwani<br />
University<br />
College<br />
Milka Mukulu<br />
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Charles<br />
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Nairobi West<br />
GK Prison<br />
Nursery<br />
Kibwezi Dist.<br />
Kikumbulyo<br />
location<br />
Makueni<br />
Dist.Nzaui<br />
location<br />
Machakos<br />
District<br />
Central loc.<br />
Machakos<br />
District<br />
Matuga<br />
Kisauni<br />
Bahari<br />
Bahari<br />
Malindi,<br />
Gede<br />
Malindi<br />
Lamu, Hindi<br />
Lamu, Hind<br />
Bura,<br />
Madogo<br />
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Voi, Maungu<br />
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Taveta<br />
Taveta<br />
Kilifi<br />
Malindi,<br />
Goshi<br />
Malindi,<br />
Gede<br />
Nairobi<br />
(Langata)<br />
Nairobi<br />
Francis Muli<br />
072400380<br />
0734647113<br />
0722859579<br />
/044 21288<br />
0714326227,<br />
0714326227<br />
Coast<br />
William Munga<br />
0722443531<br />
Finyange Pole<br />
0733737794<br />
Nzioka James<br />
0729207701<br />
Dinah Nanoi 0725567244<br />
Wilfred 0729938153<br />
Mzee Mtawali<br />
0722935284<br />
Susan Sonje<br />
0721278856<br />
Abdullahi Kituu<br />
0729673474<br />
Stephen Gichobi<br />
0714717928<br />
Josephat0723842054-<br />
Toya0720875884<br />
Mrs. Nderitu 0722351309<br />
Elias 0723960993,<br />
0735227877<br />
Laurian Lenjo<br />
0722281851Erick<br />
0729590531Willy<br />
Kanyigi0717574765<br />
Solomon 0735111874/<br />
Stephen 072966883<br />
Ochieng 0711385500<br />
Teresia Mwalasha<br />
0725043422<br />
Johnstone Kioko<br />
0727441351<br />
Paul Maina 0725288359<br />
Melany Stephen Joseph<br />
0722524208<br />
Nicholas Njala<br />
0724037457<br />
Milka 0716296175<br />
G. K. Kimani, 0721420059<br />
Joesph Maweu<br />
0733805571<br />
Nairobi<br />
Charles<br />
Mathenge,Box24154<br />
NAIROBICell:<br />
0723391515<br />
Henry Wambugu Kiiru-<br />
Box 30556 NAIROBI, Tel:<br />
0208020174<br />
Mangoes, Passion, Pawpaw,<br />
Avocado, Agro forestry,<br />
Ornamentals<br />
Avocado, Mangoes, citrus<br />
Guava pawpaw, Avocadoes<br />
agro forestry<br />
Mangoes, Avocado, Passion<br />
fruitsPaw paws, Citrus , Ornamentals<br />
Agro forestry<br />
Mangoes, Passion<br />
Fruits,Pawpaw’s, Citrus, Avocadoes,<br />
Agro forestry<br />
Citrus,Passion fruits, Mangoes<br />
Citrus, cashewnuts, passion,<br />
mangoes, pawpaw<br />
Citrus,Passion fruits, Mangoes<br />
Mangoes<br />
Mangoes, pawpaw<br />
Mangoes, pawpaw<br />
Mangoes,pawpaw<br />
Mangoes, passion, cashewnuts,<br />
lime, t<strong>issue</strong> bananas<br />
Passion, pawpaws, guavas,<br />
grapes, mangoes, citrus<br />
Mangoes, guavas, limes,<br />
pawpaw<br />
Citrus, Mangoes<br />
Citrus, mangoes, passion,<br />
avocadoes, custard apples<br />
Citrus, mangoes, passion,<br />
custard apples, avocadoes<br />
Avocadoes, guavas, mangoes,<br />
macadamia nuts<br />
Citrus<br />
Citrus, Mangoes<br />
T<strong>issue</strong> culture bananas<br />
Citrus, pawpaw, passion,<br />
avocadoes, mangoes<br />
Citrus, mangoes, passion,<br />
pawpaws<br />
Citrus, Mango<br />
Passion fruits<br />
Macadamia, Passion Fruits<br />
Mangoes, Avocados, Pawpaws,<br />
Loquats, Strawberry<br />
The listby Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)
Belspray range<br />
Bellspray High N: NPK 20:10:10+TE<br />
Bellspray High P: NPK 10:54:10+TE<br />
Bellspray High K: NPK 12:12:36+TE<br />
Bellspray Total: NPK 20:20:20+TE<br />
Insecticides:<br />
Agrothoate 40EC<br />
Agropyrifos 48EC<br />
Agrozinon<br />
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Tel. 020-,2368703, Fax 254-020-650087, Mobile 0728 171663, 0733 764562, 0722 746607, 0716 666839<br />
Email:info@bellindustrieskenya.com, sales@bellindustrieskenya.com, www. bellindustrieskenya.com<br />
Belsap increases<br />
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Ridweed 480SL<br />
Bellamine 72%<br />
Knapsack<br />
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H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 45
A farmer, Mr Gabriel Wekunda, on his farm in Kimilili, Bungoma County.<br />
By ErICK nGOBILO<br />
a local community based<br />
organization, Good neighbours<br />
based in Bungoma County<br />
has partnered with the Kenya<br />
Horticulture Competitive Project<br />
(KHCP) funded by uSaID to<br />
promote production of passion<br />
fruits in Western Kenya.<br />
The venture has seen hundreds<br />
of farmers grow the fruits in a<br />
dramatic shift from the traditional<br />
sugarcane and maize farming in<br />
parts of Western and rift Valley.<br />
The partnership has put a smile<br />
on the faces of many farmers who<br />
have realized increased income<br />
from the fruits.<br />
“Since I ventured into passion<br />
fruit farming last year, my earnings<br />
have grown considerably. I have<br />
46<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
Growing passion for some<br />
Hundreds of farmers grow the fruits in a dramatic shift from the<br />
bought a small tractor to cultivate<br />
the farm so that I can expand the<br />
arrearage under passion,” said a<br />
farmer Mr nathan Sava.<br />
Fifteen passion fruit nurseries<br />
with a capacity to produce over<br />
75,000 seedlings each to benefit<br />
small holder farmers have been<br />
put up in parts of Western, nyanza<br />
and rift Valley.<br />
“The main nursery based at<br />
Wabukhonyi has the capacity to<br />
produce 450,000 seedlings that<br />
can serve all our farmers with<br />
enough seedlings around the<br />
year,” said Mrs Zipporah Simiyu<br />
the managing director of the<br />
Good neighbours project.<br />
The nurseries are certified by<br />
the Kenya agricultural research<br />
Institute (KarI), Kenya Plant Health<br />
Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) and<br />
<strong>Horticultural</strong> Crops Development<br />
authority (HCDa).<br />
“We monitor our nurseries to<br />
ensure the seedlings are free of<br />
insects, soil, and fungal infections.<br />
We always want monitor to<br />
maintain standards,” she said.<br />
The seedlings in the nurseries<br />
are grafted to improve quality<br />
and resistance to diseases and<br />
pests. “We have purple passion<br />
fruit grafted with yellow root<br />
stalk which is more resistant to<br />
pests and diseases,” explains Mrs.<br />
Simiyu.<br />
More than 6,000 small holder<br />
farmers in 200 groups from<br />
Bungoma County; parts of Lugari<br />
and nandi have benefitted from<br />
the project which started in 2004.<br />
Good neighbours provides<br />
market linkages to small holder<br />
farmers both locally and<br />
internationally. “We collect their<br />
fruits and look for the market<br />
especially for those who lack the<br />
ability to access markets. Currently<br />
we are selling to supermarkets,<br />
neighbouring countries and<br />
abroad,” she said. Mrs Simiyu<br />
added that Good neighbours has<br />
partnered with the Ministry of<br />
agriculture to teach farmers value<br />
addition to earn more money.<br />
Bungoma South agricultural<br />
officer Mrs Elizabeth Ogolla says<br />
the ministry is training passion<br />
fruit farmers to engage in value<br />
addition.“We are telling them to<br />
sell passion fruit juice instead of<br />
Farmers from Good Neigbours at their tree nursery in<br />
Bungoma.
Good neigbours<br />
traditional sugarcane and maize farming.<br />
the fruits since the juice fetches<br />
more money,” she said.<br />
Mrs Ogolla says a farmer can<br />
make five litres of juice from five<br />
kilos of the fruits which he can<br />
sale for over Ksh 500 compared to<br />
the fruits which could fetch him<br />
Ksh 150. She pointed out that the<br />
demand for passion fruit is much<br />
more than what the farmers are to<br />
producing.<br />
“We have never had even a<br />
single farmer lack market for his<br />
passion fruits because of the high<br />
demand,” she said. Mrs Simiyu<br />
said 50 community based groups<br />
have ventured into passion fruit<br />
farming after the initiative rolled<br />
out a campaign to popularize<br />
passion fruit farming and are<br />
about to harvest their first fruits.<br />
This follows the successful<br />
setting up of several<br />
demonstration centers across<br />
the county. The demonstration<br />
centres are meant to address the<br />
challenges facing the new farmers<br />
which include lack of knowledge<br />
and the reluctance amongst<br />
farmers to try the new venture.<br />
Mrs Simiyu says the seedlings<br />
for the new farmers are enough.<br />
“We have enough seedlings and<br />
we encourage more farmers to<br />
come out and venture into passion<br />
fruit framing,” she said. KHCP has<br />
been funding the setting up of<br />
the nurseries and greenhouses to<br />
benefit local farmers.“The cost of<br />
setting up a nursery is too high at<br />
over Ksh500, 000 and local farmers<br />
cannot afford. That is why we have<br />
partnered with Good neighbours<br />
to bridge the gap,” said KHCP<br />
Western region manager Mr<br />
Geoffrey nyamota.<br />
KHCP has so far spent Ksh<br />
85million supporting more than<br />
15,000 passion fruit farmers in<br />
rift valley, Western and nyanza<br />
provinces. Mr nyamota said KHCP<br />
will continue to support small<br />
holder farmers to improve their<br />
income through horticulture<br />
farming.<br />
He said passion fruit is popular<br />
because it matures within a short<br />
period. He said purple and yellow<br />
passion fruits are the two major<br />
species cultivated for commercial<br />
purposes in the country.<br />
“yellow variety is the most<br />
resistant to pests and diseases<br />
while purple is the most popular.<br />
That is why we graft our fruits to<br />
improve the quality and resistance<br />
to diseases,” he said.<br />
Mr nyamota said overreliance<br />
on maize and sugarcane had<br />
led to many farmers being<br />
impoverished due to lack of<br />
markets and low pay. He said<br />
smallholder farmers stand to<br />
benefit the most since they can<br />
make more money from small<br />
parcels of land.<br />
HCDa manager in charge of<br />
Western region Mrs Carol Soita<br />
said her organization is working<br />
with Good neighbours, farmers,<br />
and brokers who provide linkages<br />
to the market and government<br />
line ministries involved to<br />
popularize passion fruits in<br />
Western.<br />
She said HCDa brings together<br />
farmers in workshops organized<br />
in conjunction with Good<br />
neighbours to learn about new<br />
varieties and get linked to markets.<br />
She pointed out that HCDa<br />
is keen to make passion fruit<br />
a second major cash crop to<br />
sugarcane for the people of<br />
Western province.She argues<br />
that for a sustainable passion<br />
Mr Nathan Sava waters passion fruit seedlings at Lugari<br />
horticulture nursery.<br />
Mrs Monica Simiyu attends to her fruits in Kamukuywa<br />
Bungoma.<br />
fruit industry, there is need to<br />
supply clean planting material,<br />
and maintain the necessary crop<br />
practices to protect the crop<br />
against pests and diseases.<br />
a passion fruit farmer Mr<br />
nathan Sava said planting<br />
200 passion fruits can fetch<br />
one between Ksh21, 000 to<br />
Ksh30,000 every week after<br />
nine months. He said he makes<br />
Ksh 780, 000 from his one acre<br />
passion fruit farm each year. “I<br />
have gradually been expanding<br />
my land size under passion from<br />
the initial one acre to over five<br />
acres now because of the good<br />
returns,” he said.<br />
One of the nurseries set up by<br />
Good neighbours is on his parcel<br />
of land making it easy for him to<br />
get seedlings. another farmer<br />
Mr Gabriel Wekunda says his<br />
switch to passion fruit farming is<br />
partly due to the unstable prices<br />
for maize and poor payment for<br />
sugarcane.<br />
“Sugarcane takes more than<br />
two and half years before it<br />
matures and the returns are<br />
usually very low,” he said. He said<br />
the main challenge he has to deal<br />
with is pests and diseases that<br />
infect his fruits.<br />
Diseases like woodiness<br />
and fusarium wilt are the main<br />
challenges facing the farmers<br />
like Mr.Wekunda. Farmers are<br />
advised to plant grafted seedlings<br />
to improve their resistance to<br />
diseases. Passion fruit unlike<br />
maize and sugarcane matures<br />
within nine months, and can<br />
be harvested four times a year,<br />
depending on the availability of<br />
rain or irrigation water.<br />
Passion fruits fetch a good<br />
market in Britain and the European<br />
union, while the Middle East is<br />
also emerging as an option.<br />
also within the country, there<br />
is a ready market for the crop, and<br />
farmers have not been able to<br />
meet the ever rising demand.<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 47
By nGOBILO naKITarE and<br />
CaTHErInE rIunGu<br />
Her in-depth<br />
knowledge<br />
of agriculture<br />
easily creates<br />
an impression<br />
of a highly qualified professional.<br />
until you ask where she trained<br />
and Zipporah Simiyu bursts into<br />
a hearty laughter. “I have trained<br />
myself”, she softly replies and the<br />
memories of that day in 2004<br />
when she brought together her<br />
neighbours over a cup of tea to<br />
discuss how they could work<br />
together to improve their incomes<br />
are relived.<br />
Back then, farmers were poor,<br />
relying on beans and maize amidst<br />
idle potential. Her attempts to<br />
introduce horticulture on her fiveacre<br />
farm yielded nothing because<br />
neighbours would raid the farm<br />
and cart away produce.<br />
To stop the malpractice, she<br />
decided to call the neighbours<br />
to discuss how they could work<br />
together so that each would<br />
become their brother’s keeper.<br />
They liked the idea, and she was<br />
asked to lead them. This was the<br />
beginning of Good neighbours,<br />
a community-based organization<br />
that today is transforming<br />
livelihoods in parts of Western and<br />
rift Valley regions of the country.<br />
From a group of 10 farmers,<br />
voluntarily managing a communal<br />
nursery she is running an empire<br />
of 8,000 groups with 50,000<br />
individuals, a development she<br />
looks at with both passion and<br />
satisfaction. “People are making<br />
48<br />
The making of<br />
Good Neighbours<br />
money, living better lives and<br />
eating more nutritious foods”, she<br />
said.<br />
after starting with passion<br />
fruits, Good neighbours, whose<br />
head office is in Wabukhonyi<br />
market, Bungoma County, has<br />
since diversified into tomatoes,<br />
mango, t<strong>issue</strong> culture bananas,<br />
macadamia, avocado, african leafy<br />
vegetables and still growing.<br />
Zippy, as she is fondly referred<br />
to by the neighbours, says<br />
although the take off was slow,<br />
the project eventually kicked off<br />
as participants started earning<br />
weekly from the first passion fruit<br />
harvest in May 2004.<br />
But in november of the same<br />
year, bacterial wilt attacked<br />
the fruits, a blessing in disguise<br />
because she visited every office<br />
she thought would help – Kenya<br />
agricultural research Institute,<br />
Ministry of agriculture and big<br />
growers like Kakuzi. Kari’s head<br />
of horticulture Dr Lusike Wasilwa<br />
has been very helpful, she says<br />
and took it almost personal and<br />
helped them to introduce the<br />
propagated varieties that are less<br />
susceptible to diseases.<br />
In the process of finding<br />
a solution, she stumbled on<br />
development projects like GIZ,<br />
that undertook to help the<br />
farmers establish and expand<br />
nurseries, as well as train farmers<br />
on production and post-harvest<br />
handling of produce. It also<br />
created the need to diversify to<br />
other crops. as the group grew,<br />
and demand for seedlings soared,<br />
it became apparent that voluntary<br />
nursery management was not<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
Zippy Simiyu, Managing Director, Good Neighbours<br />
tenable anymore necessitating<br />
the employment of full time<br />
attendants. Today, it has employed<br />
40 full time staff.<br />
By 2007, 30,000 grafted<br />
seedlings had been established.<br />
The Ministry of agriculture and the<br />
japan International Cooperation<br />
agency (jICa) through the<br />
Samllholder Empowerment<br />
Project came on board to train<br />
farmers on water harvesting,<br />
improving feeder roads and postharvest<br />
handling.<br />
around the same time, the<br />
uSaID aids, Population and Health<br />
Integrated assistance (aPHIa 11)<br />
programme approached Good<br />
neighbours to supply fruits and<br />
vegetables for its nutrition project.<br />
“With this order, we required<br />
more fruits therefore we had to<br />
recruit more farmers”, she said.<br />
The deal saw 35,000 seedlings<br />
established and about 50,000<br />
acres of orchards and vegetable<br />
gardens set up.<br />
“I feel happy whenever I see<br />
my neighbours excel because of<br />
growing fruits and vegetables.<br />
at least every home around<br />
mine has tomatoes, passion<br />
fruits and vegetables,” she said<br />
adding, “children are learning in<br />
good schools and have almost<br />
all necessities at their disposal<br />
compared to how impoverished<br />
they were due to overreliance on<br />
maize and sugarcane, seven years<br />
ago.” Most farmers in the group<br />
have small parcels of land with<br />
a few large-scale ones from rift<br />
Valley and nyanza provinces.<br />
In 2008, the uSaID funded<br />
Kenya Horticulture Development<br />
Program (now Kenya Horticulture<br />
Competitiveness Project boarded<br />
the train and partnered with<br />
Good neighbours to replicate<br />
the production units in rift Valley<br />
and Western , a development<br />
that took the fruits to Lessos, and<br />
Kabarak creating 15 additional<br />
demonstration units.<br />
goodneighbours62@yahoo.com,<br />
www.goodneighbours.co.ke<br />
Tel: 020 263 5591 / 0722 220 889
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 49
!<br />
Plants infected with nematodes Once introduced, it is very unlikely<br />
are usually not uniform in the that nematodes will be totally<br />
greenhouse. They occur in eliminated because they have a<br />
By JEREMy CORDINGLEy, MSC<br />
patches along the planting bed. great number of crops that they<br />
that nematodes are m<br />
Smart farming, resulting in crops Services Ltd (Cropnuts) are<br />
on your fields according to the<br />
Above-ground, nematodes’ can feed on in absence of their<br />
spread through movem<br />
with big, healthy root systems symptoms often resemble specialists nutrient in soil preferred testing crop and (alternative soil hosts). soil maps<br />
of infested soil, seedlings<br />
deficiencies or drought stress. The These include commonly cultivated<br />
working implements and p<br />
Strongly acidic soils which will better tolerate symptoms the include: fertility yellowing, correction vegetable using GPS crops such as tomato, The process start with soil debris. Avoid introduc<br />
wilting, stunting, thinning and carrots, spinach and common<br />
of nematodes into<br />
are reducing crop hot, dry seasons of the future. Precision agriculture technology sampling using a TrIMBLE GPS<br />
flower injuries, therefore the weeds such gallant soldier,<br />
greenhouse by plan<br />
farmers tend to describe these black nightshade (Managu) and<br />
nematode-free seedlings<br />
yields in many parts However, the application of lime to save you money in your farming device so that we are able to<br />
Amaranthus (Terere). In addition<br />
using nematode free m<br />
nematodes have a sophisticated<br />
especially for propaga<br />
of Kenya. Soil acidity to acid soils is a serious challenge, '<br />
operation.<br />
record the GPS coordinates of<br />
adaptation to survive harsh<br />
This can be achieved<br />
is toxic to plant with many farmers asking...<br />
all fields on your conditions farm will for several months each or soil sample we take. Taking inspection of nurseries<br />
years as eggs or juveniles (young<br />
experts before the seed<br />
roots, resulting in poor growth<br />
have natural fertility ones) variation,<br />
in the soil or within the root GPS co-ordinates means we are transferred to greenh<br />
fragments.<br />
i.e. implement a certifica<br />
and very low yields. In acidic soils, How much lime should I<br />
meaning that some parts of the can return to the exact location programme. of Tools used<br />
soils should be prop<br />
root growth is very poor and the apply?....how do I apply this field will have more impact crop of problems nematodeseach<br />
soil sample in the future cleaned to before use in ano<br />
When nematode populations in<br />
greenhouse. Soil conserva<br />
plant cannot access adequate lime?.....what equipment A nematode !"#$%&'()'*'+&,-./0&'1&&0"+#'<br />
do I feeding than off other the parts. greenhouse using GPS are soil not managed, retake the samples, so that we measures can to check soil ero<br />
jEREMy CORdiNgLEy<br />
Nematodes are long, thin round<br />
/11'.2&'%//.'/1'-'34-+.'<br />
they significantly reduce crop<br />
nutrient or water. Crop yields need?<br />
root of a plant sampling technology, worms, so tiny that they can usually<br />
yields we and can in bad cases exactly may see how our soil fertility also limit nematode sp<br />
and introduction.<br />
The fast growing small- only be seen under the microscope<br />
eventually lead to abandonment<br />
remain low as a result.<br />
go about mapping this variation have improved.<br />
holder greenhouse (Figure 1). They have different areas<br />
of the greenhouse, the production<br />
symptoms, mistakably, as a result<br />
(ii) Balance soil fertility:<br />
It is well understood farming has that LIME been they are Now found we in, or have diverse the habitats, solution.<br />
of other less valuable crops, or<br />
of deficiencies or salinity in soil problems. fertility and developing<br />
The soil samples are then sent Soils that have poor fer<br />
recognized as the but the ones that are of concern to<br />
moving into artificial substrate<br />
It is these general symptoms that<br />
including low calcium le<br />
application leading increases activity crop towards yields farmers AND, are those we that can dwell do the in the whole job lime and fertilizer such application<br />
as pumice or coco peat. to our laboratory in nairobi for<br />
are commonly associated with<br />
(low full oxygen conditions),<br />
achieving the first Millennium soil and feed on plant roots. These<br />
In addition, nematode infestation<br />
either water or nutrient deficiencies<br />
be more prone to nema<br />
dramatically Development in acid Goal soils. of attaining Indeed, are commonly for you. called plant parasitic<br />
maps that mean results you will in a only large be reduction of chemical the analysis, which includes<br />
that have led to the nematodes<br />
infestation. Balancing<br />
food security and fighting poverty. nematodes. Plant parasitic nematodes<br />
quality of the greenhouse produce.<br />
liming acid soils is truly Climate Crop nutrition Laboratory reputation as the ‘silent applying ’ enemy. inputs your soil fertility through<br />
Among the leading constraints to damage plant roots and slow down or<br />
In where many they instances, are nematode the most important soil fertility<br />
In addition, to confirm the presence<br />
testing in our laboratory<br />
smallholder greenhouse farming block movement of water and nutrients<br />
infestation has led to breakdown<br />
of nematodes, needed. soil and Our root Precision provide a better environm<br />
are the ‘silent enemies’; nematodes. to the growing parts of the plant.<br />
of resistance agriculture to crop pathogens, parameters such as pH (acidity),<br />
analysis is recommended using our<br />
for beneficial soil organ<br />
Recently, many farmers have<br />
making the plants to become more<br />
Symptoms<br />
laboratory. Visual services examination use of TrIMBLE GPS<br />
Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), to compete with p<br />
reported nematode infestations in<br />
susceptible to other diseases like<br />
roots and depending on the type<br />
parasitic nematodes, redu<br />
greenhouses especially based on !<br />
Technology. like Fusarium wilt and Bacterial calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg).<br />
of nematodes present, will show<br />
the threat to crop yi<br />
the easily observable galls/knots<br />
wilt. In addition, nematode entry<br />
galls or knots on the roots (in case<br />
A balanced crop nutr<br />
caused by root knot nematodes<br />
We have developed into plant a SOIL roots creates wounds Our high sample throughput<br />
of root knot nematodes). These<br />
program serves to re<br />
(Meloidogyne species). This has<br />
that serve as entry sites for<br />
are club-like swellings that occur<br />
adverse effects of nemat<br />
MaPPInG anD LIME raised concerns of nematodes<br />
other & soil FErTILIZEr<br />
borne pathogens laboratory, like with highly skilled<br />
on succulent filamentous roots.<br />
by improving plant health<br />
becoming more important<br />
Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia and<br />
(Figure 3). SPrEaDInG SErVICE making them more tolera<br />
especially due to complexes<br />
Phytophthora for farmers leading to secondary analysts, means that that we can<br />
nematodes.<br />
involving them and other soil<br />
infections.<br />
who are growing crops on<br />
process the soil samples quickly<br />
borne pathogens like Fusarium in<br />
Spread (dispersal), alter- When nematodes and these<br />
(iii) Resistant/tolerant variet<br />
greenhouses. We at Crop Nutrition<br />
native hosts and acid survival soils and require soil lime borne to diseases and occur accurately.<br />
If the greenhouse is infe<br />
Laboratory Services Ltd. want to<br />
Nematodes are spread to simultaneously on a crop, they<br />
it is highly recommended<br />
promote awareness among small-<br />
and within greenhouses be applied. by This complex means we together, can resulting in<br />
the farmers use nema<br />
"#$%&'!()!*+,-./'0!12!3#22'&'45!56.'0!<br />
holder farmers to occurrences and<br />
contaminated water, machinery, a rapid crop health decline and<br />
Examples 70.'8#'09!12!4'-,513'0!#01/,5'3!2&1-!01#/0!<br />
of diffrent types of<br />
management of nematodes in ,43!&1150!#4!$&''4:1%0'!!<br />
animals and humans. correct Planting your of soil greater acidity yield problem loss. This wide impact<br />
!<br />
greenhouses.<br />
(species) of nematodes iso- infected seedlings is one of the of nematodes illustrates the far<br />
for you, ensuring Call us for more i<br />
lated from soils and roots in most common ways of introducing reaching you benefit consequences with of these<br />
Cooper Ce<br />
What are nematodes?<br />
nematodes in the greenhouse. ‘silent’ enemies.<br />
green<br />
high yields and more profit in the<br />
future<br />
50<br />
Crop Nutrition<br />
Laboratory Services<br />
Healthy, Profitable Farming<br />
Precision NEMAtOdES: lime the spreading:<br />
silent enemy<br />
The of greenhouse answer to farmers higher yields.<br />
Effects of acid soils on wheat growth<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
The service works as follows...<br />
1) GPS soil sampling of your<br />
fields<br />
2) Soil testing in our laboratory<br />
3) Processing soil maps for your<br />
fields<br />
4) Making variable rate lime and<br />
fertilizer application maps<br />
5) Spreading of lime and fertilizer<br />
SOIL MANAGEMENT<br />
!<br />
galls (Knots) on carrots cau<br />
"#$%&'!()!*+,!-.<br />
2'9.436'!.26!<br />
Cultural and Soil Mana<br />
ment Strategies<br />
(i) Avoid introduction:<br />
It is important bear in m
Soil sampling using Trimble GPS<br />
now that we have the soil data,<br />
we can process the soil maps and<br />
the variable rate lime and fertilizer<br />
prescription maps. For this job<br />
we use FarMWOrKS Software.<br />
This software is a leading farm<br />
Testing soil pH in our laboratory<br />
management software used by<br />
farmers all over the world. It helps<br />
farmers manage all their records,<br />
including field operations, staff,<br />
machinery, fertilizers and chemical<br />
applications. It has strong<br />
mapping module, wher farmers<br />
can view soil maps, Google maps,<br />
yield maps and field boundaries.<br />
after processing the lime and<br />
fertilizer applications maps, we<br />
upload them into our TrIMBLE<br />
Farmworks Software – for<br />
precision management of<br />
farming operations<br />
CFX 750 Tractor display. The CFX<br />
750 is an intelligent GPS system<br />
which controls the guidance of the<br />
tractor and the application rate of<br />
lime and fertilizer, accord to the<br />
soil maps. To apply the lime we<br />
use a FMD Baldon lime spreader.<br />
We have fitted this lime spreader<br />
with a variable rate drive, meaning<br />
that the rate of lime and fertilizer<br />
will change accord to the tractors<br />
GPS location and the soil map we<br />
have created. Why apply lime and<br />
fertilizer when it’s not needed?!<br />
We are working with farmers<br />
across Kenya to correct their<br />
soil fertility for increasing crop<br />
yieldsbut we appreciate that<br />
these inputs are expensive and<br />
difficult to apply, which is why we<br />
Soil maps generated using<br />
FARMWORKS Software<br />
now offer you a complete SOIL<br />
MaPPInG anD LIME & FErTILIZEr<br />
SPrEaDInG SErVICE .<br />
Variable Rate spreading of Lime<br />
to correct soil acidity<br />
Adopting our Precision<br />
Agriculture services<br />
means higher yields,<br />
lower inputs and bigger<br />
profits for 2012!<br />
Contacts:<br />
Crop Nutrition Laboratory Services Ltd., P.O. Box 66437, Nairobi, Kenya, Physical Address: Cooper Centre, Kaptagat Road, Loresho,<br />
Nairobi, Kenya., Mobiles : +254 (733) 839933, +254 (720) 639933, Email: healthy_soils@cropnuts.com, www.cropnuts.com<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 51
poor post-harvest management practices.<br />
Sally Kosgey, Minister Romano Kiome PS, Alfred Serem, HCDA MD W Songa, Agric Secretary,<br />
The <strong>Horticultural</strong> Crops Development Authority<br />
(HCDA) has been mandated by a new order to regulate<br />
and manage Kenya’s fresh produce industry. Captured<br />
in a Special Issue of the Kenya Gazette Supplement<br />
No. 166 dated December 23, 2011, the legal notice<br />
(No. 190, of the Agriculture Act Cap 318) swallows the<br />
previous five clauses under which the industry was<br />
governed.<br />
The changes recognize the Horticulture Research<br />
Fund as a legal entity; requires all traders to be<br />
6 proven Functions/powers and innovative of the technologies Board that planning will address purposes; crop protection<br />
The and board post-harvest shall have management the powers challenges. c) Provide Demonstrations specialised are currently<br />
to<br />
underway<br />
promote,<br />
to<br />
coordinate<br />
introduce<br />
and<br />
farmers to bagging<br />
horticulture<br />
of banana banches<br />
extension<br />
to protect<br />
them against pests and diseases during growth and development.<br />
facilitate the development of the services;<br />
Amiran banana bags are known to have an anti- microbial effect and are<br />
industry but without prejudice to d) appoint agents for the<br />
effective in the control of insect pests such as thrips.<br />
the generality of the forgoing, the implementation or<br />
board may –<br />
performance of any function<br />
a) advice the government<br />
of the authority under this<br />
and the industry on matters Order;<br />
related to horticulture<br />
e) Directly or indirectly support<br />
production and marketing;<br />
the establishment of fruit tree<br />
b) Collect and collate data,<br />
mother blocks;<br />
maintain a database and f) regulate the horticulture<br />
disseminate information on nurseries, production,<br />
horticultural activities for<br />
post-harvest handling<br />
64<br />
52<br />
HORTICULTURAL CROPS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY<br />
Serving the Horticulture Industry<br />
Increase your income by protecting your<br />
bananas new from Horticulture pests and diseases; Order and by<br />
only selling when the price is √<br />
Bagging of Banana Batches<br />
Although a lot of work has been done to promote production of bananas<br />
in Kenya, crop protection still remains a major challenge in the production<br />
of high quality bananas. HCDA and Amiran Kenya Ltd are introducing<br />
HHO OR TR ITC IUC LT U LT U RU ARL ANL ENW ES WI S A uI gj au ns Tu -as er py T - e MF EB Be r u2 a0 1r 1y<br />
2 0 1 2<br />
Banana Production Profile<br />
It is currently estimated that Kenya is among the major producers of<br />
bananas in Africa with over 83, 462 Ha. under production which account<br />
for 1, 583, 143 MT. with a market value of over Ksh. 18 billion annually.<br />
However out of the entire production, a lot is lost through pest<br />
and disease infestation, poor cultural plant management practices and<br />
registered by HCDA, essentially eliminating briefcase<br />
buyers and will set standards for produce handling<br />
and transportation.<br />
Henceforth, horticulture nurseries will be established<br />
under the supervision of HCDA, while the corporation<br />
will work closely with institutions like the Kenya Plant<br />
Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), the Pest Control<br />
Products Board (PCPB), the Kenya Revenue Authority<br />
(KRA) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) on<br />
matters requiring cross-reference.<br />
and marketing of<br />
horticultural crops and<br />
produce;<br />
g) Promote development<br />
and adoption of standards<br />
for labelling, packaging,<br />
grading, transporting<br />
and sorting horticultural<br />
produce in compliance<br />
with local and international<br />
standards;<br />
h) Impose levies, fees or charges<br />
on producers, dealers and<br />
nursery operators as the<br />
Ministry may approve;<br />
i) Promote the establishment<br />
and use of production,<br />
processing and marketing<br />
infrastructure for horticultural<br />
crops;<br />
j) Facilitate marketing of<br />
horticultural products in<br />
the local and international<br />
markets ; and<br />
k) Provide for any other<br />
matter in furtherance of the<br />
development of horticurtural<br />
crops or conducive to the<br />
exercise of any of its powers<br />
under this Order.<br />
A farmer is being assisted by a HCDA officer to install Amiran Kenya<br />
Ltd banana bag on a new banana batch in Meru
HORTICULTURAL CROPS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY<br />
Serving the Horticulture Industry<br />
Increase your income by protecting your<br />
bananas from pests and diseases; and by<br />
<strong>Horticultural</strong> Research Fund<br />
16<br />
(1) There is established a fund to<br />
nursery operators.<br />
Conditions before registration apply for registration after a<br />
19. a person shall not be<br />
period of two years.<br />
only selling when the price is √<br />
(2) The committee shall from<br />
<strong>issue</strong>d with a certificate of 22. a person shall not transfer<br />
be known as the <strong>Horticultural</strong> time to time prescribe the<br />
registration as a nursery or a or distribute horticultural<br />
research Fund, which shall<br />
minimum requirements for<br />
mother block operator unless planting materials from one<br />
be administered by the<br />
establishing and operating a an inspector-<br />
part of the country to another<br />
authority.<br />
horticultural crop nursery. (a) has visited and inspected<br />
unless that person has an<br />
(2) The fund shall consist of –<br />
a) Levies imposed on dealers<br />
under paragraph 33;<br />
b) Funds provided by bilateral<br />
or multilateral donors for the<br />
(3) The agriculture Secretary<br />
shall chair the Committee.<br />
(4) The Committee may co-opt<br />
for such period as it may<br />
think fit, any person whose<br />
the site and confirmed it as<br />
accompanying plant health<br />
Banana suitable for a horticultural Production certificate Profile from Kenya Plant<br />
It is currently estimated that Kenya is among the major producers of<br />
crop nursery; and<br />
Health Inspectorate Services.<br />
bananas in Africa with over 83, 462 Ha. under production which account<br />
(b) is satisfied that the operator 23. a nursery operator shall not<br />
for 1, 583, 143 MT. with a market value of over Ksh. 18 billion annually.<br />
However<br />
or his<br />
out<br />
agent<br />
of the<br />
has<br />
entire<br />
adequate<br />
production, a lot is procure lost through rootstock, pestscion,<br />
or<br />
purposes of the Fund;<br />
assistance or advice it may and knowledge disease infestation, of nursery poor cultural plant seed management planting material practices from and<br />
c) Funds from any other source require.<br />
poor management post-harvest and management horticultural practices. sources not approved by the<br />
approved by the authority.<br />
techniques in respect of<br />
Committee.<br />
(3) The fund shall be used for 18 Registration of nursery horticultural crops to be 24. a nursery operator who<br />
the purpose of undertaking and mother blocks<br />
grown.<br />
has in his nursery certified<br />
research on horticulture. (1) a person shall not establish or<br />
planting material which has<br />
operate a horticultural crop Certificate not transferable<br />
not been distributed during<br />
Part III<br />
nursery or a mother block 20. (1) a person to whom a<br />
the certification season shall<br />
Quality assurance in<br />
in any area unless that crop<br />
certificate of registration is<br />
ensure that the undistributed<br />
production and<br />
nursery or mother block is<br />
Issued shall not sell, lend,<br />
planting material is re-<br />
marketing<br />
registered by the authority.<br />
transfer or otherwise dispose certified after every six<br />
17<br />
the certificate without the<br />
months.<br />
(1) There shall be a <strong>Horticultural</strong> (2) a person who intends<br />
prior written permission from 25. (1) a nursery operator shall<br />
Crop nursery Committee<br />
to operate a nursery<br />
the authority.<br />
keep accurate records of<br />
composed of –<br />
or a mother block shall<br />
Bagging of Banana make Batches<br />
an application<br />
(a) Although The agriculture a lot of work Secretary; has been done to promote for registration production to the of bananas<br />
(2) an operator of an horticultural<br />
crop nursery shall display the<br />
distributed planting materials<br />
indicating the buyer’s name,<br />
district, location, sub-location<br />
(b) in The Kenya, Managing crop protection Director still of the remains a major authority challenge in the in the prescribed production certificate of registration for<br />
and postal address, varieties<br />
of authority high quality bananas. HCDA and Amiran form Kenya accompanied Ltd are introducing<br />
by a<br />
inspection at all times.<br />
purchased and shall produce<br />
(c) proven The Director, and innovative Kenya technologies that non- will refundable address crop fee of protection five<br />
such records on demand for<br />
and agricultural post-harvest research management challenges. hundred Demonstrations shillings. are currently 21. (1) The authority may revoke<br />
the purposes of inspection.<br />
underway<br />
Institute;<br />
to introduce farmers to bagging<br />
(3) Subject<br />
of banana<br />
to paragraph<br />
banches<br />
19,<br />
to protect<br />
them against pests and diseases during growth and development.<br />
(d) The Managing Director, Kenya the authority shall <strong>issue</strong> a<br />
Amiran banana bags are known to have an anti- microbial effect and are<br />
Plant Health Inspectorate<br />
certificate of registration to<br />
effective in the control of insect pests such as thrips.<br />
Services;<br />
any successful applicant.<br />
a certificate of registration (2) a nursery operator shall<br />
A farmer is being assisted by a HCDA officer to install Amiran Kenya<br />
<strong>issue</strong>d to a nursery or a<br />
submit annual records to the<br />
Ltd banana bag on a new banana batch in Meru<br />
mother block operator if that authority in the prescribed<br />
operator contravenes the<br />
manner.<br />
(e) a duly appointed<br />
(4) The certificate of registration<br />
provisions of paragraph 18,20<br />
representative of the<br />
for a nursery or a mother<br />
, 22,23,24 and 25.<br />
26. (1) a person who contravenes<br />
Commissioner of Prisons;<br />
block shall be as set out in<br />
the provisions of<br />
(f) The Centre Director, national Form a of the First Schedule, (2) The operator of an horticultural paragraphs18, 20,22,23,24<br />
<strong>Horticultural</strong> research Centre, renewable annually and shall crops nursery or mother<br />
and 25 commits an offence.<br />
Thika;<br />
only be applicable to the site block whose certificate of 27. unless otherwise provided for<br />
(g) One representative of<br />
inspected.<br />
registration is revoked under in this Order—<br />
registered private sector<br />
sub paragraph (1) may re- the production sites, produce<br />
64<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I A u g u s T - s e p T e M B e r 2 0 1H1 O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 53
traceability, produce<br />
the certificate of registration (g) furnish the authority with<br />
and processing factories at<br />
handling, the minimum<br />
if a person contravenes the<br />
quarterly production and<br />
the rate specified in the Sixth<br />
bananas from pests and diseases; and by<br />
conditions applicable to pack provisions of paragraphs 30<br />
marketing data by fifteenth<br />
Schedule.<br />
houses and waste disposal<br />
and 31.<br />
of the month following the (3) The levy due under<br />
only selling when the price is √<br />
shall be done in accordance<br />
end of the quarter as shall be subparagraph (2) shall be<br />
with the Kenya Bureau of 30. (1) A registered dealer shall prescribed; and<br />
remitted to the authority not<br />
Standards on Horticulture<br />
not –<br />
(h) allow an inspector at all<br />
later than the tenth day of the<br />
Industry Code of Practice (a) sponsor the growing of<br />
reasonable times to<br />
month following the month<br />
and any other national<br />
horticultural crops without<br />
enter to premises where<br />
during which the levy was<br />
horticulture standards in<br />
force from time to time;<br />
the minimum conditions<br />
applicable to pack houses<br />
shall in addition to<br />
informing the authority in<br />
writing and production<br />
schemes so sponsored shall<br />
be regulated by a contract;<br />
(b) collect produce from<br />
horticultural produce are<br />
due.<br />
Banana under cultivation, Production processing, (4) The authority Profile shall remit<br />
It is currently estimated that Kenya is among the major producers of<br />
warehousing, storage,<br />
thirty per cent of the<br />
bananas in Africa with over 83, 462 Ha. under production which account<br />
collection or transportation. levies collected under this<br />
for 1, 583, 143 MT. with a market value of over Ksh. 18 billion annually.<br />
31. However <strong>Horticultural</strong> out of produce the entire shall production, be a lot<br />
paragraph<br />
is lost through<br />
to the<br />
pest<br />
<strong>Horticultural</strong><br />
subparagraph (a), be as set<br />
sponsored production-<br />
and harvested, disease infestation, sorted, graded, poor cultural plant research management Fund. practices and<br />
out in the Third Schedule.<br />
schemes unless authorized poor packaged, post-harvest transported, management practices. (5) any levy imposed by the<br />
in writing to do so by the<br />
and stored in accordance<br />
authority under this<br />
1. Safe use of Pesticides<br />
sponsoring firm;<br />
with guidelines as set out in Order, unless the manner<br />
(c) return produce collected<br />
the Third, Fourth, and Fifth<br />
of remitting is specifically<br />
28. all procurement, distribution, from the farmers or suppliers Schedules and the specific<br />
provided for, shall be<br />
safe storage, usage and<br />
contrary to the contract<br />
national horticulture produce payable to the authority<br />
disposal of agro-chemicals<br />
agreement ;<br />
standards.<br />
or its agents by a dealer on<br />
shall be in accordance with<br />
(2) a registered dealer shall – 32. a person who contravenes the whom it is imposed in such<br />
the provisions of the Pest (a) ensure conformity to food<br />
provisions of paragraphs 30 a manner and within such<br />
Control Products act.<br />
safety and quality standards and 31 commits an offence<br />
time as the authority may<br />
as prescribed by the Kenya<br />
and is liable on conviction<br />
direct, and shall be a civil<br />
2. Registration of dealers<br />
Bureau of Standards from<br />
to a fine not exceeding<br />
debt due from the dealer to<br />
time to time;<br />
ten thousand shillings or<br />
the authority.<br />
29. (1) a dealer shall not process, (b) sign a contract with the<br />
Bagging import, export, or act of Banana producer Batches<br />
and register the<br />
Although as a marketing a lot of agent work has of been done to contract promote with production the authority; of bananas<br />
imprisonment for a term<br />
not exceeding six months or<br />
both.<br />
34. a dealer shall maintain<br />
accurate records of<br />
in horticultural Kenya, crop protection produce unless still remains (c) a indicate major challenge in the contract in the production the<br />
transactions relating to<br />
of that high dealer quality is registered bananas. by HCDA and Amiran produce Kenya price, Ltd quantity are introducing and 3. Imposition of Levies<br />
horticulture and shall submit<br />
proven the authority. and innovative technologies that quality will address requirements; crop protection 33.<br />
quarterly returns to the<br />
(2) an and application post-harvest for management a registration challenges. (d) strive Demonstrations to attain the highest are currently (1) a levy is hereby imposed on all<br />
authority in a manner as the<br />
underway<br />
certificate<br />
to<br />
shall<br />
introduce<br />
be prescribed<br />
farmers to bagging<br />
produce<br />
of banana<br />
quality<br />
banches<br />
standards<br />
to protect<br />
them against pests and diseases during growth and development.<br />
by the authority from<br />
and ensure that all produce<br />
Amiran banana bags are known to have an anti- microbial effect and are<br />
time to time and shall<br />
for market shall be pre-<br />
effective in the control of insect pests such as thrips.<br />
be accompanied by the<br />
cooled;<br />
horticultural crops destined<br />
authority may prescribe.<br />
A farmer is being assisted by a HCDA officer to install Amiran Kenya<br />
for export other than those<br />
Ltd banana bag on a new banana batch in Meru<br />
canned, bottled, preserved, 35. a person who contravenes<br />
dehydrated or delivered to<br />
the provisions of this Order<br />
prescribed fee.<br />
(e) adopt and use the specified<br />
operators for canning and<br />
for which no specific penalty<br />
(3) a registration certificate <strong>issue</strong>d national horticulture logo<br />
processing factories payable<br />
iis provided for, commits<br />
under this paragraph shall<br />
prescribed by the authority<br />
on volumes dealt with at<br />
an offence and is liable on<br />
be as set out in Form B of the on packaging as set out in the the rate of thirty cents per<br />
conviction to a fine not<br />
First Schedule.<br />
Second Schedule;<br />
kilogram.<br />
exceeding five thousand<br />
(4) The registration certificate (f) notify the authority of nay (2) a levy is hereby imposed on<br />
shillings or to imprisonment<br />
shall remain valid for a period dealer who contravenes any all the horticultural crops<br />
for a term not exceeding<br />
of one calendar year.<br />
contract or order within thirty delivered for canning and<br />
three months or both.<br />
(5) The authority may revoke<br />
days after the date of default; processing to all canning<br />
54 64<br />
HORTICULTURAL CROPS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY<br />
Serving the Horticulture Industry<br />
Increase your income by protecting your<br />
H O R T I C U LT U RRA AL L NNE WE WS S I AI uj ag un su Ta - rs ey p- T eF ME B Bre r u a2 r0 1y 12<br />
0 1 2
HORTICULTURAL CROPS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY<br />
Serving the Horticulture Industry<br />
Increase your income by protecting your<br />
bananas from pests and diseases; and by<br />
7 Field handling and grading non-toxic, washable<br />
surfaces shall be made of<br />
to minimize loss of quality.<br />
minimum requirements<br />
materials, which are easy to impervious non-absorbent, The packaging shall be<br />
1. High standards of field<br />
clean and disinfect;<br />
non-toxic washable materials<br />
only selling when the price is √<br />
(d) be constructed to allow<br />
which are easy to clean and<br />
designed to suit the<br />
transport handling system<br />
hygiene will be maintained<br />
for adequate ventilation,<br />
disinfect.<br />
and have capacity to meet<br />
during harvesting<br />
lighting, effective produce 7. The produce handling<br />
market requirements.<br />
operations.<br />
inspection and made of<br />
facility shall have adequate<br />
The packaging material<br />
2. all harvested produce SHaLL acceptable materials;<br />
ventilation, temperature<br />
used shall be able to contain<br />
be at the right stage of<br />
maturity for intended use.<br />
(e) have potable water and<br />
adequate toilet facilities;<br />
control and lighting.<br />
the produce, enabling the<br />
8. Banana all machinery used Production in<br />
required Profile quantity to be<br />
3. Produce shall be harvested<br />
during the cool part of the<br />
day and kept cool preferably<br />
under shade.<br />
4. Harvested produce shall<br />
(f) have waste disposal facilities;<br />
(g) have clear documentation<br />
procedures and document<br />
control systems.<br />
It is the currently produce estimated handling that Kenya is among handled the major as one producers unit. of<br />
bananas in Africa with over 83, 462 Ha. under production which account<br />
facility shall conform to the<br />
<strong>Horticultural</strong> produce shall<br />
for 1, 583, 143 MT. with a market value of over Ksh. 18 billion annually.<br />
provisions of Occupational<br />
during storage and transport<br />
However out of the entire production, a lot is lost through pest<br />
and<br />
Safety<br />
disease<br />
and<br />
infestation,<br />
Health act,<br />
poor<br />
2007.<br />
cultural plant<br />
be<br />
management<br />
kept at the prescribed<br />
practices and<br />
9. poor The post-harvest produce handling management practices. temperature and humidity<br />
be protected from adverse 8 Minimum conditions<br />
facility shall be designed and levels for each produce.<br />
weather conditions and<br />
applicable to packhouses constructed to prevent entry <strong>Horticultural</strong> produce and<br />
where necessary pre-cooled produce handling facility<br />
of domestic animals, rodents, products shall not be stored<br />
and cold chain maintained.<br />
insects, birds, dust and any<br />
or transported together<br />
5. appropriate harvesting 1. all processing and<br />
other unwanted animals.<br />
with other produce, which<br />
equipment shall be used for packaging must be carried 10. Prominent signs shall<br />
may contaminate them or<br />
each crop.<br />
out in clean, hygienic and<br />
be displayed forbidding<br />
adversely affect their quality.<br />
6. Produce unfit for marketing safe conditions as set out<br />
smoking, eating or drinking ehicles for transport shall be<br />
shall be separated from<br />
under the provisions of the<br />
within the facility.<br />
built and equipped to ensure<br />
marketable produce at the<br />
Public Health act and the 11. all packaging materials shall maintenance of optimal<br />
field level.<br />
Occupational Safety and<br />
be kept off the floor in clean temperatures to prevent<br />
7. all produce shall be sorted<br />
Health act, 2007.<br />
dry storage areas free from<br />
damage and spoilage of<br />
and graded as appropriate. 2. The working area and<br />
risk of contamination.<br />
produce.<br />
8. Physical handling of produce premises shall be kept free of<br />
Bagging of Banana Batches<br />
shall be minimized at all<br />
waste materials.<br />
Although a lot of work has been done to promote production of bananas<br />
in stages. Kenya, crop protection still remains 3. a major any challenge person in in the the produce production<br />
12. all produce shall move<br />
through the facility operation<br />
in the order that it is received,<br />
Persons handling the<br />
produce must be healthy,<br />
protected and trained on<br />
9. of a high collection quality shed bananas. shall be HCDA and Amiran handling Kenya facility Ltd are shall introducing wear<br />
First in First out.<br />
produce handling.<br />
proven constructed and innovative for receiving technologies that protective will address clothing crop at protection all 13. The traceability of all produce<br />
and produce post-harvest at the management field level. challenges. times. Demonstrations are currently shall be documented<br />
<strong>Horticultural</strong> crops levy<br />
10. underway The collection to introduce shed shall farmers – to bagging 4. all of hand banana used banches equipment to protect throughout the process chain (processing)<br />
(a) them be accessible against pests to both and farmers diseases during and growth grading and tables development.<br />
shall be<br />
Amiran banana bags are known to have an anti- microbial effect and are<br />
and buyers;<br />
rust free and easily cleaned.<br />
effective in the control of insect pests such as thrips.<br />
(b) be designed to allow for a 5. The floor layout shall allow<br />
A farmer is being assisted by a HCDA officer to install Amiran Kenya<br />
Ltd banana bag on a new banana batch in Meru<br />
Packaging, transportation<br />
and storage minimum<br />
store, an office, working area for smooth flow of produce<br />
requirements<br />
and an appropriate cooling<br />
with adequate separation of<br />
facility;<br />
raw materials and finished<br />
The packaging shall protect<br />
(c) have floors, doors, wall<br />
products.<br />
the produce from mechanical<br />
surfaces made of impervious, 6. The floors, doors and wall<br />
and physiological damages<br />
For further information, contact;<br />
Managing Director, <strong>Horticultural</strong> Crops Development Authority<br />
Nairobi <strong>Horticultural</strong> Centre, Airport Road, Opp. J.K.I.A, P O Box 42601 - 00100 Nairobi Kenya<br />
+254 (020) 2088469, 3597362, 2131560, Fax: +254 (20)827264/9, md@hcda.or.ke, www.hcda.or.ke<br />
64<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I A u g u s T - s e p T e M B e r 2 0 1H1 O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 55
TRODUCES PROFESSIONAL<br />
ETIES……….<br />
EN TASTE IS BACK WITH MORE<br />
URES<br />
Glossy attractive head type<br />
cook glossy looking heads of an average head<br />
agen taste and the lost slogan of Bachelors’ variety.<br />
ure in only 55 days in hot areas and 60 days in cold<br />
rofiting plant population of 50,000 plants/ Ha or<br />
a or 60T/Acre. The conventional varieties give<br />
00 plants /Acre at a spacing of 60cm x 60cm.<br />
56<br />
Horticulture Retail Audit Results update (June‐November 2011) <br />
On the on‐going monthly horticultural retail audit commissioned by USAID‐KHCP and undertaken by <br />
TNS‐RMS which collects information from a sample of 1650 retail outlets representing a universe of <br />
95,600 outlets . The audit seeks to determine product flow, distribution, demand and consumption <br />
trends, seasonality, bottlenecks and strategies for improving marketing and consumption of selected <br />
fresh fruit and vegetables. <br />
<br />
Total products overview by volume (MT) <br />
Total Products ‐ Absolute Volumes in MT <br />
Type Jun‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐11 Sep‐11 Oct‐11 Nov‐11 Total <br />
Ripe Bananas 45,706 41,255 37,313 34,091 38,459 36,861 233,685 <br />
Cooking Bananas 26,069 20,297 19,089 17,975 20,607 20,454 124,492 <br />
Mangoes 22,839 18,214 11,294 4,464 5,913 8,607 71,331 <br />
Passion Fruit 1,768 625 1,068 1,067 1,078 1,493 7,098 <br />
Fruits 96,382 80,390 68,764 57,597 66,056 67,415 436,605 <br />
Cabbages 37,295 36,696 35,365 33,392 37,114 35,648 215,510 <br />
Sukuma Wiki/Kales 29,605 29,320 29,035 28,009 33,535 30,726 180,228 <br />
Tomatoes 65,781 63,400 56,336 55,627 63,125 59,798 364,067 <br />
Potato 63,448 66,680 67,262 60,853 71,194 63,071 392,508 <br />
Sweet Potato 3,530 1,896 1,624 1,172 1,649 1,669 11,540 <br />
Green Maize 1,234 1,356 2,260 1,733 2,472 1,700 10,754 <br />
Vegetables 200,892 199,347 191,881 180,787 209,090 192,610 1,174,608 <br />
Total Products 297,275 279,737 260,646 238,384 275,146 260,026 1,611,213 <br />
<br />
Total products overview by value (Ksh) <br />
Total Products ‐ Absolute Value in millions of Ksh <br />
Type Jun‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐11 Sep‐11 Oct‐11 Nov‐11 Total <br />
Ripe Bananas 2,178 1,870 1,904 1,738 1,872 1,914 11,476 <br />
Cooking Bananas 1,290 931 958 898 1,002 999 6,077 <br />
Mangoes 1,412 1,026 782 513 620 604 4,957 <br />
Passion Fruits 105 38 97 132 126 178 676 <br />
Fruits total 4,986 3,865 3,740 3,280 3,620 3,695 23,185 <br />
Tomatoes 2,655 2,148 4,282 3,782 4,239 4,043 21,151 <br />
Potatoes 3,079 3,052 2,040 2,246 2,704 2,474 15,595 <br />
Cabbages 1,695 1,335 1,019 1,072 1,237 1,162 7,520 <br />
Sukuma Wiki/Kale 1,552 1,608 878 870 1,101 969 6,978 <br />
Sweet Potato 165 117 115 84 92 113 685 <br />
Green Maize 40 56 89 77 119 88 469 <br />
Vegetables total 9,187 8,316 8,423 8,130 9,492 8,850 52,398 <br />
Total Products 14,173 12,181 12,163 11,410 13,112 12,544 75,583 <br />
<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2
Between June and November 2011; <br />
<br />
¥ Overall inflation hiked 36%, from 14.49% in June to 19.72% in November. <br />
¥ Retail volumes transacted during the period dropped by 13% (from 297,275MT to 260,026MT). <br />
¥ Retail values dropped by 11% from Ksh 14.2 billion to Ksh 12.5 billion <br />
<br />
Regional trend for vegetables (MT) <br />
Regions Jun‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐11 Sep‐11 Oct‐11 Nov‐11 Total <br />
Eastern 60,564 61,221 59,168 52,566 65,018 57,328 355,864 <br />
Nairobi 46,471 38,868 34,869 33,955 38,092 36,883 229,139 <br />
Nyanza 30,721 33,603 34,600 33,048 38,896 35,678 206,545 <br />
Coast 19,035 21,487 20,103 18,998 20,532 20,315 120,471 <br />
Central 18,796 18,274 19,186 18,000 19,048 16,743 110,046 <br />
Rift valley 13,569 15,300 15,224 14,830 15,984 14,028 88,935 <br />
Western 11,737 10,593 8,731 9,390 11,519 11,635 63,606 <br />
Total 200,892 199,347 191,881 180,787 209,090 192,610 1,174,608 <br />
<br />
Regional trend for fruits (MT) <br />
Total Products ‐ Absolute Volumes in MT <br />
Regions Jun‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐11 Sep‐11 Oct‐11 Nov‐11 Total <br />
Nairobi 36,130 25,914 19,709 16,195 20,400 19,698 138,047 <br />
Eastern 13,723 11,432 12,170 10,639 12,935 13,959 74,857 <br />
Central 16,307 12,642 9,903 8,347 8,490 8,624 64,312 <br />
Nyanza 10,232 10,537 9,943 8,862 10,407 9,543 59,523 <br />
Rift valley 10,266 9,702 8,016 7,383 7,377 7,624 50,368 <br />
Coast 8,073 8,703 7,926 5,264 4,812 6,278 41,055 <br />
Western 1,651 1,461 1,097 907 1,637 1,690 8,443 <br />
Total 96,382 80,390 68,764 57,597 66,056 67,415 436,605 <br />
<br />
Regional market overview sales volume (MT) <br />
Regions Jun‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐11 Sep‐11 Oct‐11 Nov‐11 Total <br />
Eastern 74,287 72,652 71,337 63,204 77,953 71,287 430,721 <br />
Nairobi 82,602 64,782 54,578 50,150 58,492 56,581 367,186 <br />
Nyanza 40,953 44,140 44,544 41,910 49,302 45,220 266,069 <br />
Central 35,103 30,916 29,089 26,346 27,538 25,366 174,358 <br />
Coast 27,107 30,190 28,029 24,263 25,344 26,593 161,526 <br />
Rift valley 23,835 25,002 23,240 22,213 23,361 21,653 139,304 <br />
Western 13,388 12,054 9,828 10,297 13,156 13,325 72,049 <br />
Total 297,275 279,737 260,646 238,383 275,146 260,026 1,611,213 <br />
<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 57<br />
KENYA HIGHLAND SEED INTRODUCES PRO<br />
CABBAGE VARIETIES……….<br />
AS THE LENGENDRY COPENHAGEN TASTE IS B<br />
FEATURES<br />
CABBAGE BLUE JAYS F1<br />
Uniform early maturing variety Glossy attractive head type<br />
� Very early maturing cabbage with the easy to cook glossy looking hea<br />
weight of 3kg.<br />
� The variety brings back the legendry Copenhagen taste and the lost sl<br />
� Adapted to both hot and cold regions, it mature in only 55 days in hot<br />
regions.<br />
� At a spacing of 45cm x 45cm, it gives a high profiting plant population<br />
20,000 plants /Acre, with potential of 150T/Ha or 60T/Acre. The conv<br />
plant population of 28,000 plants/Ha or 11,000 plants /Acre at a spac<br />
� Excellent transport quality<br />
� Sweet taste<br />
� Easy to grow<br />
� High market demand<br />
� Vigorous and uniformly growing variety<br />
Resistances:
TRODUCES PROFESSIONAL<br />
ETIES……….<br />
EN TASTE IS BACK WITH MORE<br />
URES<br />
Glossy attractive head type<br />
cook glossy looking heads of an average head<br />
agen taste and the lost slogan of Bachelors’ variety.<br />
ure in only 55 days in hot areas and 60 days in cold<br />
rofiting plant population of 50,000 plants/ Ha or<br />
a or 60T/Acre. The conventional varieties give<br />
00 plants /Acre at a spacing of 60cm x 60cm.<br />
58<br />
Regional market overview sales value (million Ksh) <br />
Region Jun‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐11 Sep‐11 Oct‐11 Nov‐11 Total <br />
Nairobi 4,031 2,833 2,735 2,528 2,881 2,695 17,703 <br />
Eastern 3,066 2,855 3,007 2,595 3,216 2,802 17,541 <br />
Nyanza 2,292 2,008 2,249 2,194 2,605 2,620 13,968 <br />
Coast 1,304 1,441 1,343 1,241 1,314 1,372 8,014 <br />
Central 1,625 1,336 1,191 1,135 1,136 1,059 7,482 <br />
Rift valley 1,159 1,143 1,018 1,060 1,109 1,127 6,616 <br />
Western 697 565 619 658 851 870 4,260 <br />
Total 14,173 12,181 12,163 11,410 13,112 12,544 75,583 <br />
<br />
<br />
Fruits market overview (Sales volume share) <br />
Type Jun‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐11 Sep‐11 Oct‐11 Nov‐11 <br />
Ripe Bananas 47.4% 51.3% 54.3% 59.2% 58.2% 54.7% <br />
Cooking Bananas 27.0% 25.2% 27.8% 31.2% 31.2% 30.3% <br />
Mangoes 23.7% 22.7% 16.4% 7.8% 9.0% 12.8% <br />
Passion Fruit 1.8% 0.8% 1.6% 1.9% 1.6% 2.2% <br />
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% <br />
<br />
Vegetables market overview (Sales volume share) <br />
Type Jun‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐11 Sep‐11 Oct‐11 Nov‐11 <br />
Cabbages 18.0% 17.8% 18.5% 16.2% 16.7% 18.3% <br />
Sukuma Wiki(Kales) 13.7% 15.3% 17.4% 17.4% 16.5% 17.7% <br />
Tomatoes 29.5% 30.9% 30.5% 29.9% 30.1% 31.1% <br />
Potatoes 33.2% 32.0% 29.6% 33.1% 33.2% 29.7% <br />
Sweet Potatoes 5.6% 3.9% 3.5% 3.0% 3.1% 2.7% <br />
Green Maize 0.0% 0.1% 0.4% 0.4% 0.5% 0.5% <br />
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% <br />
<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
Market overview sales volume by outlets type (MT) <br />
Outlets Jun‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐11 Sep‐11 Oct‐11 Nov‐11 Total <br />
Hawker 120,187 103,558 89,735 80,580 91,550 88,119 573,729 <br />
small duka 62,067 67,624 63,715 61,493 69,283 66,166 390,349 <br />
CABBAGE BLUE JAYS F1<br />
green grocer 56,492 51,125 51,875 47,817 55,759 52,354 315,422 <br />
Kiosk 49,677 47,849 44,772 39,513 47,602 43,282 272,695 <br />
Large duka 8,552 9,294 8,553 7,706 9,097 7,707 50,908 <br />
Self service 300 288 1,995 1,274 1,855 2,397 8,110 <br />
Total 297,275 279,737 260,646 238,383 275,146 260,026 1,611,213 <br />
<br />
Market overview sales value by outlets type (million Ksh) <br />
Outlets Jun‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐11 Sep‐11 Oct‐11 Nov‐11 Total <br />
Hawker 5,744 4,621 4,384 4,033 4,563 4,344 27,689 <br />
Small Duka 2,873 2,815 2,965 2,890 3,251 3,181 17,975 <br />
Green Grocer 2,654 2,139 2,096 2,125 2,486 2,339 13,839 <br />
Kiosk 2,500 2,183 2,228 1,927 2,301 2,184 13,322 <br />
Large Duka 384 406 367 358 382 331 2,228 <br />
Self Service 18 16 123 78 130 165 530 <br />
Total 14,173 12,181 12,163 11,410 13,112 12,544 75,583 <br />
<br />
By channels, dedicated hawkers (at open & enclosed air markets) drive the biggest volumes followed by <br />
small dukas and green grocers. Notable is the small contribution of supermarkets (Self‐service) to the <br />
category and indication that they serve a small population (percentage) in Kenya.Channel distribution <br />
are summarized as; <br />
a. Hawkers 573,729MT (36%) <br />
b. Small dukas 390,349MT (24%) <br />
c. Green grocer 315,422MT (20%) <br />
d. Kiosk 272,695MT (17%) <br />
e. Large duka 50,908MT (3%) <br />
f. Self‐service/supermarkets 8,110 (1%) <br />
<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 59<br />
KENYA HIGHLAND SEED INTRODUCES PRO<br />
CABBAGE VARIETIES……….<br />
AS THE LENGENDRY COPENHAGEN TASTE IS B<br />
FEATURES<br />
Uniform early maturing variety Glossy attractive head type<br />
� Very early maturing cabbage with the easy to cook glossy looking hea<br />
weight of 3kg.<br />
� The variety brings back the legendry Copenhagen taste and the lost sl<br />
� Adapted to both hot and cold regions, it mature in only 55 days in hot<br />
regions.<br />
� At a spacing of 45cm x 45cm, it gives a high profiting plant population<br />
20,000 plants /Acre, with potential of 150T/Ha or 60T/Acre. The conv<br />
plant population of 28,000 plants/Ha or 11,000 plants /Acre at a spac<br />
� Excellent transport quality<br />
� Sweet taste<br />
� Easy to grow<br />
� High market demand<br />
� Vigorous and uniformly growing variety<br />
Resistances:
TRODUCES PROFESSIONAL<br />
ETIES……….<br />
EN TASTE IS BACK WITH MORE<br />
URES<br />
Glossy attractive head type<br />
cook glossy looking heads of an average head<br />
agen taste and the lost slogan of Bachelors’ variety.<br />
ure in only 55 days in hot areas and 60 days in cold<br />
rofiting plant population of 50,000 plants/ Ha or<br />
a or 60T/Acre. The conventional varieties give<br />
00 plants /Acre at a spacing of 60cm x 60cm.<br />
60<br />
Hawkers (at open & enclosed air markets) Sales volume (MT) by commodity <br />
Type Jun‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐11 Sep‐11 Oct‐11 Nov‐11 Total <br />
Cooking Banana 9,841 6,645 5,287 4,624 5,795 5,605 37,797 <br />
Mangoes 13,120 10,242 5,802 2,687 3,814 5,098 40,763 <br />
Passion Fruit 752 308 600 597 700 948 3,905 <br />
Ripe Bananas 18,752 17,161 14,034 12,240 14,792 13,687 90,665 <br />
Cabbages 12,761 12,315 11,605 11,412 12,429 12,073 72,596 <br />
Sukuma Wiki(Kales) 10,846 10,544 10,654 10,340 11,166 10,875 64,424 <br />
Tomatoes 25,773 22,843 20,102 19,069 21,215 20,576 129,579 <br />
Potatoes 24,416 21,029 19,031 17,383 19,011 17,398 118,268 <br />
Sweet Potatoes 2,898 1,619 1,192 1,036 1,233 1,024 9,003 <br />
Green Maize 1,029 853 1,427 1,192 1,393 835 6,729 <br />
Total Products <br />
<br />
120,187 103,558 89,735 80,580 91,550 88,119 573,729 <br />
Small duka Sales volume (MT) by commodity <br />
Type Jun‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐11 Sep‐11 Oct‐11 Nov‐11 Total <br />
Cooking Bananas <br />
4,252 4,184 3,606 3,494 3,932 3,790 23,257 <br />
Mangoes <br />
2,021 1,688 1,075 402 431 1,058 6,675 <br />
Passion Fruit <br />
113 131 206 137 140 119 848 <br />
Ripe Bananas <br />
9,111 8,219 7,737 7,021 8,063 8,113 48,264 <br />
Cabbages <br />
9,362 9,805 9,545 9,611 10,405 10,086 58,814 <br />
Sukuma Wiki(Kales) <br />
6,178 6,933 6,920 6,555 7,516 7,432 41,534 <br />
Tomatoes <br />
14,911 16,616 14,753 15,115 16,686 14,838 92,919 <br />
Potatoes <br />
15,562 19,536 19,230 18,912 21,762 19,991 114,994 <br />
Sweet Potato <br />
556 206 245 25 115 404 1,551 <br />
Green Maize <br />
2 307 398 220 231 335 1,493 <br />
Total Products <br />
<br />
62,067 67,624 63,715 61,493 69,283 66,166 390,349 <br />
Green grocer Sales volume (MT) by commodity <br />
Type Jun‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐11 Sep‐11 Oct‐11 Nov‐11 Total <br />
Cooking Bananas 6,832 4,728 5,606 5,449 6,130 6,266 35,011 <br />
Mangoes 4,376 3,545 2,876 698 1,025 1,213 13,733 <br />
Passion Fruits 441 108 100 115 93 138 995 <br />
Ripe Bananas 8,483 6,975 7,424 7,104 7,698 6,974 44,658 <br />
Cabbages 6,069 5,249 4,872 6,146 7,448 6,908 36,691 <br />
Sukuma Wiki(Kales) 4,691 4,282 3,587 4,349 4,542 4,389 25,840 <br />
Tomatoes 12,730 11,536 9,382 10,180 11,710 11,417 66,955 <br />
Potatoes 12,766 14,550 17,820 13,643 16,822 14,707 90,308 <br />
Sweet Potato 71 54 0 0 0 66 190 <br />
Green Maize 32 101 207 134 290 277 1,040 <br />
Total Products 56,492 51,125 51,875 47,817 55,759 52,354 315,422 <br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2
<br />
Self‐service Sales volume (MT) by commodity <br />
Type Jun‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐11 Sep‐11 Oct‐11 Nov‐11 <br />
KENYA HIGHLAND SEED INTRODUCES PRO<br />
Total <br />
CABBAGE VARIETIES……….<br />
Cooking Bananas 16 17 180 105 157 228 703 <br />
Mangoes 21 22 104 98 84 148 477 <br />
CABBAGE BLUE JAYS F1<br />
Passion Fruit 7 5 29 21 25 64 151 <br />
Ripe Bananas 48 51 146 123 216 307 892 <br />
Cabbages 18 22 153 81 93 297 665 <br />
Sukuma Wiki(Kales) 19 20 427 256 396 478 1,596 <br />
Tomatoes 90 65 472 320 487 485 1,919 <br />
Potatoes 76 80 302 151 214 213 1,036 <br />
Sweet Potato 6 6 178 111 173 167 641 <br />
Green Maize 0 0 4 8 10 8 31 <br />
Total Products <br />
<br />
300 288 1,995 1,274 1,855 2,397 8,110 <br />
Average Pricing (Ksh/Kg) <br />
Type <br />
Jun‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐11 Sep‐11 Oct‐11 Nov‐11 <br />
Selling <br />
Price <br />
Selling <br />
Price <br />
Selling <br />
Price <br />
Purchase <br />
Price <br />
Selling <br />
Price <br />
Purchase <br />
Price <br />
Selling <br />
Price <br />
Purchase <br />
Price <br />
Cooking Bananas 49.5 45.9 50.2 39.8 49.9 37.9 48.6 38.8 48.8 <br />
Mangoes 61.8 56.3 69.2 103.3 114.9 80.6 104.9 57.5 70.2 <br />
Passion Purple 55.3 59.1 95.2 109.5 133.9 92.2 122.4 98.3 121.2 <br />
Passion Yellow 67.7 64.2 79.5 82.4 97.9 76.5 90.8 90.7 114.0 <br />
Ripe Bananas 47.7 45.3 51.0 40.8 51.0 37.4 48.7 40.7 51.9 <br />
Cabbages 45.5 36.4 28.8 23.8 32.1 24.5 33.3 23.5 32.6 <br />
Sukuma Wiki(Kales) 52.4 54.9 30.2 22.8 31.1 23.9 32.8 23.1 31.5 <br />
Tomatoes 40.4 33.9 76.0 56.9 68.0 54.6 67.2 54.8 67.6 <br />
Red Irish Potatoes 49.7 44.2 29.1 30.2 39.0 30.6 38.3 31.6 40.1 <br />
White Irish Potatoes 47.3 46.8 31.7 27.2 35.3 29.4 37.7 30.6 38.4 <br />
Orange Fresh Sweet Potatoes 93.0 54.4 74.2 54.4 71.3 58.1 73.1 52.5 59.4 <br />
White Fresh Sweet Potatoes 26.2 25.8 71.3 47.4 60.2 47.5 68.9 58.8 67.1 <br />
Local Variety Sweet Potatoes 42.7 66.2 69.8 50.4 76.4 28.6 41.6 49.4 70.3 <br />
Green Maize 32.8 41.5 39.4 33.0 44.2 36.5 48.1 39.9 51.6 <br />
<br />
On price per kilogram, apart from Sukuma Wiki that show eased average price nationally, all other <br />
vegetables recorded increased price with. Irish potato recording the highest price increase retailing at an <br />
average of Ksh 68/kg nationally. At regional level’s tomatoes were very expensive in Western going for <br />
Ksh 109/kg compared to Ksh 48/Kg in Central. Also cabbages and Sweet potatoes were highly priced in <br />
western region compared to all other regions. This could have been propelled by supply demand <br />
dynamics. <br />
AS THE LENGENDRY COPENHAGEN TASTE IS B<br />
FEATURES<br />
Uniform early maturing variety Glossy attractive head type<br />
� Very early maturing cabbage with the easy to cook glossy looking hea<br />
weight of 3kg.<br />
� The variety brings back the legendry Copenhagen taste and the lost sl<br />
� Adapted to both hot and cold regions, it mature in only 55 days in hot<br />
regions.<br />
� At a spacing of 45cm x 45cm, it gives a high profiting plant population<br />
20,000 plants /Acre, with potential of 150T/Ha or 60T/Acre. The conv<br />
plant population of 28,000 plants/Ha or 11,000 plants /Acre at a spac<br />
� Excellent transport quality<br />
� Sweet taste<br />
� Easy to grow<br />
� High market demand<br />
� Vigorous and uniformly growing variety<br />
Resistances:<br />
Selling <br />
Price <br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 61
TRODUCES PROFESSIONAL<br />
ETIES……….<br />
EN TASTE IS BACK WITH MORE<br />
URES<br />
Glossy attractive head type<br />
cook glossy looking heads of an average head<br />
agen taste and the lost slogan of Bachelors’ variety.<br />
ure in only 55 days in hot areas and 60 days in cold<br />
rofiting plant population of 50,000 plants/ Ha or<br />
a or 60T/Acre. The conventional varieties give<br />
00 plants /Acre at a spacing of 60cm x 60cm.<br />
62<br />
Overview of horticulral Exports 2011 <br />
Exports <strong>January</strong>‐October 2011 <br />
Month Type Quantity (Kgs) Value (Ksh) <br />
<strong>January</strong> Flowers 10,634,544 3,606,395,901 <br />
Fruits 2,199,115 227,838,279 <br />
Nuts 925,845 71,803,207 <br />
Processed Fruits 6,936,330 599,460,407 <br />
Processed vegetables 3,639,956 994,060,591 <br />
Vegetables 8,478,220 1,744,970,510 <br />
Total 32,814,010 7,244,528,895 <br />
<strong>February</strong> Flowers 11,547,096 4,217,722,187 <br />
Fruits 2,836,162 302,679,132 <br />
Nuts 1,109,294 61,383,844 <br />
Processed Fruits 8,019,445 706,203,965 <br />
Processed vegetables 3,565,351 872,272,443 <br />
Vegetables 8,048,792 1,658,228,701 <br />
Total 35,126,140 7,818,490,272 <br />
March Flowers 11,806,036 4,146,665,126 <br />
Fruits 5,423,196 479,580,598 <br />
Nuts 1,394,143 190,742,965 <br />
Processed Fruits 9,933,531 902,224,263 <br />
Processed vegetables 4,056,789 1,064,287,585 <br />
Vegetables 7,248,996 1,756,881,847 <br />
Total 39,862,691 8,540,382,384 <br />
April Flowers 10,909,415 3,639,721,378 <br />
Fruits 5,230,469 404,512,565 <br />
Nuts 644,320 277,060,934 <br />
Processed Fruits 7,707,060 656,516,819 <br />
Processed vegetables 3,681,378 962,441,248 <br />
Vegetables 5,732,744 1,635,823,896 <br />
Total 33,905,386 7,576,076,839 <br />
May Flowers 10,771,134 3,735,567,751 <br />
Fruits 5,166,894 304,511,600 <br />
Nuts 1,276,235 317,753,455 <br />
Processed Fruits 8,256,687 731,446,000 <br />
Processed vegetables 3,455,526 1,109,489,165 <br />
Vegetables 6,341,295 1,739,846,077 <br />
Total 35,267,771 7,938,614,048 <br />
Source:KNBS and compiled by KHCP <br />
<br />
<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2
June Flowers 9,324,582 3,239,485,117 <br />
Fruits 3,766,543 297,719,631 <br />
Nuts 1,660,745 464,046,594 <br />
Processed Fruits 8,400,055 795,334,774 <br />
Processed vegetables 3,206,013 961,277,920 <br />
Vegetables 5,648,074 1,799,959,575 <br />
Total 32,006,012 7,557,823,611 CABBAGE BLUE JAYS F1<br />
July Flowers 8,666,578 3,023,590,533 <br />
Fruits 2,585,879 315,165,005 <br />
Nuts 955,976 286,738,278 <br />
Processed Fruits 2,564,387 247,968,526 <br />
Processed vegetables 2,285,293 798,442,938 <br />
Vegetables 5,150,475 1,568,108,930 <br />
Total 22,208,588 6,240,014,210 <br />
August Flowers 8,891,769 3,075,077,262 <br />
Fruits 2,562,287 331,736,149 <br />
Nuts 1,733,053 309,079,934 <br />
Processed Fruits 1,885,696 175,197,447 <br />
Processed vegetables 3,450,406 926,784,362 <br />
Vegetables 9,427,633 1,752,326,718 <br />
Total 27,950,844 6,570,201,871 <br />
September Flowers 9,013,820 3,430,173,215 <br />
Fruits 1,529,817 193,449,981 <br />
Nuts 563,414 220,455,356 <br />
Processed Fruits 7,437,689 722,925,500 <br />
Processed vegetables 4,227,601 962,185,735 <br />
Vegetables 7,804,076 1,711,058,580 <br />
Total 30,576,417 7,240,248,368 <br />
October Flowers 10,206,156 4,455,157,714 <br />
Fruits 1,827,112 245,447,234 <br />
Nuts 932,455 266,479,511 <br />
Processed Fruits 5,382,520 581,572,529 <br />
Processed vegetables 3,464,806 1,039,917,578 <br />
Vegetables 11,080,860 2,306,496,342 <br />
Total 32,893,909 8,895,070,909 <br />
Grand Total Flowers 101,771,130 36,569,556,185 <br />
Fruits 33,127,474 3,102,640,175 <br />
Nuts 11,195,480 2,465,544,078 <br />
Processed Fruits 66,523,400 6,118,850,229 <br />
Processed vegetables 35,033,119 9,691,159,565 <br />
Vegetables 74,961,165 17,673,701,176 <br />
Total 322,611,768 75,621,451,408 <br />
<br />
Kenya Horticulture Competitiveness Project, Piedmont Plaza,<br />
Wing A, 3rd Floor, Ngong Road,<br />
P O Box 3074 - 00506, Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya<br />
H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2 63<br />
KENYA HIGHLAND SEED INTRODUCES PRO<br />
CABBAGE VARIETIES……….<br />
AS THE LENGENDRY COPENHAGEN TASTE IS B<br />
FEATURES<br />
Uniform early maturing variety Glossy attractive head type<br />
� Very early maturing cabbage with the easy to cook glossy looking hea<br />
weight of 3kg.<br />
� The variety brings back the legendry Copenhagen taste and the lost sl<br />
� Adapted to both hot and cold regions, it mature in only 55 days in hot<br />
regions.<br />
� At a spacing of 45cm x 45cm, it gives a high profiting plant population<br />
20,000 plants /Acre, with potential of 150T/Ha or 60T/Acre. The conv<br />
plant population of 28,000 plants/Ha or 11,000 plants /Acre at a spac<br />
� Excellent transport quality<br />
� Sweet taste<br />
� Easy to grow<br />
� High market demand<br />
� Vigorous and uniformly growing variety<br />
Resistances:
64<br />
THABITI 5 0% m etalic<br />
co p per Cupravit<br />
Cupravit<br />
Guarantee: Content: active ingr edient is 50% cpo per formulated as cpo per oxychloride (Tih bitisho) 50 WP<br />
Copper fungicide for control of Coffee Rust, and other diseases in vegetables.<br />
Dawa ya kuzuia chule buni na kutu kwa kahawa na maradhi mengine mbogamboga.<br />
Registrant: Bayer AG, Germany<br />
Manufacturer: Hamburg, Germany<br />
COMMERCIAL AN D AGRICU LTURAL CLASS (KIKUNDI C HA KILIMO NA BIASHAR A)<br />
READ THE ENTIRE LABEL BEFORE USING<br />
S OMA KIBANDIKO KABLA Y A KUTUMIA<br />
Date of Manufactur e: Batch No . :<br />
Shelf li fe ( i n origina l unopended container s ) : 3 years MAISHA RAFUN I POISON/ S UMU DANGER/HATARI KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN WEKA MBALI NA WATOTO H O R T I C U LT U R A L N E W S I j a n u a r y - F E B r u a r y 2 0 1 2<br />
50 WP<br />
Guarantee: Active ingredient is 50% copper formulated as copper oxychloride<br />
(Dhamana:chembe chembe hai ni asilimia 50 ya copper iliyoundwa kama copper oxychloride)<br />
Elgon’s CUPRAVIT 50 WP, a noble & effective fungicide against diseases in coffee,<br />
vegetables and horticultural crops. Confirms to FAO specifications. Not harmful to bees.<br />
REGISTRATIO N No . PCP B ( C R ) 0383 (Nambari ya usajili)<br />
Incase of emergency call Tol l Free No:00800720021 Or 0080073003 0 ( 24 Hr s)<br />
(Piga simu isiyo namalipo wakati wa shida :00800720021 Au 00800730030 (24 Hrs)<br />
Agent:<br />
Kijani Agencies Ltd<br />
®<br />
Ne t Weight 1KG<br />
Member of Agrochemicas l<br />
Association of Kenya<br />
Membersh ip No . AAK/128<br />
Distributed for Bayer EA<br />
Elg Kenya Ltd.<br />
by on<br />
P.O. Box 46826<br />
00100 GPO,<br />
Nai robi, Kenya Cupravit Guarante e:<br />
Conten t : activ e ingrei d en t is 50% coppe r formulated as coppe r oxychloride (Thibitisho) 50 WP<br />
COMMERCIAL AND AGRICULTURAL CLASS<br />
( KIKUNDI CHA KILIMO NA BIASHARA) Cop per fungicide for control of Coffee Rus t , and other diseases in vegetables. Dawa ya kuzuia chule buni na kut u kwa kahawa na maradhi mengine mbogamb oga.<br />
Registr ant:<br />
Baye r AG, Germany Manufacturer: Hambur g, Germany READ THE ENTIRE LABEL BEFORE USING<br />
SOMA KIBANDIKO KABLA YA KUTUMIA<br />
Date of Manufac ture: Bat ch No.:<br />
Shelf life (in original unopended conta iners): 3 years MAISH A RAFUN I POISON/ S UMU DANGER/HATARI<br />
K EEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN WEKA MBAL I NA WATOTO REGISTRATION No. PCP B ( C R) 0383 (Nambari ya usajili)<br />
Incase of emergen cy c all Toll Free No:00800720021 Or 00800730030 ( 24 Hrs)<br />
( Piga simu isi yon amalipo wakat i wa shid a :008007 20021A u 00800730030 (24 Hrs)<br />
Member of Agrochemicasl Association of Kenya Membership N o. AA K/128 Distributed fo r Bayer EA<br />
on enya Lt d.<br />
East Gate Road, Off Mombasa Road<br />
P.O. Box 46826 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.<br />
Tel: (020) 6534410 Fax: (020) 6534807. E-mail: info@elgonkenya.com<br />
Website: www.elgonkenya.com<br />
Agen t:<br />
Kijan i Agencie s Ltd<br />
®<br />
Net Weight<br />
1KG<br />
by Elg K<br />
P.O. Box 46826<br />
00100 GPO,<br />
Nairobi, Kenya<br />
Elgon’s CUPRAVIT 50 WP, ni dawa dhabiti ya magonjwa ya fuvu kwa kahawa,mboga<br />
na matunda.Inaambatana na maelezo ya shirika la chakula duniani (FAO).<br />
Elgon’s CUPRAVIT 50 WP, ni ‘’green copper’’ hurani ya kunina mirimu ya kahua ta ‘’leafrust’’<br />
na C.B.D,na ingi miingi mimeraini ya mboga na matunda<br />
Your Leader In Crop Protection<br />
®