Feedback: From carbon credits to red pepper, there is a market

Cucumber, and red pepper

I am an avid reader of Seeds of Gold.  I want to start growing cucumbers, garlic and red pepper. Where does one get quality seeds for these crops? How does one ensure they get a bountiful harvest?

C. Njeri, Nakuru

Thank you for your interest in the Seeds of Gold magazine.  Seeds for cucumber garlic and red pepper can be easily found in the market.

In Nakuru, go to Meyer Ltd, Menengai Agro-Vet or Kenya Seed stockists. To have a bountiful harvest, the crops have to have some form of protection such as a greenhouse (Nakuru is cold), adequate fertiliser and water.

If they are attacked by some pest or disease, it is recommended that you carry the affected part of the plant to an agrovet, who will advise you on the correct herbicide. Building knowledge and skills on this can give you adequate hands on training.

Prof Richard Mulwa is an expert in horticulture at Egerton University

[email protected]

Fruit Farming

I have land in Kisii and I would want to start growing fruits. What does it take to engage in the farming? Is it beneficial? What kind of fruits can one grow?

Petro Mose

Kisii is a fairly hot region; you can grow several fruits there such as grafted mangoes, avocados, melons and passion. Fruits have high demand in the market thus pay well. Please seek more advice from Kenya Agricultural Research Institute station in Kisii, Ministry of Agriculture or from the Department of Horticulture at Egerton University.

Prof Richard Mulwa

[email protected] 

Hydroponics

Thank you for the informative news on agribusiness. How do I engage in hydroponic technology? Can it be used in planting any crop?

Benson Indakwa

Hydroponics is an interesting but highly-technical and expensive investment. This requires that you obtain some training. I advise that you find time to come to Egerton for face-to-face sessions where we can discuss the options with you better.

Prof Richard Mulwa

Poultry

I would wish to engage in poultry farming in Mihango, Embakasi. I am only armed with the love for birds and no professional guidance. Should I rear layers or broilers? Please advise on any other information, including capital and how one can keep the birds for commercial purposes.

Esther Akinyi Okech

We appreciate your interest in poultry. When it comes to broilers or layers, you can rear either or both. All you need is good housing, knowledge of hygiene and source of feeds. The day-old chicks are available from Kenchic and other certified agrovet dealers.

Most microfinance institutions will offer financial support. They will, however, need a business plan for you to qualify for support. Visit the local livestock office at Nyayo House or Hill Plaza, Upperhill.

Prof Bockline Omedo Bebe is an expert on Livestock Production Systems at Egerton University.; [email protected]

Milk business

Seeds of Gold opens peoples’ eyes and shows them where the opportunity is. Please assist me to start a milk business. I have a little capital and a partner. What are the pros and cons of venturing into this kind of business?

I would also appreciate insights on how to operate the business even when I am away since I am a student. My other issue is how to get market for the milk. I will greatly appreciate your help.

Wachera, Juja

I presume you are interested in milk sourced from farmers then processed or sold raw. If that is your interest, you have to visit your area’s Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) office for licence. They will advise on the requirements.

Next, identify source of milk farms and talk to farmers to agree on delivery issues. Then shop for a premise and ensure it meets the requirements of KDB, the health authorities and the county government legislation.

Market for raw milk and its products that include mala, yoghurt and milk shake is ready and abundant. Other products require knowledge of the niche market. I advise you to visit local livestock extension office for a discussion on establishing milk business.

Prof B Omedo Bebe is a Deputy Director of Extension and Outreach at Egerton University

[email protected] 

[email protected]

Carbon projects

Thank you for the informative magazine. We are in Thika and currently have 90 acres under mature eucalyptus. However, it has become hard to sell the logs. Please advise on where one can sell the product and how one can earn carbon credits on the project.

Nelson Mukuna  Thika

There several companies which buy quality eucalyptus poles. They include Timsales Kenya Ltd. Tea factories also buy eucalyptus wood for curing tea.

However, to advise you precisely, we need to know the dimensions of the timber crop in terms of diametre and height and the straightness of the pole in order to determine the right market for the product.

This will assist in determining the volume and hence pricing. As for earning carbon credits, as an individual it is a bit tricky considering the process to be followed to register with the Clean Development Mechanism and the aerial cover of your project.

How are carbon credits created?

The carbon market can be divided into two: The voluntary market and the regulatory (compliance) market.

In the compliance market, carbon credits are generated by   projects that operate under one of the approved mechanisms of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. One such project would be the Clean Development Mechanism.

Credits generated under this mechanism are known as Certified Emissions Reductions. In the voluntary market, carbon credits are generated by projects that are accredited to independent international standards such as the Verified Carbon.

These credits are known as Verified Emission Reductions. Carbon trade exchange supports the trading of both voluntary and compliance credits. It is important to note that carbon credits differ from carbon allowances although the former is interchangeably used to represent both.

However, in most cases, they both represent a tonne of carbon dioxide. Equivalent allowances do not originate from carbon projects but are allocated to companies under a ‘cap and trade’ system such as the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme. Therefore, they represent the right to emit.

What are the different types of carbon projects?

Carbon credits can be generated from various types of projects including:

Renewable energy: A switch from fossil fuels to a ‘clean’ energy like wind and solar energy

Forestation and afforestation: The planting of new trees for forest regeneration

Energy efficiency: Reducing emissions through an increase in energy efficiency

Methane capture: Avoiding methane emissions through capture and burning to create energy

How are carbon credits issued?

All projects must be certified, verified and registered to ensure that actual emission reductions take place before the credits are issued thus providing a secure and transparent environment for carbon trading. The process of getting credits issued varies depending on the credit type.

However, below is a very general overview of the process a project developer needs to follow before credits can be issued:

1. The selection of an approved methodology which quantifies benefits of a project
2. The development of a Project Design Document (PDD), which describes the whole project in detail, including the project crediting period
3. An independent auditor reviews the PDD and validates the project
4. The project is monitored to ensure reductions are occurring
5. The monitoring reports are verified by an independent auditor
6. The project gets credits issued into an appropriate registry account

Dr Gilbert Obweyere is a Senior Lecturer, Natural Resources at Egerton University

[email protected]

[email protected]

Passion Fruit farming

I am a young farmer who is deeply interested in planting passion fruits. Please advise me on how I can engage in the business.

Kibet

If you want to have a farm on a flat ground, use posts spaced six metres apart. Connect the posts with wire so that you can support the plants along the wire using a sisal twine. This will allow the tertiary branches bearing fruits to hang on the wires.

This is necessary to expose the plants to sunlight for photosynthesis and pollination. Grafting is necessary to get a root stock resistant to soil borne pests and diseases.

Yellow passion fruit is the most-preferred root stock for its high resistance to soil-borne diseases. We help in training on passion fruit production. Short and long-term courses are available.

For more information please contact Peter Caleb Otieno [email protected]

Mr Otieno is a Senior Technologist in Horticulture at Egerton University.

Watermelons

Thank you so much for the good work. Seeds of Gold magazine warms my Saturdays. I was impressed with what Ms Annie Nyaga does in Mbeere with watermelons. The project is amazing. Please give me her contact. I wish to visit her farm.

Japheth Odera

Hi, I was really inspired by Ms Annie Nyaga’s story. Kindly assist me with her number as I would like to visit her farm.

Regards, Caroline

I am so grateful for the informative magazine. I have a piece of land in Machakos and I would wish to engage in watermelon farming. Can you please help me get in touch with Ms Annie Nyaga from Mbeere.

Faith Musau

EDITOR: For the story on water melons, please talk to Njoki Chege on 0721724700.

Fruit farming

Thanks for the informative farming magazine. Please provide me with contacts of Rueben Matthews - ‘The jack of all fruits’.

Also, provide me contacts of Ms Annie Nyaga, the watermelons farmer. I have a big farm in Makutano, Embu-Nyeri Road. I would wish to get advice from those two.

Wahome

I am Petro Mose from Kisii. I was deeply encouraged by the work of Rueben Matthews. Please help me get in touch with him.

Thanks

I read the article on Rueben Matthews’ farm in Kiserian. Kindly provide me with his mobile number or email address.

Dr George Kariithi

While reading about Rueben Matthews, I learnt that he is a water engineer. Please give me his contacts, I am in the process of drilling a borehole for farming and I need his services.

Alex

EDITOR: Please talk to Vincent Achuka on 0721689996 to reach Mr Matthews

I have tried to get in touch with Dr Mary Muchunguh through her email given in the Seeds of Gold magazine but I am yet to get a response. Please give me another contact.

Esther Wanjiru

Please Dr Muchungu assist me with details on acquiring the kuroiler chicken. I already have a good number of indigenous birds. I want to go commercial. I cannot access you via [email protected]

Dr Muchungu can be reached on [email protected]

Thanks a lot for the good work. I believe Seeds of Good is changing lives. Keep it up! I have only managed to get two issues of the magazine so far, that is for March 22 and March 8.

I would like to know whether I can be able to get the rest of the issues. Secondly, kindly link me with the following farmers: Two young farmers making money from soil-less agriculture in Kasarani (March 8, issue).

Rueben Matthews, the fruit farmer from Kiserian and Ann Nyaga, the watermelons farmer from Mbeere, Embu County.

Arthur

EDITOR: For the fruit farmer of Kasarani, you can reach Evelyne Situma on 0732718209.

For past copies of Seeds of Gold, contact any Nation Media Group office near you.

See above details for the other contacts.

Hydroponics farmers

Please help me get in touch with hydroponics farmers so that I can learn from them.

Kind regards

Eng. Nsenga Kalolelo

Dear Sir/Madam,

Could you kindly give me the contacts of farmers using hydroponic technology in Mwiki?

David

Hi, please link me with Mr Peter Wakusev. I need to visit his farm to buy some turkeys.

Collins

I had requested for information on rabbit farming, and I wish to thank you for your response. You also gave me the email address for Dr Ambula of Egerton University, but unfortunately, I am getting a mail delivery notification. Please, do you have any other contacts?

Ann

Please assist me with the contact of Profarm Agribusiness Limited. I need to get in touch with them based on the article in a recent issue of Seeds of Gold. I have an interest in agribusiness and would like to have a session with them so that I can be trained on drip irrigation, poultry keeping and dairy farming.

Joyce

I was particularly impressed by sack farming you featured last week. Could you please link me up with the farmers?

Johnnie, Nyeri

Please talk to Vincent Achuka on 0721689996I am Felix Gabriel, a third-year student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. I have comprehensively read Seeds of Gold. I am willing to venture keep the birds. Kindly assist me with contacts of anyone who can help.

Dr Muchungu can be reached on [email protected]

Ask the experts
Do you have any question or enquiry on agribusiness, marketing, logistics, processing, innovation, and technology? Our pool of experts from Egerton University will respond to your questions with proper advice. Please send your questions to: [email protected]