Feedback: Where to look for best seeds, market

FRENCH BEAN SEEDS

I am looking for green bean seeds to plant on two acres at Ol-Kalou in Nyandarua County.

Where can I get them?
Stanley Mathenge

Green bean seeds (French beans) are available from Kenya Seed Company, Amiran Kenya Ltd, Royal seeds and other certified companies.

Carol Mutua,
Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University.

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ALL THE BURNING QUERIES ON ONIONS

My name is Mwambi and I have a two-acre farm in Joska (just after Kamulu) and I am interested in planting onions on one acre. I want to: i) Know how I can go about it

Propagation and planting: Onions are propagated sexually by use of seeds or asexually through sets. Where seeds are used, they may be established directly in the main field or started in a nursery and later transplanted when seedlings are pencil thick to the main field at a spacing of 30cmx10cm. Where established directly, thinning has to be done when the plant establishes. Transplanting eliminates the need for thinning but the method is very tedious.

Seed rate: 142g/acre. The use of sets allows for production of earlier green onion. Sets are planted at 2.5cm–5cm apart for green onions or 8-10cm apart for bulbs.

Fertiliser: Around eight tonne/acre of well-decomposed organic matter before planting. 80kg/acre DSP at transplanting. This is very important because onions are very sensitive to phosphorus deficiency. 121kg/acre CAN when plants start growing after transplanting to encourage early vegetative growth, which may be applied in two splits.

Irrigation: Only done when the crop is grown under insufficient rainfall. If practised, irrigation should be stopped 2-3 weeks before harvesting to give the bulbs time to cure.

Weeding: Should be done regularly to remove weeds within and between rows. As bulbs form, avoid earthing up otherwise moist conditions may encourage rotting of the bulbs or development of thick necks. Instead of earthing up, dearth to encourage expansion of bulbs.

Harvesting: Bulbs mature from 140 days depending on cultivar and weather conditions. Bend the necks as soon as tips of leaves begin to turn yellow or when around 10 per cent of crop is dry and leave the crop to dry for 14-21 days before harvesting (digging bulbs up). This treatment makes bulbs to have a smooth closure and minimises thick necks. After harvesting, bulbs should be cured before storage.

Curing: Involves removal of the tops and then covering the bulbs to protect them from excessive heat from the sun or any form of moisture. Tops are cut off by hand, shears or knife leaving 1-2.5cm of dried tops attached to the bulb, otherwise the bulb will decay. Very dry conditions during curing will dehydrate the bulbs while very humid environment encourages fungal growth. Cool slightly humid conditions are ideal for curing. While in this environment, roots should be cut to 1cm and the bulbs left in this environment for 2-3 weeks depending on the weather. The cool environment will encourage toughening of the scaly leaves to be able to protect the inner flesh. Field curing may also be done where after bending the tops, the bulbs are uprooted and spread on the ground so long as there is no excess sun. After curing, it is recommended to pack the bulbs in open ventilated boxes/nets and store them in a cool dry environment with good ventilation.

ii. Where can I buy the seeds?

Seeds are available from firms like Kenya Seed Company, Amiran Kenya Ltd, Royal Seed, Simlaw Seeds and others that are certified.

iii. Can I be linked with potential market?

You cannot lack market for onions in groceries, hotels, and open air markets or when the onions are ready, you can advertise in the buyers and sellers column in Seeds of Gold.

Carol Mutua,
Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University

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GROWING BANANAS IN MAU-NAROK

I want to venture into farming in an area between Egerton University and Mau-Narok. Please guide me on the crops that can best be grown there and if possible the best month of the year I can do it and finally, can I grow tissue culture bananas there?

Wildfred Mose

Cabbages, potatoes, garden peas, carrots, sukuma wiki, spinach, beetroot, garlic, rosemary, mint, onions and tomatoes can do well. The best time to plant is during the rainy season unless you have a water source for irrigating the crops. Tissue culture bananas can do well too.

Carol Mutua,
Department of Crops, Horticulture, and Soils, Egerton University.

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I WANT TO KEEP PIGS

My name is Samuel Mugutsu from Vihiga County and I’m really interested in pig farming. I am looking for experts advice on the best pig breed to keep in terms of disease resistance, weight gain and feeding.

Knowing your target product (whether piglets for future breeding or pork), market and resources required are building blocks for successful pig rearing business.

Once you have identified them, direct your initial investment towards the breed, housing and feeds. Generally, select breeds that are fast-maturing, disease resistant and give better pork quality.

Common breeds known to thrive well in the Kenyan setting are Landrace known for good maternal instincts and more farrows, Large White that are well-built and strong and the Duroc, which grows very fast and put on weight fast thus heavy.

Feeding accounts for about 70 per cent of the total cost and poses the biggest challenge on quality and cost. Nutritional needs of pigs vary with age, weight, and stage of production. Include all nutritional requirements in the diet.

There are a wide range of ingredients like maize bran, wheat pollard, maize germ, soya, sunflower or cotton seed cake, pre-mixed vitamins, mineral supplements and water.

Things like potato vines and peels, and other leafy foods, should be sun dried to get rid of toxins – avoid kitchen leftovers.

You can cook pig food and/or chop them up to better digestibility. There is a stereotype that pigs are dirty animals; clean houses should take care of their comfort and to a great extent, health or disease control.

Seek for a vet’s attention as soon as you notice a sick pig. Remember, a pig farmer’s worst fear is African swine fever.

This acute contagious viral disease has no vaccine or cures and can wipe out the whole farm. Control entry into the farm with proper biosecurity measures.

Better management and organisation will help achieve at least two farrowings a year.

Felix Akatch Opinya,
Department of Animal Science, Egerton University.