Feedback: Here’s how to extract flour from Njahi

MAKING NUTRITIOUS FLOUR FROM NJAHI
Please let me know if Dolichos lablab (njahi) can be used to make flour? What’s the process and where can I get the milling machine?

Steven

Njahi can be ground into flour, but not the raw dry beans because they contain cyanogenic glucosides, which are poisonous and can cause vomiting, convulsions and unconsciousness.

Therefore, if you want to make flour from njahi, you have to first cook them for 30 minutes, then add sodium carbonate (2g per 100g of njahi) then cook them again for 30 minutes.

Drain the water and cool the beans by flooding them with cold water. After that soak the beans overnight. Then drain the water, remove the seed coats and then dry the beans to a moisture content of 13 per cent.

The njahi are now ready to be ground into flour. You can then sieve the flour.

The milling machine is available in China from Zhengzhou Gashili Machinery Company Limited, contact them through +86 158 9006 7264 or [email protected]

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

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CHELALANG BEANS

Please guide me on where I can get chelalang beans in Nyeri County.

Farmer

You can get the beans produced by Egerton at KFA Nyahururu.

Hezekiah Korir,

Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University.

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WILD ANIMALS DESTROYING MAIZE
I mainly grow maize for silage. My main challenge is wild animals, both at planting season when they dig out the seeds and at maturity before harvest. 

How can I protect the crops from wild pigs and porcupines?

Serah, Limuru

You can start by fencing your farm if it’s not fenced. You can also dig trenches or ditches around the farm so that the porcupines and pigs are kept at bay. You can also try setting traps.

Carol Mutua,

Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University.

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MELONS IN EMBAKASI
I want to plant watermelons in Embakasi East, Nairobi. Kindly advice.
Omulo

Watermelon is a warm season crop and requires long growing season of high temperatures. Good vegetative growth requires 18-32oC and the optimal temperature is 18-24oC.

Melons do better with adequate water supply. Within a growing season, at least 400mm of moisture will be required. Soil should be well-drained and with good water-holding capacity.

The pH should be 6.0-6.8. Melons can be grown successfully in sandy soils, where water supply is adequate. However, the best soils are sandy loam or silt loam.

Carol Mutua,

Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University.

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I WANT TO KEEP GOATS
I am in Syokimau and I intend to get into dairy goat farming. I have sourced for a market willing to take all I can produce. I’d like advise on the most suitable and most productive species for my region, their pros and cons, operating expenses and projected production.

I plan to begin with four goats.

Godwin Manyengo

The most common dairy goat breeds reared in Kenya are the Saanen, Toggenburg and Alpines, among others, and crosses between these breeds.

Under good management, the Toggenburgs can give up to five litres of milk per day, while Saanens up to seven litres. The advantages do not leave out the cross-breeds, they are highly adaptable and can do well under smallholder production systems, normally characterised by limiting resources, and still give reasonable amount of milk.

To start your project, set up a dairy goat barn from readily available resources to cut costs and think of various feed sources as goats are variety feeders unlike cows.

Generally, they must be provided with balanced class of nutrients in energy, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water. On a quick note, some energy sources include napier grass, Rhodes grass and molasses and protein sources are fodder trees, sweet potato vines, cotton seed cake and sunflower cake.

If you manage your goats well, they become productively efficient meaning you cut on costs. I assume the market will provide a modest price for your milk.  

Felix Akatch Opinya,

Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University.  

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WE WANT TO GROW STRAWBERRY
We would like to engage in agribusiness, in particular strawberry farming. We have been scouring the internet for information but most of what we are getting is generalised.

We, however, wish to know more about strawberry farming, in particular:-
What are the necessary conditions for growth? We are thinking of growing them either in Karen or Ngong.

Is irrigation necessary or would the forthcoming rains in October/November be adequate?

Strawberries require an altitude of 1,250-2,000m above sea level. They do well in areas with a temperature of 15-30 degrees Celcius and rainfall of 1,200mm. If rainfall is not enough, irrigation should be done to give the plants 25mm of water per week. Soils should be deep, well-drained, have good water-holding capacity, high in organic matter and a pH of 5.5-6.5. Strawberries can therefore do well in Nairobi.

Where can we get quality seedlings?

Strawberries are propagated from splits. Please contact Tony Weru of Alp Strawberries, Nairobi on 0727983131, among others.

What fertilisers and agro-chemicals should be used?

Apply manure during land preparation and do not use a fertiliser while planting as it will lead to dehydration of the splits. Some 30 days after planting, apply CAN at a rate of 10g/hole.

After two months apply NPK fertiliser at 10g/hole and repeat the application after every three months. Application of foliar feeds is also necessary, especially calcium, which is needed by the fruits and to prevent a physiological disorder known as blossom end rot.

Supply any other important information concerning strawberry farming would be useful.

M’Mbwiria, for Leviathan Solutions

Weeding should be done once a week for the first six to eight weeks. Mulching should also be done to conserve moisture, prevent growth of weeds and keep the fruits clean. Make sure that there are trees in the farm to protect the fruits from strong wind.

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

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WHERE TO GET COW MATTRESSES
I am a dairy farmer in Makueni and I am looking for where I can buy sleeping mats for my dairy cows.
Titus Kitonga

Milk production comes along with ideal animal comfort. Cow mattresses, dry hay and straws, saw dust all provide comfort for when used as bedding materials in the animal cubicles.

The underlying principle is that they remain clean, dry on a regular basis and disinfected when hygiene demands.

Cow mats are available in the wholesale agrovets in Makueni town. Alternatively, visit our stand at the Nairobi Show end of this month.

During this period, you will also get to learn a lot more on the new innovations Egerton University has prepared for you!

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