Getting the best harvest from your crops

What you need to know:

  • Mushroom production needs clean environment (aseptic condition), therefore, you need a certain structure before you start. Egerton University has such a structure, which I advise that you visit for practical experience of the right conditions you need for successful mushroom production.
  • Milk leakage is an indicator of impaired sphincter muscles of the teat. The pre-disposive factors for this condition are mastitis infection, teat injuries, poor handling and machine milking techniques.

MY TOMATOES ARE WITHERING
The leaves of my tomatoes are developing some whitish colour and eventually drying up. Please advice on how to manage the disease.
Farmer
Joseph

You have not described exhaustively the symptoms, especially the nature of the discolouration. I would advise you take pictures of the condition and send to us for identification. You may also bring samples to our institution or other agricultural laboratories for diagnosis.

That said, the scanty information you have offered would suggest that the crops have a fungal disease, for which you may quickly obtain advice from any agricultural chemical shop near you. They can identify the fungicide you need to use if you take a sample of infected tomato.

Peter Caleb and John Nganga,
Crops, Horticulture and Soils Department, Egerton University,
Njoro CampusEmails: [email protected]

I WANT TO GROW Irish POTATOES
I want to start commercial farming of Irish potatoes in Molo. Please advise on:
1. How much does one need to invest on one acre?

2. What are the challenges one must look out for before starting?

3. Are there any other crop one can plant given that potatoes take only three months?

4. What is the season to starting planting the crops.

David Onderi
 
You being in Molo town, I advise that you visit potato seeds office, it is near the post office. They will explain in detail. In addition, plan to visit us at Egerton University.

Peter Caleb, Horticultural crop scientist, Egerton University: [email protected]

MILK LEAKAGE

I am Gitonga from Karanene, Meru. I have a cow, which lets down milk freely before milking time. What can I do to it to prevent that huge loss? Some friends advised me to sell it. Please advice

Milk leakage is an indicator of impaired sphincter muscles of the teat. The pre-disposive factors for this condition are mastitis infection, teat injuries, poor handling and machine milking techniques. Cows with this condition not only lose the milk but are also highly susceptible to frequent mastitis infection. The best management for the condition is to adopt hygienic milking practices and if possible increase the number of milking per day. If the condition persists, I would also advice you sell the animal.
Musyoka Duncan Mbai,
Department of Animal Sciences,
Egerton University.
[email protected]


I WANT TO KEEP GOATS

I am considering buying and engaging in goat dairy farming, starting with a herd of 10 and increasing this number gradually before I retire. Kindly advise me on whether there is a ready market for goat milk. What are the challenges in this kind of venture and what would you advise?

A good enterprise you are venturing into since goat’s milk has much more benefits compared to cow’s milk. For milk marketing, it is unfortunate that you have not mentioned your area for best advice though, Nairobi has the highest demand and you can also email [email protected] for more details.

In addition, I advise you to consult your area’s livestock production office for market. Dairy goat farming is faced with little challenges but very manageable, mostly being management in terms of hygiene and routine pest and disease prevention measures.

Note that goats are more resistant to diseases compared to some other livestock species. They are easier to feed and earn one more income from stock and milk sales. Dairy goat farming also has a good future.

Opinya Felix, Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University

WHAT ARE HOPS?

Please tell me what hops are. And what part does it play in beer making plus where can one buy it?
Kahiu

Hops are also called seed cones and come from the plant Humulus Lupulus that is used primarily as a flavouring and stabilitising agent in beer.
They provide a bitter, tangy flavour, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine. Hops are used extensively in brewing due to their antibacterial effect that favours the activity of brewer’s yeast over less desirable micro-organisms and help to balance the sweetness of the malt with bitterness, contributing a variety of desirable flavours and aromas.

About 10 years ago, Egerton University collaborated with East African Breweries Limited to develop several varieties of hop. Beers like Pilsner use hop as part of ingredients together with barley malt, sugar, and corn starch.

John Nganga, Crops, Horticulture and Soils Department Egerton University, [email protected]

MY BRINJALS HAVE BEEN ATTACKED

I am a producer of brinjals for the export market, with half-an-acre under the produce. However, I am experiencing huge losses due to rejects as a result of the brinjals greening at the tip. I sought the help of Kephis, who carried out a soil analysis but did not provide any solution. The soil analysis did not indicate any anomaly.

Sometimes the fruit will start out deep purple and change to green. This might be an indicator that the fruit is over mature. If so, it will be bitter. I would suggest picking the fruit before it turns green. As a test, you might want to leave one of the fruits that have turned from purple to green on the plant to see if it turns back to purple. Harvest by cutting the stem of the fruit. The typical harvest time for eggplant is approximately 85 days from planting. Eggplants are often picked when smaller in size as long as they have the proper colouration. Picking the fruits when they are ripe helps to increase the yields. It’s not always a good idea to wait to see if they get any bigger. Picking the fruits as they mature will usually encourage more growth and more fruit to develop. Harvesting this way, you might have 10 to 12 fruits produced on a single plant during a season.
Peter Caleb, Horticultural crop Scientist, Egerton University: [email protected]

RABBIT KEEPING
I have been toying with the idea of keeping rabbits as a source of income and I have finally decided to do so starting small-scale before transferring the same principles to a larger farm in Nyeri. Is there an institution I can contact in Nairobi which would shed light on:1. Viability of the project in such space.2. Construction of the houses.3. Purchase of starter rabbits.
Cyrus Muriithi

Kindly visit Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Ngong Veterinary Farm for further inquiries on training of profitable rabbit keeping and Nairobi City County, environment office for further advice on keeping rabbits in residential areas.
Wangui, James Chege,

Department of Animal Sciences,
Egerton University.

MUSHROOM IN HOMABAY

I’d wish to know more about mushroom farming in Homabay, availability of market too.
Carol Otieno

Mushroom production needs clean environment (aseptic condition), therefore, you need a certain structure before you start. Egerton University has such a structure, which I advise that you visit for practical experience of the right conditions you need for successful mushroom production.

Additionally, production is good only if you are contracted to where market is available. It will be good for you to do a market survey in Homabay town, especially with hotels and hospitals to find markets.

Peter Caleb, Horticultural crop Scientist, Egerton University: [email protected]

Greenhouse at the coast
I own an acre in Likoni, Mombasa. I am planning to start a greenhouse and grow tomatoes, but was told due to the hot climate at the Coast and the salinity of the borehole water, I am doomed to fail. Please advice.
Fahmy Seif.

Greenhouse production may not be viable at the Coast due to high temperatures but you can still succeed if you can cool the conditions inside. However, you can do tomato production by harvesting rain water and conserving it to for irrigation purposes. You can also import soils in pots or do hydroponics. You can also grow saline tolerant crops like spinach cabbage and some species of watermelon.

Lilian Jeptanui-Egerton University
Crops Horticulture and Soil Department

BISCUITS MADE FROM CRICKET

Please pass the contact of Prof Monica Ayieko.
I would like to book time for training in cricket farming and breeding. How long does the training take and at how much?
Walter Apiyo

EDITOR: Talk to Prof Ayieko on 0733928310.

WHERE COWS LIVE ON FAST LANE

I am interested in buying a breeding bull from Technology Farm, whose mother produces 50 litres per day from an elite group. Would you please assist me get the contact of the concerned person from the farm.
Farmer

EDITOR: Reach David Cheruiyot, the manager at Technology Farm on 0722649617.

YELLOW MAIZE

Kindly pass me the contact details of Isaac Langat, the yellow maize farmer in Uasin Gishu County who you featured on July 19.
Maina

EDITOR: Contact the farmer on 0723782367.

FROM COMPUTERS TO GREENHOUSES

I got interested with what Maingi is doing. I am requesting if you could give me his contact so that I can consult him on farming issues, especially on green houses.
Lucy

I am highly impressed with the beautiful articles. I kindly request the contacts of John Maingi.
Mubarak Omar

EDITOR: Maingi is available on 0723348761.

PIG FARMER

Kindly assist me with the ‘msichana wa nguruwe’ contact. She is from Kahawa West whom you featured on the May 24.
David Kamau

EDITOR: Please contact Margaret on 0711254856.

METAL SILOS for MAIZE
Apart from the Nakuru Catholic Diocese, are the silos also available for sale in Homabay/Kisumu/Maseno Catholic dioceses? I would like to buy the one.
Farmer

Your article on the metal silos by CDN International, introduced by CIMMYT, was quite interesting and informative. I have been searching for the exact product all over the internet. Please pass me the contacts of CDN. 
Benson
EDITOR: Please talk to Muraya of Nakuru Catholic Diocese for further direction on 0722914860.

HASS AVOCADO
I need the contacts of Cyrus Nyakundi, the avocado farmer from Kisii.

Please assist me with contacts of Cyrus Nyakundi and Wilson Ombogi, who both featured last Saturday.
Wahome
EDITOR: Reach Nyakundi on 0725407226.
TREE FARMER
I would like to get in touch with the former army deputy commander. I am interested in tree farming.

EDITOR: The farmer is available on 0722846096.

ORNAMENTAL BIRDS
I came across an interesting article regarding poultry keeping in Utawala and I would like to do a follow up. Could there be a way I could get in touch with the owner of the farm?
Farmer
EDITOR: Talk to Kimani on 0728549677.

RABBIT URINE
I kindly request the contacts of Stanley Rono, the rabbit farmer from Bomet to assist me with information on how I can sell my rabbits’ urine.
Atambo, Molo

EDITOR: Please contact Runyenje, who buys rabbit urine on 0725600710 or farmer Rono on 0707743914.

GARLIC FARMER
I request the contacts of the garlic seeds farmer so that I can buy the seeds from him as I am interested in garlic farming.
Daniel Mwangi
EDITOR: Please talk to the farmer on 0729829532.

STRAWBERRY
I am Priscilla Mweru. I want the contact of strawberry farmer George Muturi. I am a small-scale strawberry farmer and I am interested in improving my farming techniques so that my plants may produce well.

EDITOR: Talk to Muturi on 0723213185.

FLECKVIEH BREED
I have developed great interest in livestock (dairy) keeping. I would like to get in touch with Basseling.
Benson Kirui

EDITOR: Please reach Besseling’s Genetics East Africa Limited on 0712095555.