Cheese, insurance and seedlings: What you need to know

Making cheese

Where can I get some rennet, within or outside Nairobi? I want to make some cheese.

Renee Oyuo

Thank you for your interest in our magazine. With regards to cheese making, you can get rennet from Promaco Ltd in Nairobi and other bio-goods supply companies in Kenya.

Prof J. Matofari is a senior lecturer in the Department of Dairy Agriculture and Food Technology at Egerton University.

Email: [email protected]

Growing maize for fodder

Thank you for the commendable job Seeds of Gold. I am from a tea and coffee growing zone in Kirinyaga County. I have a parcel of land under nappier, but I want to grow fodder maize or sorghum.

Which fertiliser do I use for planting the maize bearing in mind that nappier is a heavy drainer of potassium? Which are the best early maturing maize and sorghum varieties that I can plant for fodder?

Peter Muriithi

Greetings, NPK fertiliser will supply nitrogen phosphorus and potassium that has been drained by the nappier. About the maize or sorghum varieties, pearl millet can also be a good source of fodder.

If you want maize for grain, Caddan, Macia and Sila varieties are suited for your agro-ecotype region.

Prof Paul Kimurto is a senior lecturer in the Department of Crops Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University

Email: [email protected]

Rabbit market

I am rabbit farmer in Eldoret and I wanted to get market for my stock. Where can I sell rabbits commercially?

Haji Shakim, Eldoret

Supermarkets in Eldoret buy directly from rabbit farmers. Contact Rabbit Republic for more details. Market for rabbits is very high and one can fetch over Shl,000.

Prof Paul Kimurto is a senior lecturer in the Department of Crops Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University

Email: [email protected]

Milk dispenser

Kindly tell me where I can purchase a milk ATM.

Fred Obimbo

You can get milk dispenser/ATM from Kenya Farmers Association or Kenya Cooperative Creameries outlets. If they don’t have, they can easily connect you with other suppliers.

Prof J. Matofari is a senior lecturer in the Department of Dairy Agriculture and Food Technology, Egerton University.

Email: [email protected]

Funding

Thank you a lot for the informative magazine. I am into poultry farming but I lack funds. Kindly, do you have contacts of anyone with financial help apart from Agricultural Finance Corporation or banks since I have no security?

John Gachie, Nakuru

We appreciate your question and interest in our magazine. Recently, a lot of microfinance institutions have emerged ready to fund farmers and other entrepreneurs. All you require is a business plan to access these funds.

I recommend you talk to SMEI 0726437028, a microfinance specifically for farmers, and you will be sure to get the information you are looking for.

Mr Martin Njoroge is a research assistant in the Division of Research and Extension, Egerton University

Email: [email protected]

Watermelon in Siaya

I would like information on the following. Is it possible to plant watermelon in Siaya County (Ugenya) and Kisumu County (Kibos)? Is the soil and climate in these areas best suited for the crop? Any relevant information would be highly appreciated?

Nick Oloo

Yes, watermelons can grow anywhere as long as the conditions are right. Organic fertiliser will do well for the melons. The plants will need adequate sunlight. If you’re planting the non-disease resistant varieties, never plant them in shady areas since it can lead to disastrous effects.

Aside from the land, you will also need to have a steady supply of water. Chlorinated water is not advisable and it’s best to use a well. These are just some of the things you need to address if you want to grow healthy fruits.

Prof Ogendo is a senior lecturer in the Department of Crops Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University

Email: [email protected]

Training, land and insurance

I have four questions. First, those who have interest in agribusiness and have no education in agriculture, where can we get short practical courses with or without certification?

Second, what is the right insurance for horticulture? Any recommendations?

Third, many youths don’t have access to land, and some land may not have water, so the best option is to lease, are there agents or companies you can recommend to go to for land leasing?

Lastly, market remains a huge challenge to farmers. Farmers earn more when brokers are out of the supply chain. Are there groups of farmers who market horticultural products local or international?

Janice Wambui Kamwaro, Ruiru

On your first question, Egerton University can organise targeted courses, which cover basic production in agriculture, value addition and marketing at some fee. This would be a three to five day course. We would encourage you to talk to as many people as possible to get a good quorum to reduce the cost of the training. Certification will be given.

Second: Since horticulture is of high value with good economic returns, any form of insurance from any company is good. Sometimes horticulture is produced under controlled environment such as green houses where risks are low, therefore, insurance is not recommended. Many farmers normally insure livestock and drought-prone crops such as wheat and maize.

Third: It is true that land is scarce, but potential areas for leasing are in the Rift Valley, Narok, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia. However, most of these lands don’t have good infrastructure, including irrigation, and may require more investment to put up infrastructure for optimal productivity. It would be prudent to negotiate more time to recover investment. Egerton University can contact large-scale farms around Nakuru for land leasing but may not guarantee costs and or leasing rates.

Fourth: It is true brokers exploit farmers after harvesting because at this time, most of them have used their money in farming. Farmers can form groups or cooperatives to market their products at better prices. We are aware of farmers’ groups that sell passion fruits and tomatoes locally. International markets are a bit challenging because of export regulations. Companies like Njoro Canning normally buy directly from farmers for export.

Prof Paul Kimurto is a senior lecturer in the Department of Crops Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University

Email: [email protected]

Debate on GMO controversy

Greetings good people,

Seeds of Gold is an excellent magazine; an idea whose time has come. I enjoy reading it, but I wish you refrain from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) controversy.

The pro-GMO article by Mary Muchunguh in the March 22 issue, for instance, stated that “…lack of knowledge and insight has made Africans wary of GMOs” as controversy rages in Europe, where opinion is that: 

i) Organic is healthier.

ii) GMOs risks to health and environment outweigh benefits.

iii)  Only the multinational biotech companies will benefit, dominating the world food supply and squeezing out traditional farmers.

The article also talks of “…GMOs being well-suited for the harsh African environment…” when we know that winter in say Wisconsin is unbearable for crops, livestock and humans.

Please note that GMO is a controversial topic that is full of contradictions, thus, it is easier to mislead readers.

Best regards,

Kariuki Kiragu

EDITOR: We greatly appreciate your feedback. At Seeds of Gold, we work with a team of experts from Egerton University and other institutions, who help us discuss various topics.

Avocado exporter

Hello, I am an avid reader of Seeds of Gold. It’s such an informative and educative magazine of our time. Kindly provide me with contacts of Mr Maina Karuiru, the avacado exporter.

He had indicated that he has an order of 5,000 Hass export avocado variety from farmers but he can’t meet it. I would like to partner with him since I have over 3,500 seedlings of the same ready for planting. Kindly link me with him.

Kenneth Ngoseywe

EDITOR: You can reach Mr Maina Karuiru on 0733780963

Furnish me with the addresses of the following: Dominic Wanjihia of Biogas International Karen, farmer MaryAnne Wairimu of Gad Eden GreenHouse and Nurseries. Kenya Livestock Producers Association.

Fam Mwachui, Mombasa County

Thanks for your informative magazine. It crowns my Saturdays. I was fascinated by Dominic Wanjihia’s innovation on bio gas. I have five cows, 15 sheep and 100 chickens. The dung from sheep and chicken droppings is collected by neighbours as manure. Please send his contact.

Kibugi Kiamunyi

Thank you for Seeds of Gold. I have just completed construction of my zero grazing units at my home in Chemese/Chemelil ward in Nandi County. I have 12 dairy cows. I wish to install a biogas plant, conventional type or otherwise to benefit from cow dung. Please connect me to Mr Dominic Wanjihia or any other person who can help me.

Moses.

I have learned a lot from Seeds of Gold. Thank you for the good work. I want you to connect me with Mr Dominic Wanjihia.  

Mwalimu Kinga

Nyeri

Please send me Mr Dominic Wanjihia’s contact as I am interested in gas brooders. 

Regards, Paul Njuguna

Thanks for your well-researched articles, particularly that on biogas production. I wish to have such a unit in Naivasha. Could you possibly send me the contact of Mr Dominic Wanjihia? 

Patrick Waicoya  

Hallo, Kindly assist me with the contact of Dominic Wanjihia and AquSan Group. I’m interested in installing a unit at home. 

Regards, Steve Auma

Hello, send me the contact of Mr Dominic Wanjihia, the biogas innovator?

Thanks, Godfrey Oduor

EDITOR: His contact is: Dominic Wanjihia 0772 700530 Email: [email protected]

Seedlings business

Dear Seeds of Gold, I’m impressed with the kind of information you give to farmers in your weekly pullout. I’m particularly interested in growing seedlings for sale. How I can get some training and how can I acquire the hygro-mix, which MaryAnne Wairimu is using to germinate seeds in Kiserian.

Ayub Were,

Nairobi.

EDITOR: Please reach MaryAnne Wairimu on 0725208611

Urban dairy farmers

Kindly provide me with details of the urban dairy farmers that featured in your magazine as I am trying something similar but with goats. I would like their advice on where they get their feed.

I would also appreciate if you could include the contacts of the brilliant staff of Egerton University in your next edition so that we may be able to contact them directly instead flooding you with emails.

EDITOR: Please contact Evelyn Situma for the story on urban farming, 0732718209

Watermelon farming

I am an avid reader of Seed of Gold. I got interested in Annie Nyaga’s outstanding performance with watermelons. Kindly give me her contact so that I can probably visit her farm and see the method of drip irrigation she has applied.

Thanks in advance.

Peter Kamau

EDITOR: You can reach Ms Annie Nyaga on 0708930979

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]