Indigenous vegetables contribute a great deal to our immune system hence the need for farmers to intensify the rate at which they are involved in growing them. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an adult should eat daily 400 grammes of vegetables. However, insufficient access to market and seasonal fluctuation of available vegetable makes […]
fOR many years, farmers in Kenya’s lower Ukambani region would be disadavantaged around the months of July and August because of crop failures. But no amount of loss would stop them from continuing to grow maize and beans every other season, holding onto traditional beliefs about other crops. “Most smallholder farmers insisted on growing maize
Beans is also an important crop in the region, being a valuable source of protein for human consumption. The most popular bean varieties are of the speckled sugar bean type. Beans are particularly susceptible to a wide range of diseases, and seed breeding activity has placed emphasis on developing sugar bean varieties that have resistance
French beans which may otherwise be known as string, snap or dwarf beans are grown all year round in frost free areas. Yields are maximized when temperatures lie between 15 – 28°C and some pollination problems may occur if temperatures fall to 4°C or go above 35°C. Soils Deep, well drained soils are preferred with
Pumpkin, considered a vegetable, is actually a fruit, with the nutrition of a vegetable. Farming pumpkins is common in many countries, with China being the number one producer, followed by India. The leaves of the pumpkin are cooked as a vegetable in many cultures, with the seeds being considered as a super food, due to
Sporting dreadlocks and dressed in a red T-shirt and black trouser, Michael Macharia is not your typical farmer. The 28-year-old juggles onion farming with deejaying with ease, engaging in both of the trades successfully for the past three years. “I started onion farming as a side hustle, I grow the crop on six acres in
Sorting and grading of fruits and vegetables are essential for selling the products at a reasonable price. In this article, we’ll know some basic terms of sorting and grading. So, let’s go for it. Sorting of Fruits and Vegetables Separating the different types of fruits from fruit lot is called sorting. It depends on Damage
Haphazard pesticide use is still rampant in the country despite the obvious risks it poses to human health and the environment. The use of chemicals is in part due to need to feed the escalating global population and development of resistance by pests. A good substitute to chemical use is the integrated pest management (IPM),
The Covid-19 pandemic struck at a time when farmers were struggling with the locust menace. The outbreak of the disease in March also marked the onset of the planting season, a time when farmers are busy on the farm. Although Covid-19 impact on farming has been indirect, the disease has had several socio-economic effects. Assessing
