MAY/JUNE ISSUE - 2019 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF KENYA www.ask.co.ke Volume: 200 Ksh 150/= On the inside → Gains of passion fruit farming → Shift to horticulture Improved → Disruptive agricultural technology Finger Millet Variety May/June 2019 Issue Contents 5 | Editor 6 | Patrons’ Take 14 | Gains of passion fruit farming 8 | NC & CEO 15 | Asparagus Messages 17 | Tea tree farming gaining popularity in Nanyuki 13 | Events 2019 18 | Drone technology assist farmers in Meru 22 | Farmers in Tharaka Nithi shifting Common Nightshade Nyota F.1 from bananas to horticulture farming 26 | Rejuvenating vital sectors in rural 16 | Dairy project launched in Meru economies 28 | Smart crops cussion farmers against being food insecure 32 | Researchers promise farmers improved finger millet variety Gloria F.1 34 | Sand dams gurantee machakos farmers Watermelon water and food Sugar Belle F.1 36 | Disruptive agricultural technology 30 | Laikipia farmers 38 | Scientist discover doubling their yields new remendy for fall Red Nice F.1 of armyworms Tel: 020 2215066/97/83, info@siml2 Kenyaaw. Farmerco.ke • May/JuneMobile: Issue 0722 200545, P.O Box 40042-00100 Kenya Farmer • May/June Issue 3 www.simlaw.co.ke 0734 811 861. 020 2602191/93. Nairobi. PATRON H.E. President Hon. Uhuru Welcome Kenyatta, CGH DEPUTY PATRON H.E. Deputy President Hon. to issue 200 William Ruto, EGH FIRST VICE PATRON Hon. Mwangi Kiunjuri, EGH COUNTY PATRONS County Governors SOCIETY CHAIRMAN Mrs. Annabel Kiriinya DEPUTY CHAIRMEN Mr. Jackson Tuwei Ms. Edith Onzere Mr. Charles Owelle Changing Weather and Climate Patterns: LEGAL ADVISOR Dr. Kennedy Omanga Blessing or Curse for Agriculture CHIEF EXECUTIVE Mr. Batram Muthoka EDITORIAL BOARD Mr. Joseph Mugo he rains are here with us after a period of CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD Mary Kiio, Lawrence Matolo, lack of rainfall in many parts of the country Dr. Karl Nyakundi in the earlier part of the year. In some T EDITORIAL BOARD Juliet Wamiri areas,farmers had started lamenting that the rains SECRETARY were not predictable anymore and hence making it NAIROBI BRANCH Mr. Joseph Mugo difficult to prepare adequately for the crops to plant. CHAIRMAN Livestock keepers were also concerned about the COAST BRANCH Anisa Abdallah CHAIRMAN decreasing pasture due to the dry season. NAKURU, CENTRAL RIFT Margaret Anami The changes in weather patterns and climate is BRANCH CHAIRMAN something that cannot be ignored and it is important CHAIRMAN KISUMU Mr. Caleb Oguya REGIONAL SHOW for all in the agricultural sector to concertedly, ELDORET BRANCH Mr. Ratcliffe Nangalama draw their effortsto come up with solutions. When CHAIRMAN predictions are made of expectations of lower CENTRAL KENYA Mr. John Kibira or higher amounts of rainfall over a season it is CHAIRMAN important that agricultural and meteorological NORTH RIFT Mr. Fredrick Tarus CHAIRMAN scientists provide advisories to farmers, livestock Joseph W. Mugo MT. KENYA Mr. Francis Gitonga keepers and fisher folk to plan appropriately. This Editorial Board Chairman CHAIRMAN would go a long way towards ensuring that they are SOUTHERN KENYA Mr. Julius Bosire adapting effectively to the changing climate patterns value of investment. All these and many more storiesare CHAIRMAN aimed at dealing with the innovative changes occurring WESTERN KENYA Mr. Ludovicus Okitoi and in the process resilient in ensuring, we have food CHAIRMAN security all year round. in the agricultural sector in light of changing weather and EASTERN KENYA Mr. John Mukundi In this issue, the writers have gone the extra mile climate patterns. AG CHAIRMAN to ensure they provide you with tips on how you As we continue our commitment to you to bring NORTHERN KENYA Mr. Stanley Mukaria can ensure that the crops you grow can be utilized these enlightening stories , I can’t help but to pause and CHAIRMAN in various stages to ensure you enjoy the benefits of remember our colleague and brother the Late Antony SOUTH EASTERN KENYA Mr. John Nzala CHAIRMAN value addition. In addition, there is a story of what Ngare, whose commitment to the editorial board over the KABARNET CHAIRMAN Mr. Silverno Cheptarus scientists are doing towards addressing some of the past 12 years has helped in shaping the journal as you see NORTH EASTERN KENYA Ambassador Mohamud Ali challenges experienced by farmers when dealing with it today. Check out the special tribute we have of him on CHAIRMAN Saleh page 7. We will miss you. However we shall soldier on to various pests that pose a threat to their agricultural SOUTH WESTERN KENYA Mr. George Omune productivity. There is also a story that embodies the ensure we keep this journal as fresh and interesting in line CHAIRMAN strength of bringing farmers together and finding with your passion for it. KENYA PLOUGHING Mr. Richard Aiyabei ORGANISATION homegrown solutions that can help them ensure We look forward to receiving your feedback on this they not only keep the nation fed but also see the journal. YFCK CHAIRMAN Mr. Peter Mutuuri Happy reading. ADVERTISING Kenya Farmer Journal is published by the Agricultural Society of Kenya. All rights reserved. No part of this Juliet Wamiri Karung’o journal may be used or reproduced without the written Marketing and Publicity Manager permission of the publisher. The registered office of Cell: +254-722-621-588 Email: [email protected] Kenya Farmer Journal is at the Agricultural Society of The Agricultural Society of Kenya Kenya, Jamhuri Park. All information contained in this P. O. Box 30176 - 00100 Nairobi - KENYA journal is for information only. Views expressed in the Telephone : 020-807080/9 journal are those of the authors and do not reflect those MARKETING EXECUTIVE Website: www.ask.co.ke of the Society or its employees. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Subscriptions +254 28070809, +254 704583850, +25 738345333 DESIGN & LAYOUT Jomac Media Ent. 4 5 Kenya Farmer • May/June Issue Cell: +254-721-715-914 Kenya Farmer • May/June Issue Email:[email protected] Patrons’ Take Tribute to a True Friend from the Kenya Farmer Journal “We must adopt science and technology to achieve inclusive agricultural growth, or over 10 years we met must be like being the father of girls- nutrition and food security in the country. Food security remains a priority in our every two months early it’s never easy for fathers to say no Fin the morning to work on especially to their young daughters. development agenda, and to this end, we must make deliberate efforts to boost the magazine we loved – the Kenya You lovingly shared the pictures of Farmer Journal. We spent time writing, them and your face would light up as growth in the agricultural sector by addressing the major challenges facing the rewriting and deleting, headlining; what you scrolled through your phone. But a word master and coiner you were. when the day of the meeting would sector.” At this point words, statements, take place, you would give the meeting sentences fail us as we write this your all and your energy would spur Patron, tribute to you Tony Ngare. May be this the team on and we would finish our Agricultural Society of Kenya writing will immortalize you brother, editorial meeting in time and meet our the words, and we want to get it just deadline. H.E. Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, CGH right as we remember how thorough Edwin Limo: You were such an ally you were in the wee hours of the Antony Ngare in the profession. We talked the same mornings we met to render service to language and when you joined the the farmers of our beloved country. world of public relations, I dutifully As the dust settle and as reality sink that you are gone answered your questions and you landed and did supper forever, we gather the courage to write what only your hands well. You were a good learner, I must say. You kept me posted “Training on seed quality, soil testing and other best practices, including plant and would have perfected and made a wonderful read. Imperfect of your professional advancement and changing of jobs. as it might be, we are sure you would not mind a brutal When you asked to have me as your professional referee, I animal health management; post-harvest handling and storage; crop diversification honesty and frank sharing of our lives. didn’t think twice. You were genuinely happy for me in my KFJ Chairman: We lost a really nice person. Ngare was won professional career progress. You called me ‘Balozi’ and and value addition will boost production, enhance farmers’ incomes and achieve very focused and committed to his duties in the Board. Rest when I was posted abroad you were elated. We had agreed I well comrade. would host you and your family before the end of my tour of food security.” Mary Kiio: It seems like it was just the other day when duty. Your departure hit me like a thunder bolt. Fare thee well I joined the Kenya Farmer Journal Editorial team and I buddy. Deputy Patron, was listening to you and Edwin Limo critique the articles You spoke your mind but not in a hurtful way. Your aim Agricultural Society of Kenya with precision and once in a while varying on opinions in a was to correct, empower and encourage. You always went respectful manner. “We need a cross head here. This picture the extra mile despite your busy office schedule. In this issue, H.E. Hon. William Ruto, EGH does not reflect this article well; can we ask the journalist if we have struggled with editing the articles in our various they have a better one.” I was soon to observe that you were dockets.