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Harvesting crops continuously is the key to your success

Are you new in farming? Well, here is a quick tip: Do not plant your whole farm at once! This will land you into big problems. No one should ever lie to you that farming is not profitable. Farming just like any other business has its tips and tricks to success. Success in farming comes through good growth at the farm level and good sales during marketing. If you ever plant your whole farm with vegetables at the same time, you will get production booms instead of continuous crop production. Continous crop production is what farmers need to satisfy daily, weekly or bi-weekly demand. This demand is usually assessed by where you are selling your crops and how large your market is.

I had a 1 acre Sukuma Wiki farm when I first got into farming. Things were going on well and I used to harvest weekly. I had a reliable buyer who used to buy from me every week. The farm produced 20 bags weekly and he used to take it all. The cash flow was quite good at the time and I decided it was time to expand. I grew two more acres of Sukuma Wiki and this where my supply trouble began. My normal buyer could only handle 1 acre and I was left with a lot of products that no one wanted to buy. I had to give the extra produce to our cows. The reason for my failure back then was not because there was no market for the extra Sukuma Wiki. The market was there, but for small orders. Most buyers told me that they only needed a bag or two on a daily basis. Only large players could handle 20 bags weekly. You see, Kenya is dominated by small vendor players at the market (mama mbogas). They will gladly pay up if you deliver the right quantity of each item they need. The only catch is that you have to transport your farm goods to them at the marketplace very early in the morning. They also like consistency. This is when I realized the following:

Horticulture works best if you are growing a variety of crops in small quantities to fill up the larger space and stage them to maintain consistency.
Invest in a transportation system that will be cost-efficient in transporting vegetables daily/weekly.

If you get this right you will be able to get constant sales regardless of demand and price fluctuations.

So how do you plan your farm growth stages?

Market Survey and Analysis: Do a market survey and determine what buyers want. A potential buyer ranges from brokers, mama mbogas to the end customer like you and me. Use what you know about crop production estimates, demand volume, and growing time to calculate how much vegetables you need to be harvesting and planting each week.
Space: Multiply weekly demand by the weeks in the crop’s “turn” to determine how much space you will need for that supply. Don’t exceed your space! Know your financial and supply capability. This will help you grow naturally and progress beyond your wildest imagination. :)

How to germinate capsicum seeds faster

Capsicums are commonly known as Pili Pili Hoho. They grow in most regions in Kenya. Capsicums have a high demand and a 50 Kg bag fetches between Ksh 2500 - 3500. These prices depend on market forces so it's always good to plan yourself well before embarking on this journey.

Capsicums are profitable and easy crops to manage on the main field but they have one huge challenge. They are stubborn when it comes to germination! It doesn't matter if you buy normal seeds or Hybrid seeds (F1). If you do not sow them in the nursery correctly they will refuse to germinate. Some seeds even mock you by taking a whole month to sprout :D.

So how do you get Capsicum seeds to germinate faster?

Capsicums require warmer conditions than tomatoes and are more sensitive to cold and frost. That means you need to provide the RIGHT CONDITIONS in your nursery for them to listen. To prove this we did the following;

Set up a small experiment by setting up a small 3m x 3m greenhouse on our farm. We regulated our greenhouse temperature by installing ventilation.
Made a regularly raised seedbed and mixed it with manure.
Scrapped the top of the seedbed lightly with a 30cm ruler at a depth of 1 cm. We then scattered Capsicum seeds on top and covered them lightly. Don't cover them excessively.
We then watered the seeds with sprinkler misters installed on top of the greenhouse and waited. You can use a watering can if you don't have misters. Make sure you water the seeds every day.
7 days later 90% of the seeds had germinated.

The Greenhouse Structure — Demo Greenhouse

capsicum germinating — Our Capsicum Nursery

Conclusion: Capsicum Seedlings will emerge faster if the temperature is suitable. The temperature needs to be within 20°C and 35°C. At temperatures of 15°C, emergence may be delayed by two weeks or longer. Germination is poor at temperatures below 15°C or above 35°C.

Increase your income by adding value to farm products

The value addition of agricultural products brings a lot of money into the Kenyan economy each year. In fact, adding value beyond the farm has a bigger economic footprint than the normal farm production. Farmers usually perform poorly when it comes to cash flow margins as compared to food processors who sell items through brand names (e.g Brookside, Honey Care).

Reigning in the extra money by adding value to farm products is a goal for many enlightened farmers.

So, what is value addition?

“Value Addition” means adding value to a raw product by taking it to at least the next stage of production. Value can be added through membership in a cooperative that processes your products, such as milk and yogurt packaging.

What are the main benefits of value addition?

Value addition can bring these benefits to your enterprise;

Increased Cash Flow – Adding value to your farm produce automatically increases the financial value of your product and income.
Brand and Identification- Branding enables customers to brand with your product and farm. This gives you an edge when it comes to pushing products and making sales. If your product is good, customers will refer you to more people by mentioning your brand in their networks.
Consumer Loyalty- Customers relate well to producers who add value and still maintain quality. By maintaining quality, customers will always identify with your product and create a loyalty base around it.
Better Prices - Longer shelf life of products means farmers can better pricing at the right time. E.g UHT Milk, Yoghurt, Juice, etc.

How to be Successful in Value Addition

Building a new business is difficult and takes hard work (nothing new for farmers and ranchers). But, for all the uncertainty, there are ways to craft a successful value-added business strategy. The key factors in a detailed business plan are:

Operations plan – This is how the business flows, it's quality and cost control.
Team and Management- You need a team that has the right skills and training to run your business.
Sales Plan – Develop a thorough sales plan that will enable you to sell your products consistently.
Investment Plan- Plan and use your money wisely so that your business grows naturally and without unnecessary burdens.

Examples of Value-Added Farm Products

Milk

Milk is a versatile ingredient that can be used to create a range of dairy products. Packaged fresh milk is a common product that is readily available in stores. Cheese is another popular product made from milk, which can come in a variety of textures and flavors. Yogurt is also made from milk, which is fermented and can be enjoyed plain or with added flavors. Ghee is a clarified butter made from milk, which is commonly used in Indian cooking. Finally, ice cream is a delicious dessert made from milk, cream, sugar, and other flavorings.

Passion Fruits

Passion fruits can be used to make a refreshing and nutritious juice that can be enjoyed as a beverage. Soda can also be made from passion fruit, which is a carbonated drink that can be sweetened with sugar or other sweeteners. Passion fruit can also be used to create jams and jellies, which are spreads made from the fruit and sugar.

Potatoes

Potatoes can be used to make a variety of foods. Crisps, also known as potato chips, are a popular snack made from thinly sliced potatoes that are fried until crispy. Fries, also known as French fries, are a side dish made from sliced and fried potatoes. Potato flour is made by grinding potatoes into a fine powder, which can be used as a gluten-free flour substitute in baking.

Strawberry

Strawberries can be used to make a variety of food products. Jam is a popular spread made from cooked strawberries and sugar. Packaged fresh strawberries can be found in plastic tins in grocery stores, which can be eaten as a snack or used as an ingredient in recipes.

Honey

Honey can be used to make a range of products, including honey peanut snacks, which are a popular snack made from peanuts coated in honey. Honey can also be sold in jars, which can be used as a natural sweetener in tea, on toast, or as an ingredient in recipes.

Peanuts

Peanuts can be eaten as a snack and are commonly sold in packaged form. Roasted peanuts are a popular variety that can be enjoyed salted or unsalted.

Managu

Managu is a green leafy vegetable that can be dried for preservation. Dried managu can be used in soups, stews, and other dishes as a flavorful ingredient.

Tomato

Tomatoes can be used to make a variety of products, including tomato sauce. Tomato sauce is a common ingredient used in many dishes, including pasta, pizza, and casseroles. It can also be used as a dipping sauce for appetizers.

Get assured market access for your crops by growing in small portions

Horticulture has been praised as the most profitable farming activity in Kenya that can put money in your pockets within months.

According to Business Daily, Horticulture earnings hit Sh153 billion last year making it number three in its contribution to Kenya's income after diaspora remittance (Sh272 billion) and tourism (Sh157 billion) in 2018.

These figures are enough to show you that money is moving in the horticultural sector and you should definitely eat a piece of the cake. Farming, in general, is quite profitable, but it also has risks. The biggest risk that farmers in Kenya face so far is market access. The problem of selling crops once they are ready in the field. This problem has edged out many farmers from the game and many have been left discouraged.

The problem of market access is not a new one in Kenya. It is a challenge that local farmers have been battling for years and it gets worse when unscrupulous middlemen are involved. Middlemen are not necessarily bad as most people think. They help farmers by buying produce from their farm and resell the same product at a higher price elsewhere. This is what they do. They are part of the agricultural value chain. They consist of individuals and companies.

The unscrupulous middlemen, on the other hand, are unprofessional. They harass farmers with extremely low purchase prices and unfair packaging options of produce which destroys the income of the farmer.

Other reasons that affect market access for farmers is infrastructure (Roads). Infrastructure goes hand in hand with market access but we will focus on this in another topic. Today I want to share with you how you can earn more by being smarter and strategic in how you handle your farm affairs. Tact is the only thing that will keep you in the game and save you a lot of headaches that come with selling crops.

Plan your farm the right way and make sure everything is working okay.

Starting a farm is not something you should take lightly. It needs detailed planning no matter how small it is. Think of it as a small country and you are its president. You need to come up with a budget plan for your farm, a growing calendar, irrigation system, management structure, and marketing strategies. Write everything down in a book so that you can be able to cross your checklist every time you finish a task.

Take a trip to various market locations near your farm/area and do market research.

Many new farmers make the mistake of planning their facility and learning to grow but neglecting a factor that defines the success of their farm: demand. As a small farmer, one of your greatest advantages is your ability to satisfy demand in a local way.

Visit your local marketplace and find out what people are buying the most of what customers are lacking and need. This will show you which crops you need to grow. Don’t grow crops blindly or because other farmers are doing so. Product demand is the foundation of not just farming but all businesses.

Cars need fuel every day in order to move. People need food in order to live. Which particular food do people need every day in your area? Grow these foods.

Sort your farm core planning, partition it into blocks and grow your crops in stages.

Once you have made up your mind on which crop you are going to grow, the next step will be the execution. Partition your one-acre farm (I am going to use 1 acre for explanation purposes) into small blocks complete with pathways and water points for irrigation. If you have not installed an irrigation system, this will be the best time to do it. Write down a simple business plan or steps that you will need to take from start to finish. Do fencing, plowing, harrowing, etc. Do everything to make your farm ready for planting.

Set aside an area for your nursery and partition it according to the crops you are going to grow on your main field. For example, if you have 1.5 acres: Set aside 1 acre as your main field and 0.5 acres for the nursery

Partitioning your farm into blocks will enable you to grow small portions of crops which will make it easier for you to sell once they are ready for harvest. Stage your crops using dates to know when to harvest, replant, etc. It is easier for you to take 2-5 bags of produce to the market every day and sell and get good prices than for you to take 20 bags all at once. If you take produce to the market in bulk you will either get extremely low prices or not be able to sell them at all.

It’s only okay to grow large areas if you have a contract somewhere or a 100% assurance that your crops will be purchased by person A or B.

Growing your crops in stages also keep the money flowing no matter how small. The money will keep trickling in.

Get a dedicated employee.

Hire someone who will tend to your crops religiously. This person will be in-charge of growing, maintenance and harvesting. Pay them well.

Get a larger team if your farm is big.

Inspect your farm regularly.

Having a loyal employee does not exclude you from your farm responsibilities. You should inspect your farm daily and ensure everything is running smoothly. You are the brains behind this venture and your employee is merely following your direction. If you show disinterest in your work so will he.

Secure a reliable transportation system.

You will need a reliable transportation system when your farm is making sales on a daily basis. This will be your greatest advantage. If you have affordable transportation means that can deliver 1 or 2 bags of produce to the market every day then your success is just around the corner.

Practice crop rotation.

Never stop doing research. As you do crop rotations, always make sure you are growing relevant crops that are bringing money into your pockets.

Be consistent.

Selling crops every day has its own challenges. You need to maintain consistency. Some buyers require you to deliver products as early as 6 am. Make sure you are always on time, never lacking with quality produce.

Only grow what you can handle.

Do not grow in excess. Don’t overestimate your selling capacity. This can land you in problems with your growing financial power and also delivery.

Ken Lagat: This guy will inspire you to grow Capsicums [PHOTOS]

It’s always nice to hear success stories from fellow farmers. The really awesome thing, however, is to see the success with your own eyes. This is what I saw when I visited Ken Lagat’s Capsicum farm in Turbo, Uasin Gishu County. Well, success is not the best word to describe the things that happen on farms. Most farmers will tell you of the challenges they go through every day to grow crops and success is not a word to throw around easily. A lot of aargh and err… They are usually the norm but when things start going okay then “Progress” is the real word to use, and Ken knows this best. Ken grows 1 acre of capsicums under drip irrigation which he harvests 20 (50 Kg) weekly. His main market is in Nairobi. He gets estimated weekly earnings of Ksh 35,000. Whoa. I know, that’s a lot of money.

capsicum 50kg bags — When I got to the farm I counted 16 bags already packed....and counting.

So what are Capsicums? Are they legit? What are the important things you need to know before starting?

Capsicums, also called Pilipili Hoho in Kenya, grow well in altitudes of up to 2,000 meters above sea level. If you live in Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret, Narok or areas that have similar soils then capsicums can grow well. They like well-drained loamy soils with a PH range between 6.0 – 6.5. Now the tricky thing about Capsicums is to get the seeds to germinate. They are stubborn fellows. That’s the only thing that will give you a headache. If you hack the germination step, the rest comes in easy. They grow quite well once they have been transplanted and have enough water. In a fair world, the capsicum seeds are supposed to take 7- 12 to germinate. If done right. If they don’t then you will have to wait for a whopping 20 days to get germination. Ken Lagat does not face these problems apparently. His seeds germinate within 7 days like bosses. He tells me it’s all about the seed type, temperature and how you put them on the seedbed. He grows 150g of seed per acre. Seedling emergence will accelerate when the temperature increases to between 24 ºC and 30ºC, with the optimum temperature being 29°C. To control your environment, you can grow your seeds in a greenhouse or make a small Kibanda-sized greenhouse just for the purpose of germinating the seeds. This will help you save the costs of building a fully-fledged greenhouse structure. According to Ken, seedlings will last 45 days in the nursery bed before transplanting. He transplants them at a spacing of 40cm x 40cm. Harvesting starts 11 weeks after transplanting and can last for 24 weeks under good agronomy practices.

capsicum farm Turbo — Always ensure your farm is free of weeds.

Ken Capsicum Farm Timeline

Has been growing capsicums for 3 years now. He has been growing 1 acre for some time and expanded to 1.75 acres this year.
This year his one-acre lasted for 6 months. During this time he got an average of 20 bags (50 Kg) weekly. He has suppliers from Nairobi and the local market. He sells his capsicums between Ksh 35 and Ksh 40 bob. He used to get an estimate earning of Ksh 35,000 weekly. With 6 months of sales, he got an estimated final earning of Ksh 840,000.
The 1-acre capsicum farm started having low yields as the crops neared their end. He expanded 0.5 acres immediately to keep the revenue flow stable. This is done under drip irrigation.
He added an extra 0.25 acres of capsicum to cushion him during the dry season. This group is still young and will mature next month. Ken says it’s important to grow your crops in stages to keep the cash flowing. This portion is also done under drip irrigation.

Tips from Ken

Water and fertilizer feeding is important. When you give this to your crop without bias, success will follow you.
Commitment and determination are key.
Farming is just like any other business. Run your farm like a business.

Random Observations from Ken's farm

Harvesting will cost you Ksh 100 per person. You need 10 people to harvest 1-acre.
Small capsicums are on-demand with the local mama mbogas while the large ones go to Nairobi.
Capsicums are packed in excess of 5 Kg to cater for breakages when being transported.
Seed brand: Superbell F.
You will earn more if you grow your crops under drip irrigation.

Getting started on Goat Farming

Solid farming businesses in Kenya are hard to come by and goat farming is one of them. Goat farming is easy to start and very rewarding. Goat meat is popular in Kenya with mbuzi choma joints (Goat meat restaurants) springing up in Kenya every year. Goat meat is also widely accepted and consumed around the globe, while the milk demand is steadily rising. Though not very popular in Kenya, goat milk is consumed widely in several other parts of the world (even Gandhi loved it, by the way). And there’s a reason for that. The milk is rich in protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins A, B2, C, and D. All of these nutrients offer some of the best benefits you can ever think of. Some of the benefits of goat milk include;

Could Be Good For The Heart
Fights Inflammation
Strengthens Bones
Is A Good Metabolic Agent
Is Easily Digestible
Works Well For Lactose Intolerants
Is Better Than Cow Milk
Might Improve Brain Health

Other products that can be derived from goat milk are cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and butter. I don’t understand why goat milk is not widely consumed in Kenya. These benefits alone are good marketing points for farmers who want to get into dairy goat farming. With the increase of lifestyle diseases, goat milk provides a good alternative for consumers looking for a healthy milk choice. Goat meat is another story altogether. Goat meat is believed to be the best animal meat available in Kenya and for good reasons. Not only does the meat taste great, but it is also lower in fat than chicken but contains higher protein than beef, which makes it better than chicken and beef.

What you need to get started in Goat Farming

Feed

Grow feeds before introducing goats into your farm. This will make you more prepared and not get into a rut when your venture is up and running. Goats are foragers of weeds and leaves and can eat a wide variety of plants while browsing. If you are planning to practice zero-grazing on your goat farm, feed them grass, silage, hay, and grain just like cattle. Zero-grazing is the best option for those who have a small piece of land. 2 acres of silage can sustain 50 goats for a whole year. Understand that goats multiply very quickly – a pregnancy will always result in the birth of twins. Sometimes they can give birth to a single kid or even triplet which is very rare. You, therefore, need to maintain your herd so that you don’t get food shortages arising from the multiplication effect.

Fencing

Construct a fence around your goat pasture or living area to contain them. Use a 6-foot chain-link fence as goats like to go around obstacles, electric fencing is sometimes used. Many producers provide ‘play areas’ with things to climb to amuse them and to prevent damaging behavior”

Housing

Build a comfortable house for your goats. Goats like to live in a dry area that is free from urine and poop. Generally, goats prefer raised houses. If you are doing a floor house, keep it clean by checking it daily. You can use straws on the floor to absorb the urine.

Goat Species

There is a large number of goat breeds suitable for different purposes of rearing. Some are very good for milk production, some are good for the meat, others are preferable for the fiber. Blow are breeds that do well in Kenya;

Toggenburg
German Alpine
Saanen
Boer
Anglo Nubian

The Vet

You will need to have an appointment with veterinary Doctors near you for periodic check-up and vaccination. This is very important if you hope to keep the mortality at the lowest or completely eliminated. You can use Government agencies near you or appoint a private vet doctor. With all these in place, you are very good to go in your goat rearing business. Since goat does not necessarily feed on processed animal feeds, your cost of production will be highly reduced because they will be eating natural nutritious plants in their pasture that grows on their own.

Benefits and risks of contract farming

Contract farming involves an agreement between the producer and the buyer on terms and conditions for the production and marketing of farm products. This agreement includes the price to be paid, the quantity and quality demanded, delivery dates, and sometimes detailed information on inputs and production methods i.e. using a traceability system. The more recent growth of contract farming can be largely linked to the increasingly integrated global supply chains. More so, it provides an alternative business model to large scale farming which is unrealistic with the rise in real estate.

Let's get to it...

The key benefits for the producer of a farmer are:

Increasing income through long-term and stable access to more remote and lucrative markets and a transparent pricing mechanism.
Access to new technologies.
Access to improved inputs.
Access to technical assistance.
Access to credit facilities.

Contract farming can allow the farmers to obtain these benefits while not having to give up control or possession of their land. The key benefits for the buyer/contractor are:

Controlling commercial risks by securing stable supply for agricultural produce in the required quantity and quality.
Ability to trace production to certain specific methods.
Access to land

The key risks for the farmer arise principally from the power imbalance between them and the buyer. This results in: i.Unequal allocation of the risks

Unfair or non-transparent pricing mechanisms

iii. Unfair or non-transparent inspection processes. iv. The producer is tied to using expensive inputs or taking loans required by the buyer, which can result in unsustainable levels of debt-as was my case with the group farming.

Working conditions may also be inferior to those of formal employment.
There is a significant gender bias in who can participate in contract farming: the majority of beneficiaries are men, likely to hold the title deed for the land.

Risks to the buyer:

The greatest risk for the buyer is that the producer will sell the produce to another buyer; a practice known as side-selling.
Producer’s non-compliance with the agreed quality and quantity of produce
Producer’s non-compliance with the agreed delivery schedule.
The producer may also fail to repay the buyer for credit or inputs provided once the produce has been sold to another party.

An agreement between the producer and the buyer is signed within the context of the applicable private law principles and rules of the law governing the country. The widely known core values underpinning contractual relationships are cooperation, good faith, reasonableness, consistency, transparency, full disclosure of information and preference for giving effect to the spirit and intention of the contract where possible. Parties should bear these in mind when entering contractual negotiations. Parties may include a provision in the contract reaffirming their joint commitment to these principles. Most agricultural production contracts establish purely domestic legal relationships (even when the buyer is part of a multinational group). This might mean a lack of formal contracts on basic issues such as input and credit services. Even if the agreement does not expressly refer to the domestic law-the law of the land-parties should be aware that domestic law can override or nullify a contractual provision. Both parties should take care to inform themselves of relevant laws that apply to their situation. An example, where the buyer is a public entity, the specific rules for public procurement will apply. Where no special legislation exists, by default, general contract law will apply.

What you need to understand about contract farming

Farming without being assured of market, is gambling. Contract farming is one of the few options available that can guarantee a ready market for your farm produce. However, contract farming has its perks and we need to be fully aware of what we as farmers are signing up for. I will begin the first twin of my article on contract farming with a personal experience. I was in my forth year of campus, tired of all the non-practical hours spent on archaic literature that characterized my agriculture coursework. Aware of the imminent danger of being irrelevant in the corporate world, I ventured into the world of contract farming. As an average youth, I had no land nor resources to purchase an eighth of an acre. With a group of four other unemployed youths, we enrolled in a grant program that helped us I gaining technical know-how, lease a section of the program’s land, bought all the infrastructure, inputs and offered us, financial consultants and agronomists. Furthermore, they were kind enough to further engage directly in produce collection and delivery to the markets. Our first harvest was quite bountiful. Our labor was not in vain. However, mismanagement by our sponsor company resulted in abstinence in their supply of pesticides and herbicides, incompetent agronomists, insufficient water supply with us being forced to purchase agrochemicals and even spend the wee hours of the nighty harvesting and weighing our second and third harvests. It was only after the third harvest that we received a bank cheque of Ksh. 7,000 to be distributed among four hungry overworked youths. We were just but victims of circumstances of yet another youth initiative sham. I am an inactive member officially and quite grateful for the knowledge and hands-on experience as a farmer. I can now fiercely fight against farmer exploitation, from experience. Some companies contracting farmers and offering fair prices include:

Bidco Oil Refineries

By offering market to at least 10,000 farmers in Eastern, Rift Valley Central and Western regions; Bidco gets oil seeds from 10,000 growers of Soya bean and sunflower seeds. The company is looking into contracting smallholder farmers.

East African Breweries Limited

Sorghum production in Kenya has declined over the years creating a niche for the scarce sorghum farmers especially in Nakuru and its environs. East African Breweries Limited sorghum project pay farmers at least Shillings 30 per kilo. The farmers able to take their harvests to the company storage facility in Nakuru get an extra five shilling per kilo. The firm is using its subsidiary East Arica Maltings Limited (EAML) to source and contract farmers to grow the much-needed crop.

Jade Fresh Limited

Are you in Eastern or Central Kenya and interested in growing vegetables and fruits for profits? Apart from offering farmers quality seeds, fertilizer and agronomists to guide them throughout the production process. Jade Fresh Limited is your go-to outsourcing company offering to buy your produce at better prices. Send your request to info@jade-fresh.com or call 0713370614.

Fair Trade Enterprise

By contracting farmers across the country to grow French beans Snow peas, Sugar snaps and Garden Peas, the Fair Trade Enterprise offer income flow to farmer groups in regions. The reason behind working in farmer groups is so as to meet the production targets set by the firm. The firm currently provides access to inputs, technologies, credit and other services to approximately 500 households in the program. Farmers are organized in six farming groups for easy management of farming and bulking purposes. In my experience, if the contractual agreement disempowers you from accessing the markets, disempowers you from diversifying your produce revenue streams through value addition and denies access to audit reports and other relevant documentation; you are on the losing end. It is crucial to do a background check before committing; lest lie in bed with the enemy. Contract farming is neither community service nor a hobby. It essentially is a remunerative business venture.

How to grow your own potato seeds and save costs

Potatoes move fast. Potatoes are great friends with maize and beans. They have one thing in common. They are all staple foods in Kenya. This fact makes Potato farming profitable because there is a huge demand for it in Kenya. Potato farming is good, however, there is one thing that greatly affects its production, and that is sourcing quality seeds. Well, there are other factors that also affect production but today I am going to talk about seeds. This is what FAO says: Potato yield is determined both by the crop per se and the environment. The former can be defined as internal causes including genetic identity, health, and physiology. The latter are external factors that consist mainly of temperature, light, nutrition, and water. The genotype determines tuber number, tuber size, and yield potential for any given cultivar. Then, the performance of yield is largely influenced by the health status of seed tubers and plants. The physiological age of seed tubers is also a factor that can affect the final yield. Since some external factors (such as light and temperature) cannot be controlled, we can only adjust the inputs of nutrition and water by appropriate fertilizer application and irrigation. Then, appropriate crop management practices should be applied to harmonize the relationship between the crop and the environment. It is the only way to get good yields. Unfortunately, we cannot control all external factors, but efforts can be made to optimize yields by using high-quality seed. Genetic identity is modified by breeders through developing new cultivars. Healthy seed is the responsibility of seed producers, and only the physiological age of seed tubers can be adjusted by growers. After reviewing the history of potato breeding, it seems that all registered cultivars have similar yield potential; even some cultivars that have been cultivated for over 100 years can still yield 50 or 60 tons/ha if seed quality is good and, of course, under appropriate crop management. We can say that genotype at present is not a major constraint for getting higher yields. The physiological age of seed tubers can influence yield to a certain extent through adjusting growth speed. Old seed develops fast at an early stage and senesces earlier, which leads to relatively lower final yields. In contrast, young seed develops slowly at an early stage, but it can keep vigour longer and get higher final yields. The range of yield fluctuation adjusted by physiological age is not clear, but yield effects of physiological age are evident. Therefore, it is clear now that seed quality in terms of health and physiological status is a determinant factor of the yield potential of the potato crop. So this bit of info is confirmed. What next?

How to grow and store your own potato seeds

Most people will tell you to buy certified seed potatoes and be safe. They are not wrong. Buying certified seeds from KALRO or any other organization that sells potato seeds is a good idea if you want healthy, disease-free crops, but these seed potatoes are usually very expensive. One bag of 50 Kg normally costs Ksh 3,000. You need 16 bags to grow one acre, That means you will need to have Ksh 48,000 to get started on one acre! If you want to grow 10 acres, the cost grows to Ksh 480,000. You have still not yet factored in seed transportation, ploughing, harrowing and chemical costs. Kwisha wewe!

The cheaper option

Approach a certified potato seed seller and buy a few bags of potatoes and start your own multiplication process. This is what I mean: Assuming you want to grow 6 acres of potatoes in January but you do not have the money to buy 96 bags of potatoes. Do your research and look for certified seed sellers. Examples include KALRO and CIP (International Potato Centre) - These guys actually sell seeds but contract farmers to grow and multiply disease-free potato using apical cutting for local distribution. An apical cutting is similar to a nursery-grown seedling except that it is produced through vegetative means and does not originate from a seed. I prefer these guys. Where was I, oh yes:). Contact one of these guys and get your few bags of certified seeds. If you want to grow 6 acres then get seeds for an acre. An acre will give you between 100-200 bags of potatoes if done well. It doesn't end there though. You need to be smart and handle your seed production system well. Handle it like the pros. Commercial potato farmers tend to use the same fields year after year, which increases the chance that diseases will infect the tubers. The small-time farmer (this is where you fall in) using their own seed potatoes would be wise to rotate their potato crops, if at all possible. Maintaining a weed-free area around the plants will also aid in retarding disease as will sowing in organic-rich, well-draining soil. You also need to do irrigation on your farm to maximize yields. You can allocate a specific just for seed production and put it under irrigation. This will give you assurity that you will always have seed during dry seasons. Your seed potatoes will need a rest period before planting. The rest period induces sprouting, but improper storage can precipitate premature sprouting. Temperature fluxes can precipitate these premature sprouts, so it is important to practice proper seed potato storage. Harvest potatoes that you wish to use next year as seed potatoes and brush off, don’t wash, any dirt. Place them in a cool, dry area of around 10 C. Three to four weeks prior to planting, put the potatoes in an area with a brighter light, such as a sunny window or beneath grow lights. The seed potatoes should be maintained at a high humidity during this period. Plan yourself well so that you can maximize on the best time to get good market prices. If you want to grow a big are in February, start now by growing a small area for multiplication. All the best.

Author - Graduate Farmer