Author - Graduate Farmer

Farming is not just about making profit

If you have ever planted crops in your life then you know the l satisfaction that comes with watching them grow. Nothing beats that. This applies to everyone who loves farming for "what it represents". Not those who get into farming to make a quick buck and ditch it as soon as things get tough. Farming goes beyond profit, crops and livestock. It involves people around us, our employees, family and the whole nation. No matter how small your farm is, no matter how little you have, everything you do makes a huge difference to the people around you. I know, life presents a lot of challenges these days and it is easy for us to forget what it means to farm with passion. Sometimes we fall down in despair when we don't make a profit, remembering the various life expenses that lie ahead. We are always looking for stable agribusinesses ventures that will help us make a living, pay school fees, house rent etc. Its totally understandable. We can get carried away and chew more than we handle. In the end we find ourselves in tricky situations that could be avoided. We should however not worry because failing is okay. Feeling despair is normal. It happens to a lot of people, not just farmers. We all struggle but the important thing is to never give up. Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly - Robert F. Kennedy. The most important thing is to always remind yourself of what actually matters in your life. The simpler things in life that make you happy. For me, one of the things that make me smile when I hit a hickup on the farm is a memory. I remember back in lower primary, I used to go out to our kitchen garden and grow various crops on my makeshift nursery. This nursery was a no-go zone for anyone lest I "catch feelings". I grew all kinds of crops there. My favourite crops were carrots and potatoes. I never knew the economic significance of growing crops back then. I never knew carrots and potatoes would make you this kind of money per acre blah blah blah. All I knew was how fun it was to watch crops grow and eating them afterwards. I especially loved how sweet raw carrots tasted when they had bits of soil in them. They were delicious. This memory always reminds me of how much I love being on the farm. Being free. Doing my own thing and not worrying about anything in life. When you grow up things change. At this point, you understand what money is and how it gets stuff done. Money starts being a factor in many day-to-day activities you do. You are not a kid eating raw carrots anymore. You have to feed your family and pay the bills. All these responsibilities make people forget why they got into farming. All they focus on now is making the most profit per acre etc. When profit is your main motivation, progress becomes difficult. We need to re-focus and slow down. We need to start doing what matters. Growing food and making a difference in the lives of people around us. Do what you love and the money will follow. Don't dwell on profits too much. Stop complaining about the market. If you start small... I mean really small.... then you can sell any crop. Farmers are important, and every farming activity or crop you grow will always have a buyer. If you take a sack of cabbages, a sack of potatoes and a sack of carrots to the market today, they will definitely be purchased. However, if you take 50 bags of each to the market, you will either end up selling them at a throw-away price or feeding them to your cows. (This mostly applies in Kenya). Stop doing profit mathematics for 1 acre of cabbages and strategise your profits on 1/8 of an acre instead. This will help you figure out crop farming quickly. Have you ever heard this saying? "Once in your life you need a doctor, lawyer, policeman, or preacher but every day... three times a day... you need a farmer." This is not just a catchy saying. This statement goes in deep. It means that agriculture will always be relevant. Let's think about it. Farming is everywhere and impacts everything. Farming is connected to a lot of things. It's energy runs from the soil through our veins and bonds us deeply to the Earth. Every farmer knows this feeling. Farmers are more than just agents of growing food. They bind energy, clothing, transportation, health, electronics industries and so much more - like the grass that keeps the weaver birds nest in place... Farmers hold the nation. Focus on your passion.... growing food...... and the money will come.

Why you should opt to grow Sukuma Wiki

I have never been a fan of horticultural crops that make you wait for 3 months to harvest. Horticulture is profitable but it is also equally risky, and if you are not carefully planned out, you can end you losing a lot of money than you bargained for. I have been broken (Emotionally) quite a number of times waiting to make a profit-killing by growing 3-month crops like onions and cabbages.

3-month crops are not bad at all. They are great. You just have to understand how they work and what works for you. I realized this the hard way. It's interesting how every farmer out there has a story to tell about failed agribusiness ventures which hit them the most. They have that crop that has messed them and will not even give a second look at their seeds being sold when they visit the Agro-vet. They will avoid making eye contact with these seeds at all costs lest they are reminded how they lost their investment. The crop which frustrated me the most is a tricky vegetable called the onion.

Going Back to Sukuma Wiki

Don't get me wrong, onion farming is great. I have friends who have grown it without any problems and made huge profits from it. I have never heard any complaints from them. They always seem to be successful every time they grow it but this has never been the case to me. I have never managed to hack their success strategy. It has always been elusive and I have never got even a handful of onions plants to form bulbs. I know what you are thinking. The problem must have been the soil or planting method. Man, I tested the soil, even brought in an onion expert but they did not bulb. I tried this twice. That means I lost money twice! I decided to slow down a bit to re-assess myself. You see, farmers have to assess themselves frequently. If you do not do this, you will go mad. I decided to back off from onion farming and focus on what worked for me. Sukuma Wiki.

Sukuma Wiki is a green leafy vegetable that is loved by Kenyans. It is easily accessible and affordable. Sukuma Wiki is a Swahili word which means "Push the Week". It is affordable for everyone and can be served on a daily basis in many Kenyan homes. We used to eat Sukuma Wiki nearly every day in high school which made me hate it for a while but we were soon reunited in friendship in my adult life after I saw its true potential. Who knew.

Learning More About Sukuma Wiki

Sukuma Wiki (also known as collard greens) is a member of the cabbage family. It has large, dark-coloured, edible leaves that will fit very well on your plate with a piece of ugali😀. Okay, jokes aside. Sukuma Wiki can be available year-round if grown under irrigation. Some people claim that it is tastier during the cold season (Rainy season) which makes their leaves more nutritious. Here is the good part. Sukuma Wiki leaves can be harvested daily or weekly, depending on the the crop population that you have. They can even be harvested before the leaves reach their maximum size.

This quality means that you can harvest Sukuma Wiki daily or weekly (Weekly...get it? Sukuma Wiki... Weekly?😂). Alright, I know you feel the weight of the statement.

Harvesting daily /weekly gives you the ability to earn money in stages as you can plant different farm sections to keep the supply going. I personally prefer harvesting and selling Sukuma Wiki daily in small quantities of 2-5 bags. Doing this will always ensure you sell the harvest led bags at good prices. You will be able to dispose the harvest easily and start the whole process all over again the next day. This trick works all the time. Don't harvest big and take all your 20 bags to the market (1 acre can give around 20 bags if harvested weekly). When brokers see you doing this, they will frustrate you by joining forces and dropping the prices. If one bag went for Ksh 1,000 then for you it will go for Ksh 300- Ksh 500. Ha! Sucks right? 😠I know! This happened to me once. I learnt my lesson.

Sukuma Wiki Selling Strategy

If you harvest at-least 4 bags daily and sell at Ksh 500 per bag, you will get Ksh 2,000 per day. Don't target the local market only, reach out to mama mbogas near you and supply a small stream of vegetables to them. Be timley. Don't make them wait. Do this and you will streamline your client base with a smart selling strategy. The farm will start paying you a steady stream of cash which you can use as salary or for expansion. It's your choice. I can't do labour costs and other mathematics for you because everyones situation is different but I believe you see the bigger picture here.

If you have grown Sukuma Wiki before please share with us your experiences in the comments below👇.

Get more milk by feeding your cows Brachiaria grass

One of the main determinants of successful dairy farming rests on the shoulders of the feeding budget. Dairy cows need a daily supply of quality feed to cater for body maintenance, production, and pregnancy. Milk and feed are directly related. If you short-change your cow on feed quantity or quality, you will get less milk. When a cow gets inadequate feed, she goes under stress quickly. It only takes a few days for you to notice the difference in both her health and milk production. In the event there is a food crisis on the farm, she will use her own body reserves in order to maintain milk production. This then causes a domino effect which affects her reproduction cycle. The chances of the cow giving birth are then greatly reduced – her calving period will be extended.

Many farmers in Kenya cite high feed costs as one of the main challenges that cause them to not perform. Lack of planning, however, also plays a big role in this predicament. Let’s be honest. Only a handful of beginner farmers in Kenya actually plan with proper research and wisdom. The rest rush and get into dairy farming after reading exaggerated success story articles and brief word-of-mouth strategies of successful dairy farmers in their region. The main points they hear are the costs involved in building a zero grazing unit and buying cows. They never slow down to hear the nitty-gritty involved in feeding a dairy cow. Feeding is usually placed in the work-in-progress category. It is solved slowly after the farm structures have already been built and the cows purchased. When they lose a cow or two from hunger, they start to panic and scramble to solve the problem.

Brachiaria Grass: An Affordable Feeding Strategy

If the cost of feed is the problem, then farmers should start looking for affordable feeding strategies. Hitting two birds with one stone. Solving their cow hunger problem and improve on their milk production. One such strategy is growing Bracharia grass. It has more than 15% crude protein on a dry matter basis. It can reach 20% with good management. Brachiaria has been praised as the wonder fodder that boosts milk. Brachiaria grass is indigenous to Af­rica but has been growing wild until recently. It was taken to other parts of the world, including Australia and South America, where it was improved to get superior varieties, some of which are now being promoted in Kenya. There are two varieties of Brachiaria, namely Mulato and Mulato II, produced by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).

It looks similar to Napier grass from a distance, but on a closer look, you will see that they have differences. Some of the differences between Brachiaria grass and Napier grass are;

  • Brachiaria grass has thicker leaves.
  • They do not have irritating hairs that define Napier grass.
  • Brachiaria grass also produces seeds, unlike Napier grass. Its seeds do not lose their hybrid vigour, meaning that you can plant the seeds and still get a good result.
  • Brachiaria grass does not take up lots of nutrients from the soil.
  • Napier grass is vulnerable to diseases like Napier stunt and Napier smut diseases. Brachiaria is resistant to these diseases.

Benefits of Brachiaria Grass

Brachiaria grass is a high-yielding, drought-tolerant grass that is a valuable addition to any livestock operation. It produces a lot of forage yearly, which can ensure that your dairy cows always have a ready feed. It can give you an output of 15,000 Kg of dry matter per acre per year.

Brachiaria grass is also a good choice for farmers who are looking to improve soil quality. It helps to conserve soil, improve soil fertility, increase biodiversity, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

Brachiaria grass can be propagated by seeds or vegetative material. However, if you want to grow Brachiaria on a large farm, it is better to use seeds. You will need 2.5-3kgs seeds per acre.

Here are some additional benefits of Brachiaria grass:

  • It is a good source of protein and energy for livestock.
  • It can help to increase milk production.
  • It is a relatively inexpensive crop to grow.
  • It is drought-tolerant and can be grown in poor soils.
  • It helps to improve soil quality.

If you are looking for a high-yielding, drought-tolerant grass that is a good source of protein and energy for livestock, Brachiaria grass is a good choice.

Conclusion

Brachiaria grass is a high-yielding, drought-tolerant grass that is a valuable addition to any livestock operation. It can be harvested after 4-5 months and can be served as hay or silage. Brachiaria grass is a good source of protein and energy for livestock, and it can help to increase milk production. It is also a relatively inexpensive crop to grow, which can save farmers money.

To prepare Brachiaria grass for feeding, it should be cut and allowed to wilt in a dark place for a day. Once it has wilted, it can be fed to livestock. The amount of Brachiaria grass that should be fed to livestock will vary depending on the size and needs of the animals. However, a good starting point is to feed 15-20 kg per day to a cow.

Growing Brachiaria grass is a wise investment for any livestock farmer. It is a high-yielding, drought-tolerant grass that can help to increase milk production and save farmers money.

Here are some additional tips for growing Brachiaria grass:

  • Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil.
  • Fertilize the soil with a balanced fertilizer before planting.
  • Water the grass regularly, especially during dry periods.
  • Mow the grass regularly to keep it healthy and productive.
  • Protect the grass from pests and diseases.

With proper care, Brachiaria grass can be a valuable addition to any livestock operation.

You can buy seeds from Amiran Kenya.

Do you already have Brachiaria grass on your farm? What is the milk yield performance? Did it change once you started using? Share with us your insights in the comments below.

Telephone Farming: Experience is the best teacher

Telephone farming in Kenya has not gone well for many people. If you were to randomly tell farmers to raise their hands if they had lost any money since last year, you will be surprised to see the results. Nearly 90% of the hands raised will be telephone farmers. Telephone farmers are guys who rarely step on the farm. They leave all the hard work to their "trusted" farm manager or Mtu Wa Mkono also known as the Farmhand. They are employed or have businesses elsewhere and send money to the farm via MPESA to buy farm implements, pay salaries, etc. They check up on the farm progress via telephone calls. hence the name, Telephone farmers.

Why are telephone farmers the victims? They do extensive research just like everyone else, have written down solid business plans and have good financial projections? The answer to this can be summed up into two things;

  • Availability: Telephone farmers are not always around to handle the critical factors needed around the farm e.g sowing, fertilizer applications, water application, and harvesting. For those doing animal farming, they fail to know if an animal is falling sick, needs attention or requires a certain amount of food and water.
  • Impatience: 1 Timothy 6:10 says; For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after. Most telephone farmers in Kenya get into farming to make a quick buck. Farming is not a quick buck-ing scheme. It's hard work. You will be disappointed greatly if you get into farming with these reasons in mind.

These are unavoidable circumstances, you might say. I cannot gamble and resign my day job for the farm. It's too risky. So what is the way out? What is the solution? How do you become a successful telephone farmer?

  • Insurance: This is a relatively new concept for most farmers in Kenya. No one knows the process involved in taking an insurance cover for your crops. The only insurance cover that most people in Kenya know about is health and vehicle insurance. Insurance can save you from getting ulcers when you lose everything on your farm to floods, drought, accidents, etc. Talk to Acre Africa or APA insurance. They will guide you through this process.
  • Choose the right farming activity: I am a farmer an I practice mostly maize (Mostly for silage), dairy farming and a bit of horticulture. I run a business in town and I have to balance these activities together in an organized manner. We have employees and structures in place who have been working on the farm for many years doing the farming activities I mentioned above. You can, however, notice that I said we do a bit of horticulture. This is because horticulture is a bit tricky. It's very hard to balance horticulture with other things. The risks are too high and you need to be a very attentive person (or have vegetables in your system instead of blood :D). You need to choose a safe agribusiness venture like bull rearing, sheep or goat farming. I am not saying you should not grow vegetables. This is my personal take on the matter, I believe horticulture is too sensitive to work from a distance. Choose what works. Stop following catchy article headlines that promise you millions in 1 month.
  • Experience: There is nothing better than getting hands-on farm experience. Take a month off and head to the farm. Get your hands dirty and learn the core things about your venture. Get to know important things like how to grow and sell your farm produce. This will help you later when your farm employees give you lame excuses on what going on at the farm.

These tips are not an assurance to success, they are merely guides to help you make smart decisions.

Lessons learnt during the 2019 drought in Kenya

Things are now starting to get back to normal in Kenya. Reports of rain can be heard in most corners of the country. This is a relief to many. Mostly for the farmers who were not prepared to face the drought. Most counties were pushed into alarm as the dry conditions and high temperatures persisted from January to Mid April this year. Farmers and consumers complained of lack of water and high food prices everywhere. Mostly farmers. Their voices were the loudest in this protest against nature.

Amidst all these complains, there was a small group of farmers who were thanking God for showing them mercy. Crop farming has never been sweeter for these few individuals who were smart enough to get their farm affairs in order. These are the guys who have irrigation systems and enough water either installed or strategically located on their farms; Rivers, dams and drilled boreholes ( Most hand- dug wells around the country dried up as soon as the drought hit March). While everyone was wailing and lamenting, these guys have had vegetables growing on their farms all along. They dictated the prices and nature was on their side. Brokers could not even touch them. They had food. They held all the cards.

I had a run-in with one of them who tapped me on the back and told me how happy he was to have invested in an irrigation system and a drilled borehole. He was selling various vegetables weekly on his two-acre farm and making a profit of Ksh 150,000 weekly. He had spent a lot of money setting up his farm and was grateful that all the money he invested was not going to waste.

What does this story teach us? Nothing new. It just reaffirms how important water is in a farmers life. It is the thin line that will determine if you will get a profit this year or not. Water is the single most important factor in all farms. Never take this lightly. Do not do fake mathematics and assume the water you have can do large scale farming (In horticulture terms - 5 acres is large scale).

When you are getting into farming, you need to ENSURE you have a stable supply of water. If your water is unreliable then don't get too ambitious and plant a big farm. Start small and hassle all the way until you get the ability to either drill a borehole or lease a farm which is near a river/dam.

The first step is getting a reliable supply of water. The next step is investing in an irrigation system that suits your farm needs. Getting this factors right will not only get you in the second group of farmers who laugh all the way to the bank during the dry season, but it will also give you the ability to efficiently use inputs, such as fertilizer, water and by enhancing the yields and quality of the crops farmers grow.

Farming is profitable but also a risky business. The risky mostly applies to Horticulture (Vegetable farming). When you don't checklist water/irrigation on your farm, then you will miss out on many opportunities that other smart farmers enjoy.

Read this before starting a dairy farm

Starting a dairy farm especially in Kenya is no easy task. A new dairy farm needs a lot of planning and capital! Planning, however, is the big word here! You cannot wake up one morning, check your bank account, buy stuff and start a dairy farm. Starting a dairy farm needs more than money…it needs planning and clear goals of where you are going and what you need to achieve. If you add a bit of passion to the mix and you are destined for success.

We are going to focus on two important factors which are the main determinants to milk production; Breed selection and Feeding. Other honourable productivity mentions include; Health, reproduction and housing. If you get these steps right, then you are on the right track to success.

Look for a good breed

You are starting a dairy farm to get milk and make money right? Yes! Knowing the right breed to buy is a priority because it will determine how much milk you get daily (This is assuming you will manage your farm well - and in manage, I mean feeding your cows right and making sure they don't get sick).

These are some of the main breeds found in Kenya;

  • Fresian: The Fresian has a milk yield between 25–30 litres per day.
  • Jersey: The Jersey breed has a milk yield between 15–20 litres per day.
  • Ayrshire: The Ayrshire has a milk yield of 20 litres per day.
  • Guernsey: The Guernsey cow can give you up to 25 litres per day.
  • Fleckvieh: The Fleckvieh breed is a multi-purpose, meaning it can be used for milk and meat. It produces between 18-20 litres per day.

Follow the right breeding programs to ensure your cow gives birth every year. It's a huge blessing when your cow gives birth every year. It's a big deal. It ensures you have a constant flow of milk and new cows to replace the old ones.

Always use artificial insemination (AI) to breed your dairy cows. AI gives you imported, superior, disease-free bull semen that will improve your herd.

It is cheaper to buy local breeds and use AI to perfect them over the years. It is time-consuming but it will save you a lot of money as a beginner farmer.

Click here if you would like to know how to choose a good dairy cow

Feeding

Cows are simple creatures. Give them food and they will give you milk. Give them enough good and nutritious food and they will give you a lot of milk. Food and water should readily be available to your dairy cows. They should never know hunger. They should learn about hunger from the news (For those who like to play music and TV to cows :D).

That's it.

Cow forage is divided into two groups; Dry and wet. This group constitute 50% of its daily feed. An example of dry feed is hay. An example of wet feed is silage. You can feed dry and wet forage together or separately. It depends on the farmer.

The other half (50%) of feed is comprised of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins. The concentrates are mixed together at a feed mill where they can then be fed to the dairy cows. Minerals help in boosting milk and general body conditioning. You can find minerals in your local agro-vet store. Mix the minerals with the feed.

Protein sources are maize meal, cottonseed cake, sunflower cake, fish meal etc.

More Tips:

  • Grow your feed and harvest your feed before buying the cow.
  • Write down a business plan so that you can have your facts straight.
  • Vaccinate your cows and perform regular health checks.

Focus on these two things and you are destined to succeed.

How to grow Lucerne for your dairy cows

Lucerne is an awesome source of protein for your dairy cows. Milk yield increases in a short time after using lucerne which makes it one of the best feeds to give your dairy cows.

Lucerne is a high yielding legume that can be fed directly to cows (after wilting), made into hay or pellets. It performs best in dry areas (under irrigation) or areas with loose soil. Lucerne does not like waterlogged soil which makes its' long tap root to rot and die off.

Lucerne can last up to 4-5 years with good care. It is, however, a very sensitive crop and can fail to grow well if not cared for. One of the things that need to be taken care of is the crown. This should be protected in all scenarios especially when cutting or grazing your dairy cow.

Important Notes

  • Lucerne packs a lot of protein that will get your cows
  • producing more milk in no time.
  • Its drought resistant and high yielding.
  • Lucerne grows best in loose soil and performs miserably in waterlogged areas.
  • Lucerne is not a fast growing and needs a lot of care to establish itself.
  • Lucerne fixes 200 Kg of nitrogen per hectare every year. Such
  • a big boost in soil productivity.
  • Lucerne can give you an approximate production of 12,000 Kg per hectare per year. (Multiple cutting from 3-4 times per
  • year.
  • Maintain a height of 6-7 cm to avoid crown damage.

How to grow LucerneI

  • Cover crops (i.e other grasses and weeds) will compete with lucerne seedlings for sunlight and nutrients and this can
  • affect crop growth.
  • Lucerne needs a lot of calcium so if your soil has a pH of 6 and above you are safe. It can handle soil up to a pH of 8.5.
  • Do not give weeds or other grasses any space to grow. They will quickly over-take Lucerne due to its slow growth and affect establishment. Use herbicides to do this.
  • Lucerne is a legume and does not need nitrogen to fertilize, it, however, needs a lot of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Apply 100 Kg of single super phosphate fertilizer per hectare.
  • You will be able to see fine spindly stems and narrow leaves which become bluish green (or purple in severe cases) when your Lucerne has a deficiency of phosphorous. This happens often in acidic soils.
  • Potassium deficiency can be noticed when you see yellow or white spots around the margins of older leaves. This reduces yields significantly and increases disease outbreaks.

Sowing

  • Sow Lucerne seeds as soon as the rains begin falling. Do not experiment with irrigation if you do not have enough water lest you fail and cry.
  • Sow the seeds by broadcasting or in shallow furrows of 30cm apart. Sow the seeds at a rate of 5 Kg - 7.5 Kg per hectare.DOuble the number of seeds sown if you are planning to use irrigation (To ensure your success if you play around!). Cover the seeds to a depth of approximately 0.6 cm.
  • Inoculate your seeds from rhizobia if you are growing Lucerne for the first time.
Lucerne growing process

Pests

  • Lucerne can be affected by numerous pests that can cause a lot of damage if not controlled. Make use of chemicals and use resistant varieties.

Harvesting

  • Start harvesting when the crops begin to flower. Cut at 6 cm above the ground every 5 to 7 weeks. Cut Lucerne monthly if grown under irrigation (no jokes).

For more information on feeding Lucerne to your dairy cows please refer to this article

Boost your milk by feeding Lucerne to your dairy cows

When it comes to affordable alternative protein solutions for your dairy cows, Lucerne (also called Alfalfa) is King! Lucerne provides a huge pack of nutrients (energy, protein, fibre, and minerals) to your dairy cows that are affordable and highly digestible.

Lucerne is a high yielding legume with deep roots which naturally fix nitrogen in the soil. Lucerne is usually established from seed. Lucerne is very sensitive and will not grow in soils that are heavy or get water logged easily. These conditions make its tap root to rot and die off.

A lot of care and nurturing is needed when growing lucerne. They are very sensitive and the crown needs to be protected when you are cutting it or grazing. They can last 4-5 years with good management. My take, its better to cut for or direct feeding yourself and avoid grazing. You will be spending money to grow these crops, so it's better to be safe.

Some of the benefits of Lucerne are;

Source of energy: Lucerne contains high-quality energy that beneficial to your dairy cows. Providing energy in adequate amounts is usually difficult for most farmers in Kenya thus feeding our dairy cows with lucerne will help increase your milk and improve reproduction in high yielding dairy cows. Lucerne contains a highly digestible source of starches and pectins which are used by the rumen bacteria as a source of energy. Lucerne also contains a highly-digestible source of protein and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) which plays a role of increasing the amount of energy available to the cow when compared to grass hay.

Source of protein: Lucerne is mostly known for its protein reserves. It contains highly digestible protein and it a higher proportion of ruminal undegradable (RUP)/ bypass protein (25%-35%) RUPI than grass hays.

Greater mineral content: Lucerne contains a greater concentration of phosphorus, calcium potassium, sulfur, magnesium, iron, selenium and zinc than grass hays. Minerals are concentrated more and readily available in Lucerne forage harvested during its early stage of maturity. The concentration of minerals is greater and more available in alfalfa forage harvested at earlier stages of maturity. Minerals will however not make a big impact on performance and profitability as inorganic minerals purchased from agro-stores are relatively affordable.

If you are planning to grow lucerne and sell as a business, it is very important to follow the right steps on growing and harvesting. Lucerne quality greatly impacts milk production and this impact can even be felt by giving your dairy cows 2 kg of lucerne every day.

Feeding

  • Do not feed fresh cut lucerne directly to cows. Give it time to wilt, this will prevent bloating in cows.
  • If you are planning to graze your animals, use a rotational grazing system. Leave the farm unused for 30 to 35 days for re-growth. Graze your animals when the soil is dry to avoid root damage from trampling.
  • Turn your excess lucerne into hay. TO get the best quality, cut your Lucerne in the early bud stage. Lucerne can also be dried and processed into pellets.

Lucerne is a great protein source and feeding it to your dairy cows will boost milk production and general performance when compared to grass alone. Go for it!

Watch out for our next article on steps for growing Lucerne.

Is Managu farming worth it?

If there is a vegetable I can eat all day, every day then it's Managu (African Nightshade). Managu, when cooked with milk cream, has this taste that can confuse you to think you are eating chicken after a whole year of starving. Okay, maybe that's a bit too much praise. If you have ever eaten Managu then you know what I mean. There are some people who complain that Managu tastes bitter. That's because they do not know how to cook it. The trick is how you handle it. Make sure you wash the leaves twice or thrice after boiling them. Then the bitter taste will go away. Ooh, don't forget to add cream when you are cooking it. Doing this will give you the best results. Thank me later.

With so many agribusiness ideas online, it is often difficult to know which ideas are actually worth it and worth the trouble. Many farmers in Kenya are always worried about the problem of what kind of farming activity to do to earn a decent living. Where do I start? What's the cheapest crop to grow with less capital? What do I grow? Which crops fetch the most profit? Spend a few minutes reading this article and it will give you the motivation to grow one of the most underestimated vegetables in Kenya and earn an honest living from it. Managu.

Managu is known by many names to different people. It is known by namasaka by the Luhya, mnavu by the Swahili, osuga by the Luo, Sucha by the Kalenjin, Kitulu by the Kamba, ormomoi by the Maasai, ndunda by the taita. Managu/ African nightshade originated from Africa and has since spread to many parts of the world.Managu/ African nightshade boasts a lot of health benefits which has seen its value and demand raise. Good, healthy and tasty foods are now trending in various parts of the world and Managu is one of them.

The following are the health benefits of Managu;

  • Beta-carotene: Extemmely high
  • Vitamin E: Medium
  • Folic Acid: Medium to high
  • Ascorbic Acid: High to extremely high
  • Calcium: Medium
  • Iron: Medium
  • Protein: 2.0%-4.0%

Economics
There are many factors that might affect your production so the figures indicated below are just a guide. You need to have good seeds, an irrigation system, good management and planning to get great Managu yields.

Assuming all those factors are met, you can get a yield between 300 Kg- 500 Kg of Managu/ African Night Shade per Acre. One acre of Managu farming will cost you between 20,000-30,000. This calculation is done with the thought you already have a reliable irrigation system in place. An acre of drip irrigation costs between Ksh 70,000- Ksh 100,000.

An average Managu sack/bag is measured at 50 Kg.This means one acre of Managu can give you an average of 8 bags per acre.

1 kg of Managu goes for Ksh 30 (Ksh 60 during the dry season) and an average Managu sack/bag is measured at 50 Kg. This means one acre of Managu can give you an average of 8 bags per acre.

Managu income per acre is therefore around 500 Kg x Ksh 30 (per kg) =Ksh 15,000 (per week). You can harvest Managu for 2 months that means your total income will be Ksh 120,000. Subtract this from your expenses and you will be left with Ksh 90,000 profit.

Expense Considerations

  • Land
  • Seedlings
  • Chemicals (Foliar, Pesticides and Fungicides)                      
  • Farm Equipment (Irrigation, General Tools)
  • Water
  • Transportation
  • Salaries/ Wages

Market prices are not fixed and can change depending on the weather and season. This should not discourage you because you can decide to sell your Managu in bunches (which has more profits by the way) directly to the consumer thus bypassing the middlemen and market vendors.

Selling Strategies

  • Wholesale:  Signing supply contracts of Managu with supermarkets and large retail stores.
  • Restaurants: Delivering your Managu to restaurants and hotels. This a profitable approach and most reliable because people eat food every day. You need to be consistent and reliable when dealing with restaurant lest you lose the supply deal to other players.
  • Farm Gate:  This means selling products straight from the farm. The main people who buy produce from the farm are brokers so be ready to bargain well with them.         

So, what is the conclusion? Managu farming is a worthy investment for any beginner farmer in Kenya. The capital input is less and the demand is there. If you would like to know how to grow Managu click here

How to increase your cow milk production

Milk is a tasty beverage (According to me 😀)... that has long been associated with good health, making it one of the most consumed drinks throughout Kenya and the world. Milk contains valuable nutrients that offers a range of health benefits. One of these nutrients is Calcium which prevents a condition called osteoporosis. The fact that so many people in the world love milk and are drinking it daily, means the demand for milk is high and you can earn a living by being a producer of raw/processed milk. However generating a stable income from milk production is not that easy. You need to put in a lot of effort, time, brilliance and patience to get good profits.It does not matter if you own a pedigree dairy cow or indigenous (local) breed in Kenya. You need to have the right skills and information to know what makes the cow tick so that it can produce more milk for you. Milk means money, more milk means more money. Without further ado, let me get straight to the point and explain how you can boost your milk production. The aim of keeping a dairy cow is to obtain the maximum amount of milk. A cow will perform at its best only if its basic needs are met. These include:
  • Food and water should ALWAYS be available to your cows.
  • Your dairy cows should always be in good health.
  • The cows should have a good living environment that is free from discomfort and uncomfortable temperatures.
  • Cows need to be handled well. Make sure you treat your cows with care and not harrass them. No necessary whips! Mmesikia?! 😅
Good feeding and nutrition alone constitute 60 per cent of the production cost of milk. Hence, feeding management play a vital role in farm economy. Nutrients are substances obtained from food and used in the body to promote growth, maintenance, reproduction and production. Important nutrients that dairy cows need are energy, proteins, minerals, vitamins and water According to the East Africa Dairy Development Project by Cgiar, Ensure your dairy cows get the following everyday to boost your milk yield;

Energy

The energy portion of the feed fuels all body functions, enabling the animal to undertake various activities including milk synthesis. This is the major nutrient (in terms of quantity) that dairy cows require. Energy can be obtained from several types of feed stuffs that contain either carbohydrates or lipids (fats and oils). Carbohydrates are the major source of energy in the diet of dairy cows.
  • Maize
  • Sorghum
  • Oats
  • Grasses i.e Kikuyu, Rhodes, Star, Bracharia and Napier
Carbohydrates constitute between 50% and 80% of the dry matter in forages and grains.

Risks

Giving less energy: The most obvious sign of energy deficiency is poor body condition due to excessive weight loss. Lactating cows are unable to reach peak milk production in early lactation resulting in low lactation yields. Giving too much energy: Cows consuming too much energy become too fat, resulting in low conception rates. They are prone to difficult calving, retained placenta, and higher incidence of milk fever and ketosis. In early lactation, feeding too much energy, especially in the form of grain, may lead to too much acid in the rumen (acidosis), increased risk of displaced abomasum, depressed feed intake and low milk fat percentage.

Protein

Proteins provide the building material for all body cells and tissues (e.g. blood, skin, organs and muscles). Proteins are also major components of products such as milk and meat. Lack of protein therefore adversely affects milk production. Sources of protein for dairy cows are; Oilseeds and oilseed cakes: Residues after the oil is removed from oilseeds, e.g. cottonseed meal or cake, whole cottonseed, whole soybeans (cracked) or meal and sunflower meal or cake. Products of animal origin: Such as fish meal, blood meal, meat and bone meal, feather meal and by-products from milk processing (e.g. skim milk and whey). Herbaceous legumes: Such as lucerne, desmodium and fodder trees (e.g. calliandra and sesbania). Non-protein nitrogen: Cows can obtain protein from sources that do not contain true proteins, such as urea and poultry waste (contains uric acid). These sources are referred to as non-protein nitrogen sources. Microorganisms in the rumen use the nitrogen in urea to synthesize protein for their own growth.

Risks

Giving less protein: For lactating cows, there is a sudden drop in milk production if the amount of protein in the diet is suddenly reduced. Severe deficiency may cause excessive weight loss in lactating cows, reduced growth rate in calves and heifers, and result in underweight calves being born. Giving too much protein: Protein is an expensive nutrient and feeding excess is a waste of money as protein is not stored in the body but is broken down by microorganisms in the rumen and excreted in the form of urea.

Minerals

Minerals are nutrients required in small amounts in the feed. They are required for the body to function properly, i.e. remain healthy, reproduce and produce milk. Although roughages and concentrates contain minerals, the types and amounts vary widely and hence may not meet the requirements. During ration formulation, macrominerals calcium, phosphorus and magnesium are taken into account. Roughages will supply adequate amounts of potassium and common salt can adequately provide sodium. Some ingredients (supplements) are added to supply a specific mineral (e.g. limestone, salt, magnesium oxide).

Risks

• Poor fertility: lack of heat signs and low conception rate • Low milk production • Poorly developed bones in young animals (rickets) • Health disorders, for example, milk fever • Poor body condition, which may be accompanied by a change in coat colour

Vitamins

Vitamins are nutrients in the feed required by the body in tiny amounts for normal functioning of the body, through their involvement in many body processes.

Risks

Giving less vitamins: Deficiencies are rare under normal conditions but may occur under certain conditions e.g extreme stress, drought, diseases. Giving too much vitamins: There is no important health consequence of excess vitamins as the body is able to get rid of the excess. However, vitamin supplements are expensive and hence feeding too much is an economic loss to the farmer.

Water

Water, though not classified as a nutrient, is essential for life in all animals. Water accounts for 74% of the calf’s weight at birth and 59% of that of a mature cow. Every 100 kg of milk contains up to 87 kg of water.