INTERCROPPING.
JANE MUGAMBI 22ND FEB 2011.
The Mwea Irrigation Agricultural Development (MIAD) Centre has released a list of crops that farmers in rice growing schemes could grow to boost their incomes.
The lead rice researcher at the centre, Dr. Raphael Wanjogu, said research had shown that farmers could grow legumes and maize when rice was off season, utilizing their land that otherwise lies fallow for added income.
Dr. Wanjogu, who spoke at the centre during a field day to demonstrate the crops today said besides improving the food security situation in the rice schemes, growing the legumes also boosted soil fertility, reducing the farmers’ need for artificial fertilization of the soil.
The farmers saw healthy crops of green grams, soya and black beans and cow peas which Wanjogu said could be planted during the long rains between March and June and with limited irrigation during the dry months between September and October when there is no rice in the fields.
Dr. Wanjogu said the rotation of the legumes with rice had been proven to yield very good results for both crops as the legumes utilized residue fertilizers after rice while they fixed the nitrogen in the soil for the next rice crop.
The centre has also come up with a package of technologies to make the growing of the Nerica rain-fed rice more affordable and therefore more competitive to imported non-aromatic rices.
Among the new technology is zero tillage where farmers kill the weeds before introducing the rice and seed broadcasting to ensure better crop coverage and therefore higher yields per unit.
The researcher observed that with guidance and supervision, the farmers could also be contracted to grow seed maize since the rice schemes were ideal for seed multiplication.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
FROST BITE
FROST BITE.
JANE MUGAMBI 22nd FEB 2011.
MUNUNGA tea factory is loosing over 4million shillings following frost bite that has burnt over 100 acres of tea stems in Kirinyaga County.
The frost bite has affected Mukonyo, Gikumbo where farmers are watching helpless as their tea leaves dry due to the frost bite.
According to Muriithi Gituri a farmer and also a village elder, they woke up on Sunday and found out that over 50 acres had all their tea leaves burnt.
HE said that the effect is going to be felt as the sunshine continues.
Mr.Gituri said that they first experienced such climate six years ago when 1000 acres were affected.
He added that farmers are counting losses after they failed to deliver their tea leaves to their respective tea collection centers citing that they will loose over 4 million in three months.
He added that the effect is going to be very heavy citing that since tea picking is the main activity in the area, they are going to be forced to walk far distances to look for jobs.
Mr.Gituri added that the small tea leaves that are growing are very unhealthy and very weak for sale saying that it is scattered.
Mununga Tea factory Field Service Coordinator Joseph Mithamo said that they have accessed the area and seen that there is no tea that is going to be collected from the area since there is nothing and that the growing tea leaves will produce poor tea quality.
He added that they are going to assist some farmers where the damage is not extensive by hiring workers to help them pick before the frost bite spreads.
He said that some areas have been damaged extensively sending fears that they will be forced to either close the company temporarily or seek assistance from their sister factories to help them produce the tea.
Mr. Mithamo went on to say that they are loosing 45,000/- per day an amount that is going to be felt for the next three months.
He added that if the sun continues to shine, then the frost will continue destroying the crop until when the rain will fall.
He also added that they have liaised with banks to reschedule loan payment for over 250 farmers.
HE said that they are going to hold several meetings with the farmers to avert a similar problem in the future.
Ends..
0723321326
JANE MUGAMBI 22nd FEB 2011.
MUNUNGA tea factory is loosing over 4million shillings following frost bite that has burnt over 100 acres of tea stems in Kirinyaga County.
The frost bite has affected Mukonyo, Gikumbo where farmers are watching helpless as their tea leaves dry due to the frost bite.
According to Muriithi Gituri a farmer and also a village elder, they woke up on Sunday and found out that over 50 acres had all their tea leaves burnt.
HE said that the effect is going to be felt as the sunshine continues.
Mr.Gituri said that they first experienced such climate six years ago when 1000 acres were affected.
He added that farmers are counting losses after they failed to deliver their tea leaves to their respective tea collection centers citing that they will loose over 4 million in three months.
He added that the effect is going to be very heavy citing that since tea picking is the main activity in the area, they are going to be forced to walk far distances to look for jobs.
Mr.Gituri added that the small tea leaves that are growing are very unhealthy and very weak for sale saying that it is scattered.
Mununga Tea factory Field Service Coordinator Joseph Mithamo said that they have accessed the area and seen that there is no tea that is going to be collected from the area since there is nothing and that the growing tea leaves will produce poor tea quality.
He added that they are going to assist some farmers where the damage is not extensive by hiring workers to help them pick before the frost bite spreads.
He said that some areas have been damaged extensively sending fears that they will be forced to either close the company temporarily or seek assistance from their sister factories to help them produce the tea.
Mr. Mithamo went on to say that they are loosing 45,000/- per day an amount that is going to be felt for the next three months.
He added that if the sun continues to shine, then the frost will continue destroying the crop until when the rain will fall.
He also added that they have liaised with banks to reschedule loan payment for over 250 farmers.
HE said that they are going to hold several meetings with the farmers to avert a similar problem in the future.
Ends..
0723321326
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