SATURDAY NATION APRIL 10, 2021 FREE with your Saturday Nation

SeedsofGold Sugarcane Nyandarua People Why cows go Agronomist Spinach

farmer and his super- blind and the possible management during
happily growing cane, remedies, P.27 rainy season, P.28
P.26

My silage
factory
Eric De Jong offers silage
production services to large-
scale farmers in a business
that is growing amid changing
farming practices, P.24-25
22 SATURDAY NATION APRIL 10, 2021

SeedsofGold
Feedback
high temperatures above
Traders sell 25°C leading to fibrous
cabbages at stems with a bitter taste.
Muthurwa Carol Mutua
market in Department of Crops,
Nairobi on Horticulture and Soils,
Monday. They Egerton University.
source them
from Molo,
Naivasha and
Kajiado and
sell at between
Sh25 and Sh40
as wholesale
prices decline.
Rabbit urine
DENNIS
ONSONGO |
NATION
market
Please assist us get contact
details of the person buying
rabbit urine.
Kenneth M. Ngai

I have searched online and

found these contacts: Ngigi
in Kiambu, 0710505458.
Also, there is Kenya Com
Rabbit Consortium,
Rabbits Urine Extra, Rabbit
Breeders Association of
Kenya, Alcare Group and
Aqua Farm Consultants.
Dennis Kigiri,
Department of Animal
Sciences,
Egerton University.

All about growing sweetest

custard apples in the market ASK THE
and yes if interested, you Spacing used during planting million from an acre. The are soaked in warm water
EXPERTS
Growing best can buy a piece of land.
Custard apple does well in
is 4m by 4m or 6m by 6m
and the planting holes
demand for custard apple is
high than the supply hence
overnight to break dormancy
and allow germination to

custard apples areas with moderate and

well-distributed rainfall but
it can withstand drought
should be 60×60×60cm.
This will give 150-300 trees
on an acre depending on
you may not go wrong with
the farming. The fruits are
available in most open air
take place.
Basil seeds are first
raised in a nursey bed and
I want to know more about hence can be grown under the spacing used. The field markets and groceries in later transplanted to the
custard apple. How is irrigation. should be kept weed-free. Kenya. They are exported, seedbed. The seeds are
this fruit farmed? Where Temperature ranges The most common with Europe being the main best raised in a greenhouse
does one get seeds? How from 15°C to 30°C and varieties in Kenya are consumer. after which they are
can one engage in cus- it does not tolerate Hybrid, Washington, Carol Mutua transplanted at a spacing of Prof Omedo Bebe
tard apple farming? How low temperatures. The Balanagar and Red Sitaphal. Department of Crops, 10-15cm apart. Basil can be Do you have any question
does one know good crop branches of custard apple Pests and diseases also Horticulture and Soils, grown in open fields or in a or enquiry on agribusiness,
quality? Can one buy small are brittle thus break easily affect the trees and they Egerton University. greenhouse and it requires marketing, logistics, proces-
piece of land to farm it on? if there is strong wind should be controlled using warm temperatures and sing, innovation, and tech-
Where can custard apple blowing. It is advisable to the appropriate methods. does not tolerate frost. nology? Our pool of experts
be purchased locally? And
anything else to do with
plant windbreakers around
the orchard to prevent
strong winds.
The trees start bearing fruits
3-4 years after planting
but grafted varieties start
Planting herbs Celery seeds can be
directly planted in the
seedbed or first started in
from Egerton University will
respond to your questions
with proper advice. Please
custard apple.
Custard apple does producing after two years. I want to know how to plant a nursery bed and they also send your questions to: sa-
Upin Vasani
well in a wide range of soils The fruits are climacteric, basil, parsley and celery. take long to germinate hence tnation@[Link].
as long as they are deep, that is, if immature fruits are Are the seeds planted soaking in warm water will com. Read us online at www.
Custard apple is locally
well-drained and with a harvested they will not ripen. directly in the field or in the break dormancy and induce [Link]/seeds of gold
known as “matomoko”
pH of 5-8. Custard apple One tree produces 100 seedbed first? Again, do germination.
and its farming is gaining
can be propagated from fruits whose weight ranges they do well in cold areas? Celery does well in areas
popularity. Its farming is for
seeds, which are obtained from 300-400g, thus, each Mwangi L.M. which are not too hot and
sure a profitable venture
and the produce has a from mother plants with offers 30kg. not too cold. It will do well in
good characteristics or by During the off season, Parsley seeds are areas with a temperature of
ready market locally and is
vegetative propagation by the price per kilo is from directly planted in the main 15-25°C. Low temperatures
also exported.
use of cuttings, grafting, Sh80-Sh130, which give one seedbed but they take long of 13°C will lead to
One can easily engage
budding or layering. from Sh720,000 to Sh1.2 to germinate, therefore, it premature flowering while
in custard apple farming
is recommended that they
Prof Paul Kimurto

STAY IN TOUCH GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Mutuma Mathiu MANAGING EDITOR: Bernard Mwinzi HEAD OF PRODUCTION: John Kiplagat
SeedsofGold ASSISTANT EDITOR: Jackson Mutinda SUB-EDITOR: Michael Oriedo PHOTO EDITOR: Joan Pereruan CHIEF GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Andrew Anini
REPORTERS: Francis Mureithi, Irene Mugo, Elizabeth Ojina, Waweru Wairimu, Sammy Waweru GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Andrew Anini.
@SeedsOfGoldKE @SeedsofgoldKE
SATURDAY NATION APRIL 10, 2021 23

SeedsofGold
Understanding export crops’ standard
The standard KS1758 cals. They should use the right chemicals up, and jewellery, and their nails must be
is the ultimate guide for the right purpose, and keenly follow kept short.
instructions as provided by the chemical Produce should be packaged in clean,
to anyone who wants manufacturers. well-labelled boxes. Relevant barcodes
to export horticultural This way, they avoid exceeding maxi- should be attached such that the produce
mum residue level (MRL),which has been is easily traceable, if need to trace it back
produce. One must a major hindrance in accessing interna- arises. The packaging containers should
tional [Link],producers must ob- be [Link] packaged produce should
know each and every serve the right pre-harvest intervals to al- be maintained at cool environment, to
bit of what it says low molecules of the pesticides to break- keep it fresh for longer.
down before harvesting.
to sell to markets Banned pesticides should never be used. What are the consequences of not
like the European Farmers should use pesticides which are adhering to KS1758?
specifically authorised by Pest Control Failure to adhere to KS1758 comes with
Union. Benjamin Tito, Products Board (PCPB) for use on particu- numerous risks especially along food
the Interim Head of lar crops. safety [Link] can easily be contam-
inated with microbial or physical con-
Horticultural Crops As expected, harvested produce taminants such as dust. The legal action
Directorate (HCD), must be transported from the farm taken against defaulters is dependent on
to processing areas. What are some who defaults. If for example a transport-
spoke to Rachel Kibui on of the things that KS1758 addresses er disobeys the rules,HCD prosecutes him
at this stage?
what the standard entails directly. If a trader in the retail market de-
Vehicles transporting produce should faults, HCD reports to the Public Health
and how exporters can be designed in a way that they are easy to Department, and the defaulter is prose-
adhere to it clean, and do not allow dust, or any oth- cuted under the Public Health Act.
er contaminants to get in. The produce
should also be put in sealable containers. You are expected to enforce these
Cool temperatures should be main- standards, which some farmers
Let’s start from the basic, what is tained when produce is being transport- don’t know. How do you ensure pro-
KS1758? ed to maintain freshness. ducers know them?
This is a standard that gives guidance We are actively involved in training
on how production should be done, How about at the pack house? stakeholders on KS1758 and other issues
and how crops should be handled until The pack house should be designed in concerning food safety and [Link]
they reach the market. KS1758 is bench- such a way that it allows the principal do this in partnership with the Europe-
marked on EuroGAP, which initially was of ‘first in, first out’, meaning that there an Union-funded Market Access Upgrade
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), but should be sequential,and systematic flow Programme (Markup).
was changed to Global GAP, which cov- of produce in and out. The programme is implemented in 12
ers the entire horticultural trade global- The floor and the grading tables should counties by the United Nations Indus-
[Link] KS1758 is domiciled in Kenya, be easy to wash. There should be ade- trial Development Organisation (Uni-
it borrows heavily from the Global GAP. quate lighting and ventilation and the do) in partnership with the government
KS1758 is divided into two parts; the first pack house should be protected from ro- and the private sector. We are organising
covers floriculture, and the second fruits, dents and birds. Actually, there should al- training that will offer stakeholders the-
vegetables,herbs and spices. ways be traps set,to catch the rodents and oretical and practical knowledge on GAP,
birds,in case they try to get access. KS1758 included.
So what should producers observe eas which were formally occupied by fac- lection thus is crucial. Irrigation water Workers in the pack house must wear
at the production level? tories for example, because the soil may should be clean and free of contaminants. protective gear, overalls, head gear and
Farmers should not produce food in ar- have retained harmful residuals. Site se- Farmers should avoid over-use of chemi- gumboots. They should not wear make- satnation@[Link]
24 SATURDAY NATION APRIL 10, 2021

Seeds of Gold
SeedsofGold
Livestock

My secret of making silage for big returns,

Eric De Jong offers silage-making services
where he harvests maize crop, chops into tiny
pieces using machines, compacts and later
bales in a business that has seen the investor
reap in a sector where there is little competition

BY STANLEY KIMUGE

T
wo tractors move side by side on
the maize farm in Uasin Gishu
County; one inside the crop, the
other on the edge.
The one inside the farm – a harvest-
er – cuts the crops, chops them into
tiny pieces and funnels the product
to the back of the other tractor.
The job is done with precision en-
suring that the distance between
them is maintained and nothing
goes wrong.
It is a spectacle to behold as the
work goes on the 300-acre farm
known as Elfam, owned by Senator
Margeret Kamar and is located off
the Eldoret–Iten Road.
Eric De Jong, 28, who runs a firm
known as Agri-Assist consultancy, is
driving the harvester and is keen to
see the work completed.
On this day, he is offering silage
making services on the farm, with
the work entailing harvesting the Philip Wanyonyi of Agri-Assist con-
crop, cutting it into tiny pieces, com- sultancy explains the silage-making
pacting and storing. process on a farm in Uasin Gishu
“Initially, we used to lease a farm County. JARED NYATAYA| NATION
and grow the maize and make our
own silage then sale. But this was He invested between Sh35 million
a bit expensive, from growing and and Sh40 million into the business,
maintaining the crops in the field to with the money mostly going on pur-
making silage and then marketing,” chasing the machines.
he recounts. Away from the maize farm where a tractor to the location where it is sugar content in maize is largely re- tonnes of silage from each acre,
De Jong, a native of Luxembourg, the machines were working, work- spread on plastic sheets for compac- leased, aiding the fermentation pro- which is equivalent to 31 bags per Agri-Assist
says he started the business three ers dressed in overalls are busy com- tion,”observes De Jong. cess.” acre of commercial maize. workers
years ago after realising that most pacting the silage spread on plastic There, it is placed on top of a layer The compaction allows the elimi- “In the past, farmers have been dig- make silage
dairy farmers in the region and oth- sheets. (2.5cm) of wheat straws or dried Bo- nation of air since the silage is made ging and burying the silage under- on a farm in
ers across Kenya were struggling to Once the maize crop has been har- ma Rhodes grass and then compact- through a fermentation [Link] ground. But we don’t do that to avoid Uasin Gishu
get quality feeds. vested by the six-row harvester, it is ed and then covered by a special pol- pit (measuring 16 metres by 50 me- rotting since the maize crop has high County.
“I came to Kenya in 2014 as an in- shredded and crushed, including the ythene bag. Thereafter, it is covered tres and three metres high) can hold moisture content. We place ours on JARED
tern with SNV (Netherlands dairy stalks killing the stem borer. with a layer of soil (15 cm), explains between700 tonnes to 800 tonnes of top of the dry wheat straws,” he ob- NYATAYA|
development organisation) work- “The corn crusher ensures that we De Jong. silage. After four to five weeks, the si- serves. NATION
ing with farmers. As I moved around, get the right size of the feeds that “We don’t include any ingredients lage is ready for the market. Before the maize in the field is har-
I noticed gap in the market when it will not cause problems to the cow like molasses when preserving the si- Philip Wanyonyi, the operations vested, Wanyonyi says it must attain
came to accessing quality feeds and during feeding and digestion. Once lage. The machines chop, crush and manager in charge of at least 18 certain attributes to meet nutritional
promised to do something.” crushed, the feed is transported by compact it in such a way that the workers, says they get at least 18 requirement for dairy cows.
“The crop should have a high ratio
of leaves to stem, good cob and grain
that has not been damaged or rot-
ten. Leaves should be green, the stem
thick to ensure good mixture of stem,
leaves and grains,”he explains.
The silage is sold as loose, baled or
packed in plastic bags or drums to
farmers in the North Rift, Central,
Nairobi and Eastern.
“We sell at Sh9 per kilo of loose si-
lage and Sh12 per kilo of baled prod-
uct to wholesalers but the prices rise
in the retail market,” says Wanyonyi,
noting the job is labour intensive.
De Jong says when he started, he
was working with several small farm-
ers but changed the model.
“I now work with mainly large-
scale farmers to enjoy the econo-
An excavator picks soil to cover tonnes of silage in Uasin Gishu County. mies of scale. The farmer supplies
Workers cover silage in Uasin Gishu County. JARED NYATAYA| NATION JARED NYATAYA| NATION maize per acre, thus, he is responsi-
SATURDAY NATION APRIL 10, 2021 25

SeedsofGold
Livestock

from harvest to feeds Make hay-making enjoyable and

easier with this hand machine

QUALITY

1 The crop should be ready

to harvest, that is, at the
stage when the seeds of
the maize crops should be
soft but not milky when you
squeeze open.

2 For napier grass, it should

be about a metre high for
good quality silage. quality silage, pack or wrap it. Some- stability). If bunk life is improved,
Andrew
Koriata,the to compress the grass as more is
BY LEOPOLD OBI
times our input in the partnership al- cows will respond with increases in managing director added until one attains the de-

3
H
In case one is using le- so entails the administration, securi- dry matter intake and production.” of QIKSearch, ay-making normally pre- sired size,”he explains.
gume crops, they should ty and sales of the product and then Second, we have acids (formic and with manual baler. sents many challenges to On the back of the baler are two
have young pods which are we share the profit with the farmer,” sulphuric) used to immediately drop LEOPOLD OBI | small-scale farmers be- small nails, one on each side that
not dry. he says,adding in 2018 they produced silage pH and stop enzyme and bacte- NATION cause majority lack the holds the plunger.
1,400 tonnes of silage and in 2020, ria activity. Generally, these products right technology for the job. “After adding hay inside the bal-

4 The chopping and bag-

ging area or silage pit
must be clean.
4,600 tonnes.
Dr Francisca Lusweti,a livestock spe-
cialist who retired from Kenya Agri-
are applied to high-moisture silage
(>70% moisture) which would other-
wise be at risk for protein degrada-
The technology that is readily
available in the market largely
targets large-scale farmers. Fod-
er, one needs to find a twine. Tie
a loop in the twine and attach
it to the nails on the back of the
cultural and Livestock Research Or- tion. Often, sugars (molasses) are add- der growers with less than an baler. Repeat for another length

5 Ensure the silage is pro-

perly compacted for good
ganisation, says that for one to get
clean milk that is free of aflatoxin,
ed in conjunction with acids.
She advises that during preserva-
acre thus have to bale the grass
manually or incur a lot of cost
of twine or wire and attach to
the nail or cup hook on the oth-

‚
results. they should not make silage from rot- tion, one should properly manage the when hiring tractors. er side of the plunger. Run these
ten maize. silage. For instance, cover the silage Nevertheless, there are several two lengths of baler twine over
“With a good crop with clean grains immediately to maintain the quality. innovative gadgets that can help the top and down into the interi-
With a good crop that is not rotten or damaged, one “You can put soil on top of the pol- small farmers do the task, one of or of the baler.”
can get aflatoxin free feeds. There are ythene sheet to prevent entrance of them which is a hand-held baler The twines are meant to tie the
with clean grains also anti-spoilage agents that a farm- air. The distance from the field to pit that resembles a wheelbarrow. bale of hay once it slips out of the
that is not rotten or er can use to guarantee quality feeds.” should be as short as possible. The The manual baler developed machine.
The anti-spoilage agents or bacteria shorter the distance, the faster the by Qiksearch, a social enterprise, “The manual baler goes for
damaged, one can inoculants help in inhibiting harmful filling of the pit, thus better quality is contributing towards improv- Sh10,000 and is available across
get aflatoxin free bacteria from spoiling silage. silage. A pit should always be filled, ing dairy farming productivity, as the country in Kenya Farmers As-
feeds. “It is recommended that a farmer
use these anti-spoilage agents during
compacted and closed in 12 hours,”
she offers.
farmers use it to make up to 100
bales in a day.
sociation outlets. We also sensi-
tise farmers to grow pastures to
Dr Francesca Lusweti.
silage preparation so that you don’t According to her, silage can stay for Andrew Koriata, the managing curb shortage especially during
add them in the feeding troughs. If up to 20 years without damage when director QIKsearch, says the ma- drought,”says Koriata.
not, they can use it once they open,” properly compacted to eliminate ox- chine targets farmers who can- He notes by planting grass and
she says. ygen/air. not afford to own or hire tractors making hay, farmers enhance cli-
There are two main types of inhib- “If the silage is spoilt, throw it away and balers. mate change adaptation at the
itors. The propionates (or propionic because it contains aflatoxin causing To bale hay using the fabricated community level as they are able
acid) which reduce yeast and mould micro-toxins and most animals will machine, Koriata explains that to produce fodder that they feed
ble for ploughing, planting and main- growth. not eat it due to the bad smell.” the grass is added through the their animals in rain or shine.
taining the crop until it is ready for “It is often sprayed on silage at feed opening at the top.
harvesting. We then harvest, make time to improve bunk life (aerobic satnation@[Link] “When full, the plunger is used satnation@[Link]
26 SATURDAY NATION APRIL 10, 2021

Seeds of Gold SeedsofGold

Isaac Gatheca RESEARCH
on his
sugarcane
plantation in
Nyandarua.
WAIKWA MAINA
| NATION
64pc of agricultural
land at risk of pesticide
pollution globally - study
A study of agricultural land across 168
countries has revealed that 64 per cent of
land used for agriculture and food crops is at
risk of pesticide pollution. Almost a third of
these areas are considered to be at high-risk.
The study examined risk to soil, the
atmosphere, and surface and ground water.
It revealed Asia houses the largest land areas
at high risk of pollution, with China, Japan,
Malaysia, and the Philippines at highest risk.
University of Sydney research associate
and the study's lead author, Dr Fiona Tang,
said the widespread use of pesticides in
agriculture – while boosting productivity
– could have potential implications for the
environment, human and animal health.
"Our study has revealed 64 per cent of
the world's arable land is at risk of pesticide
pollution. This is important because the wider
scientific literature has found that pesticide
pollution can have adverse impacts on human
health and the environment," said Dr Tang.
He noted that pesticides are transported
to surface waters and groundwater through
runoff and infiltration, polluting water bodies,
thereby reducing the usability of water
Lessons learnt resources.
"Although the agricultural land in Oceania

Here is how I grow sweeter

shows the lowest pesticide pollution
risk, Australia's Murray-Darling basin is
considered a high-concern region both
due to its water scarcity issues, and its high

sugarcane in Nyandarua
biodiversity," said co-author Federico Maggi,
an associate professor from the School of
Civil Engineering and the Sydney Institute of
Agriculture.
"Globally, our work shows that 34 per cent
of the high-risk areas are in high-biodiversity
regions, 19 per cent in low-and lower-middle-
income nations and five per cent in water-
scarce areas," said Dr Tang.
Isaac Gathecha grows sugarcane on over an acre in the dry Ol Kaimbaga village in Nyandarua County, There is concern that overuse of
pesticides will tip the balance, destabilise
where dairy and potato farming are the main agricultural activities. The retired teacher spoke to ecosystems and degrade the quality of water
Waikwa Maina on his experiences growing cane away from the sugar zone sources that humans and animals rely on to
survive.
Global pesticide use is expected to
Why sugarcane? I plant my cane in the trenches. Over the climate and weather patterns of grow sugarcane in Nyandarua? increase as the population heads towards an
Gathecha: There is a time I visited Ol the years, I have spent over Sh1.7 mil- where you source the materials and Anthony Wahome, Kaimbaga area expected 8.5 billion by 2030.
Kalou Town and bought a tiny piece lion on the farm, which has gone on where you are going to grow. agricultural officer: Yes, and a good "In a warmer climate, as the global
of cane at Sh20. I felt robbed but saw planting materials, land preparation, number of farmers are now doing population grows, the use of pesticides is
a business opportunity. I vowed that fencing, manure, and other labour-re- How many plants does you farm it due to climate change factors and expected to increase to combat the possible
when I retire, cane farming would be lated charges. host? ready market. We have shortage of rise in pest invasions and to feed more
my retirement project. I didn’t want Gathecha: I currently have 800 stools sugarcane in Nyandarua with trad- people," said Prof Maggi.
to keep dairy cows or grow potatoes Your area is semi-arid, yet your of cane of the KEN 82-601 variety, each ers importing the produce from Me- Dr Tang said: "Although protecting
because in our region, everyone does cane is doing well, what’s the se- with an average of 30 pieces of sugar- ru and Kisii counties. But the biggest food production is essential for human
it. I did research on how to grow the cret? cane plants. This means I have some business is in value addition, making development, reducing pesticide pollution
cane and where to source planting Gathecha: The technology I use 24,000 pieces cane plants on the one- juice and other popular concoctions is equivalently crucial to protect the
materials. to grow the cane. I farm the crop in and-a-quarter acre. for health benefits. biodiversity that maintains soil health
trenches, which are three feet wide and functions, contributing towards food
So you finally retired started the and three feet deep filled with ma- Where is you market? What are the ideal conditions for security."
project… nure and green vegetation which Gathecha: Initially, I had challeng- growing the crop? Co-author, Prof Alex McBratney,
Gathecha: Yes, I retired in 2017 af- help retain moisture during dry sea- es selling the produce because most Wahome: The crop does well in loam the Director of the Sydney Institute of
ter serving as the head teacher Baha- son. I don’t use any chemicals but my people in this region don’t consume soils and performs very poorly in Agriculture at the University of Sydney, said:
ti Primary School for years. It has now agronomist advises on the type of top raw cane. But I came up with a strat- black clay soil. There are many sugar- "This study shows it will be important to
been five years since I started cane dressing fertiliser to use alongside the egy. I would give free sugarcane to my cane varieties, we are still trying sev- carefully monitor residues on an annual basis
farming. I sourced the one-foot long manure. This technology has helped neighbours and boda boda operators, eral to get the best for the region, but to detect trends in order to manage and
planting materials from Kisii, Naku- me grow the crop rain-fed. what later turned a marketing strate- planting materials are sourced from mitigate risks from pesticide use."
ru and Nyeri counties and employed gy as through this method, they were Kisii and Nyeri. "We recommend a global strategy to
workers who tilled the farm and What advice would you give able to learn how to eat the canes and Cane has minimal cost of produc- transition towards a sustainable, global
planted the cane. The biggest chal- someone who wants to start such they spread the word. I now sell to lo- tion compared to other crops but agricultural model that reduces food wastage
lenge when starting was that the farm a project? cals and traders at Sh200 a piece and growers must seek assistance from ag- while reducing the use of pesticides," said the
is rocky and in a semi-arid area raising Gathecha: They must consider the market is no longer a problem. ricultural officers. researchers.
my costs. I was forced to dig trench- source of water for improved produc- – Science Daily
es and source for tonnes of manure. tion and the market. Also, compare Would you advise someone to waikwamaina@[Link]
SATURDAY NATION APRIL 10, 2021 27

SeedsofGold
Vet On Call
because the disease leaves a scar
The common cause of blindness is tissue deeply sitting over the iris.
pink eye disease or infectious bovine It is the white spot that was seen
in the Nyandarua and Laikipia
keratoconjunctivitis, caused by highly blind cattle.
infectious bacteria called Moraxella bovis The cows get permanent-
ly blind because the scar tissue
does not allow the iris and pupil
BY JOSEPH MUGACHIA
imising its body size. That was a to function. It also does not allow
show of fear of the unknown be- light to pass through into the eye.

O
n Monday this week, the cause the animal can only feel, Some animals may die if un-
Daily Nation reported that hear and smell environmental treated especially when the orig-
cattle in Nyandarua and threats. Therefore, its posture and inal infection is complicated with
Laikipia were mysterious- movements are always extreme- bacteria that get into the eye and
ly losing sight. A picture of one of ly guarded. the brain. In addition to flies, dust
the cows showed the vagaries of The situation interferes with also transmits the disease.
blindness in cattle. the animal’s ability to eat and Treatment of IBK requires good
The animal was obviously blind make choice of nutritious herb- choice of antibiotics and a prop-
with a bluish-white spot in the age. That in turn leads to lowered er administration [Link]
right eye where the iris and pupil production, including weight antibiotic applications are more
should have been visible. The iris loss. Such animals should be kept recommended than intramuscu-
is a circular muscle that works in zero-grazing, fed well and be lar injections because a high con-
like a camera shutter and regu- separated from animals with centration of the antibiotic is re-
lates the size of the pupil. The pu- normal eyesight. They tend to be quired in the eye and the tears.
pil is the hole that admits light in- harassed by the normal animals From the history given in the
to the eye depending on the envi- causing them a lot of stress. They story, animal health service pro-
ronmental light intensity to facil- should be fattened and sold for viders did not appear to have dil-
itate vision and prevent damage meat. William Yegon feeds his dairy cows by the roadside at Rombei village in Mariashoni, Nakuru County. igently followed structured treat-
to the eye. I analysed the farmers’ history The farmer collects 40 litres of milk per day from the two cows he milks. JOHN NJOROGE | NATION ment regimes.
The animal was also very thin of their animals’ blindness and The farmers should also report
and the owner complained its the inconclusive solutions pro- the disease early at the first-tears

Why some cattle

milk production was very low. In posed by various animal health stage. It becomes more difficult to
addition, it tended to pull itself service providers. The conclu- restore eyesight when treatment
together like though it was min- sion was that they were waiting begins at the advanced stage, es-
for an investigation by the local pecially if the scar tissue has al-
agricultural officers, who needed ready started forming.
The discharge
turns into pus,
facilitation to reach them. Mean-
while, the animals continued to
go blind and all the East Coast Fever blindness is
different from that of IBK. It is

‚
lose sight and the farmers were caused by aggregation of lym-
tends to glue not even reporting the disease phocyte cells in the eye. The cells
the eyelids
together and the
animal initially
any more.
Farmers in these two counties
and their valuable animals need
not suffer any longer. From the
descriptions given by the farm-
possible remedies disappear over time once the in-
vading parasites are cleared from
the body.
The animal also gets generally
very sickly and shows many oth-
gets functional ers and the service providers, the my practice. The animals start help the bacteria to thrive. More and the animal initially gets func- er signs of the disease including
blindness and lots problem is pink eye disease or in- by shedding thin tears around tears are produced and they run tional blindness and lots of pain. swollen external lymph nodes,
fectious bovine keratoconjuncti- the eyelids. They tend to close the down the edge of the eye closest Animals at that stage look miser- high fever and frothing from the
of pain. vitis (IBK) or New Forest Disease. eyes to shield them from solar ir- to the nose and drain out onto able. As the disease progresses, it mouth.
Dr Mugachia. It is caused by highly infectious ritation. The eye starts reddening the skin surface before dropping destroys the architecture of the Farmers should control flies on
bacteria called Moraxella bovis. from the margins of the eyeball down or drying off. eye particularly at the position of their animals and sheds to pre-
I have successfully dealt with and gets engorged with numer- This attracts more flies that the iris and pupil. vent IBK. They should also ensure
this problem in many parts of ous blood vessels running to the transmit the bacteria and the dis- Some animals may heal with- their animal environments are
the country by remote consult- central area of the pupil and iris. ease intensifies. out treatment and become im- free of excessive dust.
ing. I have also physically seen As more blood is taken to the The discharge turns into pus, mune to the infection naturally.
numerous cases in the course of eye, there are more nutrients to tends to glue the eyelids together Such animals lose their eyesight jmugachia@[Link]

Thanks to desert locusts, I’m happily growing managu

(CAN) fertiliser to boost the foliage thus yields.
BY JOHN NJOROGE The farmer says the crop is easy to grow and manage as long
Dressed in a dotted blouse, a maroon trouser and a pair of as one has a reliable source of water.
light blue shoes, Wangari Gathioni is a happy farmer as she “I source water which I use for irrigation from Muro River
walks on her 10-acre farm in Elburgon, Nakuru County. which is about two kilometres away from the farm. I have
The farm is lush green with African nightshade (managu) employed young men to do the task for me.”
crop that has done well beyond Gathioni’s expectations, having Gathioni, who is currently harvesting the crop, does not
started to grow the crop in January. regret making the switch. “I harvest 250kg of the African
“I am happy having switched from cabbages,” says Gathioni nightshade every day, selling a kilo at Sh30. As a beginner, this
as picks a few leaves from her crop to check if they are invaded is good money which makes me pay my casual workers who
by pests or diseases. The farmer has to thank desert locusts work on the farm without any difficulties,” says the farmer, who
for having made her shift to growing traditional vegetables. sells her produce directly to consumers and mama mbogas.
“They invaded this area late last year and destroyed She is working on expanding her acreage to 60 and
my crops. This was a double blow to me because schools, expand her water reservoirs as well as grow other varieties of
my major market, were also closed due to Covid-19,’’ says traditional vegetables.
Gathioni, adding she lost more than Sh2 million from the five Molo sub-county agricultural officer Alfred Waithaka says
acres she had planted the cabbages. the crop needs fertile soils and adequate rainfall.
To grow African nightshade, she tilled the land, bought “African nightshade requires good watering to perform
seeds and broadcasted them. “I used more than Sh250,000 well. If you don’t give it water and fertiliser, you won’t get good
which went on labour, fertilisers and farmyard manure,” says harvest,” says Waithaka, noting the vegetable has huge demand
in both rural and urban areas. Wangari Gathioni on her African nightshade farm in Elbur-
Ms Gathioni.
gon, Nakuru County. JOHN NJOROGE | NATION
They germinated after about a week and after two months,
satnation@[Link]
she top-dressed the crop with calcium ammonium nitrate
28 SATURDAY NATION APRIL 10, 2021

Seeds of Gold
SeedsofGold
Agronomist Notebook

Spinach management
during rainy season
not have proper drainage system. In some areas, she noticed the spinach
During rainy season, This also happens when using the drip leaves had developed some whitish to
leaching is common. irrigation system, at sections where the brown spots.
land was not adequately prepared. The leaf spots make the leaves unmar-
This is the process The water settles at that particular ketable as most consumers prefer leaves
where nutrients are spot resulting in leaching of plant nu- that are not affected by pest and diseas-
trients. es.
dissolved by water and Leaching is the process where nutri- The leaf spot disease was spotted at
ents are dissolved by water and infil- one particular region hence the need to
infiltrate into the soil be- trate into the soil beyond the root zone ensure it is well-managed before spread-
yond the root zone making them unavailable for crops. ing to the other beds.
Eventually, the plants end up showing Leaf spot is a fungal disease and water
BY ANN MACHARIA
deficiency symptoms. can be an agent of spreading it since it
In this case, the entire leaves turn yel- has pores.

T
he past week has seen an in- low, an indication of nitrogen deficiency. The pores can easily move by wind
crease in rains, thus farmer Nancy To solve the problem, I advised Nancy spreading to uninfected areas. The dis-
stopped watering her spinach as to ensure the drainage is well-prepared ease first manifests as small white Patrick Macharia scouts for pests on his spinach farm in Nyeri. FILE | NATION
part of a good management prac- to allow water to drain freely. patches or spots on the leaves. Normally,
tice. Second, I asked her to consider using the spot turns grey or black as manifes- they are infected. or the beetles.
However, harvesting is going on as she a foliar spray with high nitrogen con- tations of the disease progress. It is com- The affected leaves can be removed and The leaf miner creates tunnels as it mines
maintains records as discussed in the tent to allow the plants to absorb the mon during the rainy season when the properly disposed of to prevent affecting into the leaves which results in irregular
previous articles. nutrients. While spraying, she was to relative humidity is also high. the others. Leaving the leaves on the bed blotched areas. It’s, therefore, important to
This past week, however, while scout- add a sticker or a spreader to ensure the In Nancy's case, we are controlling the creates a conducive environment for the properly scout to identify the root cause of
ing for pests and diseases, Nancy no- plants take the nutrients more efficient- disease by starting the management disease to spread to other areas. the infection.
ticed some crops were yellowing. Water ly. practices from unaffected areas to the Planting resistant varieties also plays a In our next article, we shall look at some
had stagnated at that particular area af- There is a likely hood of nutrients affected ones as vice versa would result critical role as this ensures the crops are of the lessons learned during the produc-
ter heavy rains. leaching when using the ring method as in the spread of the disease. not heavily infested. tion cycle.
This is common especially in areas the nitrogenous fertilisers are soluble in Timely harvesting is also critical as The leaf spot on the spinach leaves could
that are receiving heavy rainfalls and do water. this ensures the leaves are picked before also be a result of pests such as leaf miner gianne254@[Link]

CHURCH
ON PRINT
Today’s world keeps throwing massive challenges at humanity.
Finding strength in faith is one way to dissipate mounting
stress.
The Sunday Nation
¤Æ
¸ŵ“ä´ž
ĤChurch on Print’ – a special
weekly avenue for delivering messages of encouragement,
motivation, inspiration and teachings on positive living. It is
also a platform for posting notices about scheduled church
events.
As a church, you are encouraged to use this as a platform for
connecting with your members and the public at large.
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for “narrow plains”. Today, ‘Ronga’ is a dense metropolitan down, the “plains” having been replaced with commercial and
For details on how to post your information, please contact residential properties, leisure and recreation destinations, schools, colleges, health facilities, markets, retail chain stores,
malls, banks and all that constitute a vibrant and expanding town.
Wendy Ojuka: Email: wojuka@[Link]
Tel: 0719 038335 At Nation Media Group, we believe that the transition of this populous town of Kajiado County over the years, and its
prospects going forward, would make for a good reading. Towards this, we have scheduled a special supplement to run in the
Daily Nation under the catchphrase, ‘Special Focus on Ongata Rongai’.

The supplement will showcase enterprise, commercial, social and investment activities and opportunities in the town,
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readers who will have been attracted to the inspiring stories about the town.
Contact person
Faith Wambua : 0714390231 or email fmwambua@[Link]
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or email 27A+-29Fž5/M8+>3987/.3+M-97
Faith Koskey : 0705972928 or email fkoskey@[Link]