Mumias Sugar set to begin operations
Mumias Sugar Company is expected to kick-start operations today after power supply was reconnected to the factory. This comes 20 months after the company halted activities at its factory.
The first part will be ethanol production as they seek to generate revenue to to buy raw materials from farmerss
Mata Hari F1 Onion
There is a new Onion variety that is taking the Kenyan market by storm.
Mata Hari F1, a variety from Bayer CropScience is high yielding with upto 30T per acre. It has a deep red colour that which consumers prefer. This variety matures in 100 days after transplanting.
Mata Hari F1 in Yatta
Note the deep red colour
Yield from quater of an acre in West Pokot
Introduction to FARA e-discussion on YOUTH and Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)
The world we leave in is becoming more complex and thinkers say it’s becoming more uncertain. Let’s discuss about some key topics related to youth (the future leaders) and agriculture (a key sector for the development of Africa) during the next three weeks.
Is climate real ? Is it having impact around you? in your life? Famine and malnutrition are killing every day in Africa, how can you increase production and improve food security on the continent? Have you heard about Climate Smart Agriculture? Can you, as a young actor, make a difference in Agricultural practices today? What decisions and actions must be taken for future generation?
Let’s debate these topics. The e-discussion is running from 23rd of September to the 15th of October 2014.
1st week (23 – 30 Sept.) will focus on: Youth (in Africa) – Agriculture – Climate change – Climate Smart Agriculture
2rd week (1 – 7 Oct.): Youth in Africa and Climate Smart Agriculture
3rd week (8 – 15 Oct.) will be a wrap up and orient the discussion to decision making and actions
Enjoy the discussion and let your voice be heard by others!
You can also follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Young-Africans-Climate-Smart-Agriculture/767969779932513
Using seed trays as a planting media
The use of seed trays for propagating seed is a most effective and easy way. I have use seed trays for the last couple of months and I seed trays are very flexible in terms of what they can be use for
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Advantages of using seed trays
- It allows Plants to be potted on with a minimum of root damage
- Allows seedling to grow without roots becoming tangled together
- It makes sowing, handling and planting seeds extremely easy
- It makes very efficient use of space – especially when used with propogators
- They are low cost
- They are easy to stack together for easy storage
- It is possible to re-use them from season to season
Maize Season starts in Kenya
It’s the season of maize planting here in #Kenya.
Farmers are ready for the season but the major challenges this year are the Maize Lethal Necrosis and the low and inconsistent rainfall. Ideally the long rains should have started by April 1st but we are yet to see them.
Despite all these challenges farmers are hoping for a good harvest in 2014.
Benefits of Celery
Celery is a bi-annual herb with fleshy root and spindle-shaped root. Celery stalk is branched and reaches a height of 40 to 80 cm. The leaves are dark green and glossy.
Benefits
Celery stimulates metabolism in the body. It is rich in essential oils, vitamins and minerals. Celery root contains essential oil, sugar, asparagine, tyrosine, Colin, pentosan and fat.
Sweet thick celery root is commonly used for making salads, stews or as a spice for soups and stews. Celery leaves have a strong aromatic smell, and they are also used as a spice. Celery retains its distinctive smell after drying.
It’s leaves and roots have the same nutritional value, so usually both parts of the plant are used.
100 grams of celery (leaves and root) have small enegry value – 14 kcal / 59 kJ, including : 0.69 % protein, 2.97 % carbohydrates, and 0.17 % fat. Celery is an excellent source of vitamin K (29.3 μg, which provides 29 % of the recommended daily intake), fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Celery mostly contains vitamin C, then all B vitamins, carotene and vitamins K and E.
It has high nutritional value because of the mineral wealth it contains: 100 grams of celery contain sodium (98 milligrams), calcium (55 mg), magnesium (25 mg), potassium (291 milligrams) and phosphorus (40 mg).
Celery is considered to be very healthy and healing herb, because of the many nutrients and healthy substances it contains. Celery root and seeds are used to treat mild forms of anxiety and stress, fatigue, cough, loss of appetite.
It is often used to treat indigestion and diseases of stomach and intestines. Celery is also beneficial for patients diagnosed with diabetes.
Celery has a mild diuretic effect, similar to parsley. Thanks to its diuretic effect, celery can be used in treating: rheumatism, gout, arthritis, kidney and bladder sand and stones, urinary tract infections, cellulite and excessive body weight, asthma, lung inflammation, and nerve diseases . Celery provides prevention against these diseases so it should be consumed frequently.
Since it stimulates kidney function and helps the body flush out excess fluid, celery is good for treating some swellings, caused by cardiovascular diseases.
Celery removes toxins from the body, helps controlling high blood pressure, acts favorably in liver and gallbladder diseases and helps regulating blood sugar levels, which are the main reason why it is recommended for diabetics.
Celery cleans teeth from bacteria.
Celery is a natural body cleanser and is usually used for body detox.
Improves blood circulation.
Celery tea for rheumatism
Boil 40 grams of celery leaves in one liter of water for a few minutes. Cover the tea until it cools. Strain celery tea and drink it warm, several times a day, in a period of few weeks.
Celery helps against kidney disease
People suffering from certain kidney disease should drink fresh celery leaves juice, and you can also add some honey to sweeten celery juice.
Purple Tea: all you need to know about this variety
Farmers have been asking me about purple tea and whether they should plant it or not. Well here is all you need to know about this variety.
Purple Tea of Kenya
Purple Tea of Kenya is a very rare tea that is sourced directly from small scale farmers. It has sweet woodsy notes with a pleasant lingering astringency. The new purple variety has higher medicinal properties than green and black tea and its seeds produce oil suitable for cooking, cosmetics and the pharmaceutical industries.
The variety was released in 2011 by Tea Research Foundation of Kenya after 25 Years of extensive research work.
The released varieties are TRFK 371/3 and TRFK 430/90. The advantages of this variety are:
√ suitable for mechanised harvesting.
√ Drought, frost, disease and pest resistant
√ Yield about 50 percent more and enhance profitability on better quality.
√ Fetches 4 times more in prices than ordinary Tea.
√ Wide adaptability and suitable for all designated tea growing regions and soils.
Disadvantages
√Needs a separate processing unit installed.
√.Purple Tea market is not well established and there needs to be a lot of marketing on this product.3.
What is Special about Purple Tea? Why is it expensive?
√ The most special attribute of this variety is HEALTH ENHANCING found in Anthocyanin (purple pigmentation). This is an antioxidant that helps protect your heart health and boost CANCER particularly breast Cancer. .
√ Anthocyanins are also widely used as preservatives especially in the food industry.
√ This variety is also used in Manufacture of instant teas, Ready To Drink (RTD) tea, and other fast moving consumer goods such as health care products, foods and confectioneries.
Can Farmers for for purple tea?
The decision rests with the farmer. A processor is being set up in Nandi county and it will take time for it to be completed. For those planting now, it means that if the crop matures early you will harvest with the normal black tea and sell at normal price till such a time that the processor is ready. I farmers not to uproot the black tea in the farms but do a progressive shift because even if the processor is fully operational the challenge will be getting the right quantity for processing.
Youth in Landscapes: Taking action on recurring issues | Global Landscapes Forum | Warsaw
Youth are sometimes asked to provide their input into the big issues in the landscapes sector (agriculture, forestry, fisheries, conservation, development, industry, climate change), but let’s face it — this input often stays on the sidelines and rarely influences the ‘real’ decisions that are being made.Read more on Youth in Landscapes: Taking action on recurring issues | Global Landscapes Forum | Warsaw.
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