Coffee has been and is vital to the livelihoods of millions of
smallholder farmers in Kenya. Growing coffee as a cash crop
on small pieces of land in the country has not been easy
especially for the small farm holders due to high cost of
inputs and poor market prices. That means delays for
farmers in earning income from their crop hence abandoning
it.
smallholder farmers in Kenya. Growing coffee as a cash crop
on small pieces of land in the country has not been easy
especially for the small farm holders due to high cost of
inputs and poor market prices. That means delays for
farmers in earning income from their crop hence abandoning
it.
Small holder farmers are experiencing rising prices of coffee inputs
and low pay and this has contributed to a decline in coffee yields and
an increase in disease and pests.
and low pay and this has contributed to a decline in coffee yields and
an increase in disease and pests.
Farmers believe that their coffee
bushes are becoming ‘confused’, which is not a good thing when their
family’s livelihood depends heavily on the money they make from the
crop.
bushes are becoming ‘confused’, which is not a good thing when their
family’s livelihood depends heavily on the money they make from the
crop.
Coffee as a crop is an important money earner on these small bits of
land.
land.
In good years when the price of coffee is high you may be able
to feed and clothe the family and send children to school, or pay for
some basic healthcare and on bad years you may neglect or abandon
your coffee and try growing something else.
to feed and clothe the family and send children to school, or pay for
some basic healthcare and on bad years you may neglect or abandon
your coffee and try growing something else.
Richard Macharia is a young small holder coffee farmer in Mathira
division of Nyeri county. Macharia developed interest in coffee
farming after his parents abandoned the crop due to the high cost of
inputs that hampered production hence poor pay.
division of Nyeri county. Macharia developed interest in coffee
farming after his parents abandoned the crop due to the high cost of
inputs that hampered production hence poor pay.
However, lady luck seemed to be on his side and he met Nicholas
Mugo, a sales representative at High Chem essentials Limited.
Mugo, a sales representative at High Chem essentials Limited.
“We discussed the issue of fertilizer application and how to start spraying
with the right chemicals and the importance of applying good
agricultural practices,” Macharia says.
with the right chemicals and the importance of applying good
agricultural practices,” Macharia says.
To start with, Macharia used herbistop, a herbicide that completely
cleared all the weed in his coffee farm, pruned his coffee bushes and
left the required branches on each plant and then sprayed them with
boom flower, a foliar fertilizer.
cleared all the weed in his coffee farm, pruned his coffee bushes and
left the required branches on each plant and then sprayed them with
boom flower, a foliar fertilizer.
“After pruning and spraying, I
harvested 1,200 kgs up from the 200 kgs my parents had harvested
before they abandoned the practice.
harvested 1,200 kgs up from the 200 kgs my parents had harvested
before they abandoned the practice.
The yield went up to 2000 kgs
the following season and last year he harvested 3,100 kgs from 160
coffee trees,” he says.
the following season and last year he harvested 3,100 kgs from 160
coffee trees,” he says.
According to Macharia, use of recommended pesticides in coffee
farming is essential. “I used albaz from High Chem and there are no
more pests in our coffee trees,” He says.
farming is essential. “I used albaz from High Chem and there are no
more pests in our coffee trees,” He says.
Application of appropriate foliar fertilizers in coffee farming boosts
production and maintains chlorophyll. “I started using boom flower in our
farm on a monthly basis and the general health of our coffee trees
has greatly improved.
production and maintains chlorophyll. “I started using boom flower in our
farm on a monthly basis and the general health of our coffee trees
has greatly improved.
The trees are greener and the berries are
bigger,” Macharia says.
bigger,” Macharia says.
The foliar feed facilitates fast maturity and early harvesting. “After
I started using boom flower, I have seen complete change in coffee
production.
I started using boom flower, I have seen complete change in coffee
production.
I also realized that poor payment was a result of poor
production,” he says.
production,” he says.
According to Macharia, boom flower application on coffee trees
increases berry weight and reduces the rate of spraying and basal
fertilizer application.
increases berry weight and reduces the rate of spraying and basal
fertilizer application.
Foliar fertilizer and pesticides can be mixed
during spraying because they have no side effect to a crop. “I mix
boom flower and albaz when I am spraying. I only measure the right
quantity and mix them in a drum since this saves time and ensures
accuracy,” he says.
during spraying because they have no side effect to a crop. “I mix
boom flower and albaz when I am spraying. I only measure the right
quantity and mix them in a drum since this saves time and ensures
accuracy,” he says.
Basal fertilizers are necessary to ensure maximum production and
should be applied depending on the number of trees per and berries
carried.
should be applied depending on the number of trees per and berries
carried.
“I always apply more fertilizer to a plant that has more trees
and berries,” Macharia says.
and berries,” Macharia says.
A lot of caution is necessary during spraying to ensure that no tree is
left out.
left out.
“It’s advisable to spray in time and when the weather is
conducive to avoid disappointment,” Macharia says. In order to succeed
in coffee farming, Macharia advices that a farmer seeks extension
service and advice from an agronomist in order to know the right
chemical to use and the right time to use it.
conducive to avoid disappointment,” Macharia says. In order to succeed
in coffee farming, Macharia advices that a farmer seeks extension
service and advice from an agronomist in order to know the right
chemical to use and the right time to use it.
Unlike other foliar feeds, Boom flower foliar fertilizer from High Chem
contains aromatic nitrogen that boosts crop production.
contains aromatic nitrogen that boosts crop production.
“It triggers flowering, fast maturity and high yields,” Nicholas Mugo, High Chem
Sales representative says.
Sales representative says.
According to Mugo, Boom flower boosts photosynthesis and helps a crop
maintain chlorophyll that is essential for the crop to manufacture its
own food.
maintain chlorophyll that is essential for the crop to manufacture its
own food.
The foliar fertilizer also helps in development of secondary
branches which increases yields. “Although it’s necessary to protect
yourself against chemicals while spraying, boom flower foliar fertilizer
has no side effects and you cant find its traces on a plant an hour
after spraying,” Mugo says.
branches which increases yields. “Although it’s necessary to protect
yourself against chemicals while spraying, boom flower foliar fertilizer
has no side effects and you cant find its traces on a plant an hour
after spraying,” Mugo says.
Pests and diseases are a growing problem for all agricultural activities
and coffee has its fair share. Local coffee farmers in particular
spend a large amount of time, money and effort spraying against
coffee diseases and pests.
and coffee has its fair share. Local coffee farmers in particular
spend a large amount of time, money and effort spraying against
coffee diseases and pests.
It is highly likely that there is widespread
misapplication of the wide array of (often inferior) chemicals that
have been marketed to coffee farmers without their knowledge.
misapplication of the wide array of (often inferior) chemicals that
have been marketed to coffee farmers without their knowledge.
Misapplication of chemical inputs is worse than no application hence
poor yields.
poor yields.
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