Organic Farming in Kenya

Organic farming in Kenya is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control. Organic farming uses fertilizers and pesticides but excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured (synthetic) fertilizers, pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides), plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics,food additives, genetically modified organisms, human sewage sludge, and non material.

1.Difference Between Organic Farming Methods and Modern Methods - This difference that came in as a result of embracing new technology is better demonstrated through contrasting the impact then and the one today.

To start with, there were better yields being produced from the soil than the ones being yielded today.

This is precisely why organic farming in Kenya can be referred to as sustainable solution to the food imbalance being experienced nowadays.

It also comes down to the impact of pest control method being used today. With the modern farming methods, the use of pesticides and insecticides is encouraged which is harmful to other organisms and especially the aquatic organisms.

On the other hand, organic farming relied on the biological control of pests. A natural way in which birds and parasites used to kill the weeds and the pests.

This was not a threat to the ecosystem and was therefore a sustainable and a better alternative to the modern farming. Crop rotation method opposed to mono cropping method.

Crop rotation was the method that was being used in organic faming. Through this method the soil was replenished with nitrogen by the use of green and natural manure.

It was also a method that prevented depletion of soil nutrients. For instance the rotation could be between deep rooted and the shallow rooted plants; this way the structure of that particular soil was also improved.

Adequate soil cover was also provided by rotating rigid crops with the tillage ones. This rotation was also a way of preventing erosion of the soil during rainfalls and the inconsistent climate conditions.

Mono cropping is the way to for modern farming. This is the planting of one type of crop over a huge piece of land for a given period of time. This poses danger especially if the crop planted let’s say for a year is prone to pathogens. This way there is no breaking of pest cycle and the pathogens can end up destroying the entire crop plantation.

2.Reasons why anyone should practise organic farming - A question has been posed if organic farming in Kenya is viable or even profitable. Given the low incomes and the emergence of GMO’s in Africa, can a farmer make any profits from organic farming?

3.Organic Farming in Kenya is a Value Ad to other Farming Practices - There has to be a better way to farm without any waste in our farms. Let us take a simple example. Many rabbit farmers are currently complaining of lack of markets from their rabbit meat.

What has happened is that Kenyan rabbit farmers have given rabbit meat all the attention and forgotten to look at other value adds that rabbits can offer.

This includes rabbit manure or bunny berries. Rabbit Manure is premium manure.  The manure is excellent and is the only manure that does not need to be aged before using as fertilizer.

It contains more nitrogen and phosphorus than many other manures and more potash than most. Even when applied fresh, it will not burn plants. Gardens with rabbit fertilizer consistently applied most often yield much better results. So selling rabbit manure can be an extra income source.

4.Organic Farming Creates Healthy Soils - Nothing is worse than seeing your farm’s life coming to an end. One of the things that many greenhouse sellers will not tell you is that even green-houses have a shelf life. I have met a lot of farmers in Kenya who complain that their greenhouse yields start leveling off in about 3 years.

Sure crop rotation works but why should a farmer stop producing a profitable crop because of using soil sapping pesticides and herbicides?With proper organic farming in a greenhouse techniques, you will keep your soil healthy and more productive in each cycle.

5.Clients Love Produce from Organic Farming - There is nothing sweeter than organic strawberry farming. I have tasted organic strawberries and the conventional ones taste like cardboard in comparison. One of the biggest challenges we have as farmers in Kenya is differentiating our products from others. Think about it.

You take your onions to the market and you find 100 other farmers with the same onions you grew. Your hard work is now at the mercy of brokers who now determine the price for you.

That need not be the case especially if your onions are organic. Create your own niche market and sell your produce at a premium.

6.Organic Farming can be Started with Little Capital - I’m sure I’m going to get a lot of flack for saying this, but sustainable agriculture is about using what you have and making it better.

The truth of the matter is that, organic farming doesn’t have to be expensive. Especially for a farmer who is low in capital and wishes to stop wastage in their farms.

Instead of allowing your cow manure to go to waste, you will create an avenue to profit from this manure in the future. Instead of using pesticides, you allow nature to work on your plants using beautiful ladybirds which your children will love.

The reality is with low cost but profitable agriculture in Kenya. Just join our forum and you will get to see it in action. Our goal is to have a profitable farm within a year while starting with unimaginable capital.

If you are farmer who values what you produce for your customers, then you will want to give them only the best. Over the years, farming organically has proven to be a source of pride to farmers worldwide. Hopefully, organic farming in Kenya will become the business for the new generation of digital Kenyan farmers.

7.Organic Farming, Organic Food - Organic food can be defined as food grown using organic farming methods. This is the oldest type of farm food production and it includes both crop food and animals.

This type of growing food was affected in 20th century when chemical farming was introduced. After many years organic farming was brought back in a movement that was known as green revolution.

This is happened in 1940′s.The spread of chemical or inorganic farming had spread all over the world with new fertilizers and pesticides being introduced. Many countries continued with these methods since it was easier to manage and get the harvest faster than usual.

8.What’s happening in the organic farming field - Luckily people are returning back to organic farming and food is being produced through this method by the farmers all over the world.

The agriculture boards of many countries have set standards in which a farmer has to use while producing organic food. The supervision is done so as to ensure that these foods are produced with no inclusion of chemicals.

In many countries there are organic certified food label which helps in identifying food grown and packed without chemicals.

Agricultural officers and researchers have found that food grown in organic methods have health benefits. It also makes the soil retain its strength both for water and nutrient retention.

Organic crop food production is a method whereby no synthetics application of nutrients, pest, insects, herbs and weed control are used. This will require the farmer to go back to old farming system where he or she will reuse farm remains to control the weed and as fertilizer.

9.The Future of Organic Foods Produce - Organic farming, in countries such as Kenya, India and many other developing nations, has been depended on by farmers. This is because it is a method that is cost effective, saving the soil and most importantly the yields without having to invest a lot of money.

A research has been conducted that has proven that synthetic chemicals added to the fertilizers and the pesticides can have negative impact on human health.Therefore, more and more people are realizing the importance of organic foods and are taking it back into practice.

As a result this move which has been made even in other countries has resulted in a hick in demand for organic food produce all over the world.

10.Organic Animal Food Production - Organic animal food production is also included in this farming method. In this,a farmer is restricted to use antibiotics or hormones to the animals so as to make them grow faster.

This will help watch the animal health and good production. The method include grazing livestock in the field and giving them natural food such as grass, water, herbal trees which help in their production and health and other farm remains.

For the bird, farmers are requested to make a big shelter for them where they can feed them with food and clean water, shells and leaves. After the production from the farm, most of this food is taken to the processors.

This is where food like maize or wheat is made into flour. During the process, the manufactures are restricted to use any flavors or chemical. Since some food requires some additions, the food produce board doesn’t allow more than 5% of any added ingredients.

Any food that has a label of organic certified food should have at least 95 or100% of organic ingredients. When going to buy this food, always ensure that they are labeled. That is to show that the board already have approved of it being right for consumption. Going back into this type of lifestyle with preserve us and our generation to come.

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