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Showing posts from May, 2016

Keeping Dairy Cows and Goats: Best Breeds, Tips, and Where to Buy

Dairy farming remains one of the most rewarding agricultural ventures in Kenya and other tropical regions, thanks to the ready market for milk and milk products. However, success in this field depends on proper planning, breed selection, good management, and access to reliable manpower, a major challenge for many small-scale farmers. If you’re considering keeping dairy cows and goats , here’s what you need to know to make your investment both sustainable and profitable.

Growing Passion Fruits and Tomatoes: A Profitable Agribusiness Venture

If you’ve been thinking about venturing into agribusiness, passion fruits and tomatoes are two of the most promising crops to consider. Both have a strong local and export market, relatively short maturity periods, and offer impressive returns when well managed. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced farmer, these crops can turn your half-acre investment into a steady source of income.

All About Poultry Feeds Ingredients: A Complete Guide to Formulation for Chicks, Growers, and Layers

Formulating high-quality poultry feeds is essential for healthy chicks, fast-growing growers, and highly productive layers. Whether you’re a small-scale farmer or running a large poultry enterprise, understanding the right feed ingredients and their roles is key to maximizing growth, health, and egg production. In this post, we break down how to prepare poultry feeds , when to grind or mix ingredients , and the functions of key nutrients and additives in your feed formulation.

Aggressive Weed: How to Control Bracken Fern Effectively

Bracken fern ( Pteridium aquilinum ) is one of the most aggressive and persistent weeds found in pastures, croplands, and disturbed areas. Its rapid spread is fueled by strong underground rhizomes , which allow it to regenerate even after cutting or burning. Because of this, traditional or contact herbicides often fail to provide lasting control.

Good Pigs Are Made: Why Feeds, Housing, and Records Matter in Successful Pig Farming

Pig farming remains one of the most lucrative agribusiness ventures today. Beyond providing pork, pigs are also reared for bacon and other value-added products that fetch premium prices in the market, often higher than beef. However, achieving top-quality pork products starts long before the market stage. It begins right at the farm, with breeding, housing, feeding, and record-keeping .

Farming in Kinangop: Exploring Profitable Crops for a Cold Climate

Kinangop is known for its cold and high-altitude climate , which makes it one of Kenya’s most unique farming regions. Most farmers here traditionally grow potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and peas —all well-adapted to the cool weather. However, many farmers today are asking an important question: “Apart from the usual crops, what else can we grow profitably in Kinangop’s cold conditions?” Let’s explore the possibilities.

Why Your Kienyeji Eggs Have White Yolks - And How to Fix It

If you’ve been feeding your kienyeji chickens with layers mash , you might have noticed something unusual: your eggs don’t have that rich yellow yolk that customers love. Recently, I experienced this firsthand. I supplied my eggs to a supermarket, only to be told by the manager that they looked just like ordinary layers’ eggs. He said they’d have to buy them at a lower price since they lacked the signature deep-yellow yolk that sets kienyeji eggs apart. He even advised me to stop using layers mash if I wanted to produce “true kienyeji eggs.” That got me thinking: 👉 Does layers mash reduce egg quality? 👉 What should I feed my chickens to get high-quality kienyeji eggs? 👉 What really makes a kienyeji egg different? Let’s break it down.

Safe and Delicious: Processing Fruit Jam and Peanut Butter for Commercial Success

Venturing into the processing of fruit jam and peanut butter for commercial purposes can be an exciting and rewarding business opportunity. These products are not only loved across all age groups but also have great potential for value addition and market growth. However, one of the most crucial aspects of food production is ensuring food safety and determining whether to use preservatives,  and if so, which ones are best and safest.

Setting Up a Biogas Plant at Home: A Practical Guide

What is Biogas? Biogas is a renewable mixture of gases (mainly methane and carbon dioxide) produced when organic material decomposes without oxygen in an anaerobic environment. Common feedstocks include animal manure , agricultural residues, food, and kitchen waste. Not only does it provide a source of clean cooking and heating fuel, but the residue (“digestate”) is a high-quality fertilizer.

Growing Tissue Culture Bananas for Maximum Yield in Hot Areas (e.g. Mwala, Machakos)

Banana farming is one of the most rewarding agricultural ventures in Kenya today, and tissue-cultured bananas have made it even better. These bananas are grown from laboratory-propagated plantlets, which ensures they are disease-free, uniform, and high-yielding compared to traditional suckers. If you live in a hot and dry area like Mwala or Machakos , selecting the right banana variety and using the best agronomic practices is key to success. Here’s everything you need to know.

Fast-Growing Sorghum: The Best Early-Maturing and Bird-Resistant Varieties

Sorghum is a versatile and drought-tolerant crop that continues to gain popularity among farmers looking for fast returns and resilience against harsh weather conditions. However, one of the biggest challenges farmers face is choosing the right variety,  especially one that matures early and is less likely to be attacked by birds.

Where to Buy Certified Chelalang, Tasha, and Ciankui Bean Seeds for Highland Farming

If you’re planning to grow Chelalang , Tasha , or Ciankui beans in the highland regions, choosing certified seeds is the first step toward achieving healthy, high-yield crops. Certified seeds ensure genetic purity, disease resistance, and uniform growth, all of which translate to better productivity and income for farmers.

What to Remember When Rearing Chicken: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

Rearing chickens can be both a rewarding and profitable venture - whether you’re doing it for eggs, meat, or both. However, success in poultry farming requires more than just feeding the birds. You need proper housing, the right breeds, balanced nutrition, and effective disease management. Below is a simple guide to help you get started on the right foot.

How to Get Deep Yellow Egg Yolks Naturally (and Why Yours Might Still Be Pale)

If you have been feeding your Kienyeji chickens with greens, hoping to get those bright yellow yolks, but the results haven’t changed, you are not alone. Many farmers face the same challenge. While the color of an egg yolk doesn’t necessarily indicate higher nutritional value, consumers often associate bright yellow or orange yolks with freshness and quality. So, if you’re looking to produce attractive, yellow-yolked eggs, here’s what you need to know.