How organic fertiliser is helping farmers raise yields

A trip to Australia aided farmer’s dream of making efficient and affordable fertiliser for small scale farmers.

Steven Kariuki is the most sought after ‘expert’ on farming in his village in Nyandarua County because of an invention promising farmers increased yields.

Kariuki, 45, has transformed his one-acre farm into an agricultural masterpiece where both newbies and experienced farmers troop in for lessons.

Armed with a technique he learned during his employment days as an agrichemicals salesman, he set on a path not sought by many.

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In 2004, Kariuki travelled to Australia and during the three months he was there, Kariuki picked a few lessons that he has used to set up his venture.

One of the basic skills he learnt was how to make highly potent folia from animal waste. He later travelled to Netherlands to learn more about agricultural practices a move that drove him to settle down and embark on a long journey to producing a fertiliser potent enough to compete against conventional ones sold in agrovets.

“In Australia, I learnt a particular formula to make fertiliser from cow, chicken, sheep or goat waste and ash. These ingredients mixed with extract from green vegetative leaves rich in Nitrogen over a specific timeline will give a highly potent solution for plants,” says Kariuki.

He embarked on research in 2012 on his farm. That year, Kariuki planted half an acre of land with maize from uncertified seeds and with no fertilisers except his folia which he sprayed three times until the crop matured.

“I shelled eight bags of quality maize from quarter an acre of land. This proved that the fertiliser was giving the desired effect as I had learnt abroad,” he recalls.

The fertiliser, known as ‘Step Booster folia fertiliser’, he says is good for a variety of crops including potatoes, maize, millet sorghum, wheat, oats, fruits, and green vegetables including beans.

To make the folia, Kariuki says one needs accurate portions of the different ingredients with the process under constant observation from day one.

“I collect the manure from the different animal houses first, I then grind the manure into powder form to ensure maximum nutrients are retained during the extraction period,” he adds.

The ground powder is then mixed and put in a gunny bag which is then suspended in water for 21 days.

During this time, the ground manure suspended in water diffuses most of its nutrients including ammonia and other nitrogenous compounds into the water.

The solution is then mixed with another solution extracted from specific leaves over a two-week period to make a highly nitrogenous solution.

The solution is then stored under cool room temperatures for it to settle down before it is decanted and packed for distribution.

Kariuki says his fertiliser received a nod from the Kenya Agricultural Research.

“I am in the process of getting certification from the Kenya Plants Health Inspectorate Service after which I will apply for the Kenya Bureau of Standards certification for it to be stocked in local outlets,” he adds. “I have distributed to large scale potato farmers as well as to oat and fruit farmers. Those who try always come back.” 

Jane Mbatia, one of the farmers who uses the fertiliser says she has no regrets having tried the fertiliser on her farm.

“I started using this fertiliser back in 2014 after poor yields year after year. I then met Kariuki, who gave me the wonder ‘drug’. When I tried, the difference could be noticed in two,”  she adds.

She says after applying the fertiliser in her farm, she managed to harvest 40 bags of shelled maize. Jane has never looked back. “I don’t use any other fertiliser from then on, I am glad I found something that works for me,” she adds.

Joseph Macharia, also a farmer in Nyandarua has been using the fertiliser for two years now and the results have been amazing. 

“I sprayed the oat which was knee height and of poor health, within 10 days the oat grass was waist high and of good quality. I could not believe the sudden change,” says Macharia.

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