Mistakes to avoid in greenhouse farming

Two years ago, Beatrice Gakui ventured into greenhouse farming. Having worked in the agriculture sector for nearly a decade, she had everything figured out.

She invested in the best greenhouse in the market, had it installed, planted her tomatoes and sat back waiting for magic to happen.

She had consulted an agronomist who advised her to start with tomatoes as the soil on her farm was suitable for this kind of crop. She kept a diary where she recorded her crop’s progress at least every two days and whenever she noticed an anomaly, she consulted her neighbour who was also in greenhouse farming.

“I had a smooth start but there is this day I woke up and realised some crops were showing signs of withering and when I asked my neighbour who I consulted throughout the journey owing to his experience in greenhouse farming, we concluded it was nothing serious, when I came back in the evening, the situation was bad, by the time I got an agronomist to visit my farm the following day, nearly half of the crop showed signs of dying,” she recalls.

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One issue raised by the agronomist, Gakui says, was a defective greenhouse and over-irrigation. She lost all her crop a few days later and all she has to show now for her over Sh200,000 investment is a structure that she still doesn’t know how to make good use of.

Her story isn’t different from that of John Mulwa, who installed three greenhouses in Kamulu on Kangundo road on the outskirts of Nairobi.

Mulwa invested in greenhouse technology after doing thorough research online and offline. He says among other reasons, his downfall was as a result of investing in low-cost greenhouses.

“I was told the papers used in making the three greenhouses lacked anti-fogging properties so, during the day when it was warm, the hot air inside the greenhouse rose to form mist, which sometimes condensed on the films and dropped on the plants, it was a painful experience for me,” he says.

There are countless undocumented accounts from farmers who have burnt their fingers after investing in greenhouse farming due to mistakes that could be avoided.

Many do not know what features to look out for when going for greenhouses or how to maintain them. Here are some of the mistakes common in greenhouse farming.

Greenhouse hygiene

in greenhouse farming, it is advisable to limit human traffic into the greenhouses. People might carry bacteria, especially on shoes into the facility. It is important to have a footbath at the entrance of the greenhouse structure for cleaning feet or shoes before entering the greenhouse.

Lack of training

While farming is something you can venture into even without prior experience, some form of training is recommended before putting money into it. There are many organisations offering such trainings but not many farmers believe in enrolling for these modules. There are many greenhouse agricultural training modules out there.

The excuse most of those who invest in greenhouse farming give is that they have watched other people engage in the farming, so they can borrow lessons from them. Farmers need to know that with the ever-changing climatic patterns and every farm being different, training is crucial for any successful venture.

Pests and diseases

As much as greenhouses decrease chances of pest attack, they do not eliminate them as some farmers tend to believe. There are greenhouses that come ready with pesticides that help in controlling inevitable pests but this doesn’t do away with the need for the application of chemicals when necessary.

Farm management

For a crop to attain its optimal potential, it requires good care. This includes adhering to the watering regimes and schedules, feeding nutrients and controlling pests or diseases. A farmer should monitor growth of his crops or have someone to do so. Modern farming techniques have made farming an easy activity but this should not mean total neglect of the crops.

Technical support at the farm level

Farmers need to understand the importance of professional input and advice. As an addition to the monthly field visits by agronomists, there are guide books that explain how to take care of crops. One can also get online support. A farmer should seek help always, even when he feels he does not need it.

Not all seeds do well in a greenhouse

One of the reasons Mulwa’s plan flopped is that he grew seed varieties meant for an open field type of farming. It is good to consult on the different varieties before putting your money in to it. This information is readily available in most agrovets.

Soil tests or analysis

One of the key aspects of farming is soil analysis. Some farmers skip this test without understanding that pathological analysis of the soil is crucial in greenhouse farming. Timely detection of pathogens like bacterial and fusarium wilt and nematodes will help you know what to grow and curb losses.

Under irrigation/over irrigation

 Greenhouse farming uses lesser water compared to the other farming methods. This, however, should not be taken to mean that you shall use no water. While some farmers believe greenhouse crops do not require water from time to time, others over irrigate and flood their crops. To check your soil for either of the two, scoop it with hand and squeeze. Over-irrigated soil will appear muddy with some water dropping while under irrigated will be dry and the plant is stressed.

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