Mechanisation turns fortune of farmers
A high number of crop farmers in the country have been incurring losses attributed to erratic weather pattern coupled with pests and diseases more so maize production that is now being infested by fall armyworm that feeds on entire crop.
A section of farmers have adopted potato production but they too face numerous losses because of uncertified seeds, an issue that affects rate of yield.
Seeds planted by farmers is direct form past harvest, that does not guarantee good produce because of infection of pasts and diseases.
To quench shortage of quality seeds to farmers, welcome to Agrico East Africa in Ol Rongai, 30 kilometers drive from Nakuru town where multiplication of potato seeds is conducted.
“Potato is an alternative crop away from maize dependency because it has highest nutritional value for smallest amount of water and require less land,” says Willem Dolleman, Agrico East Africa seed potato production manager.
Seeds multiplied on the farm are imported from the Netherlands, a renowned country for its global potato market position and knowledge having a 60 per cent market share in the global exports of seed potato.
Mr Dolleman informs Smart Harvest that adds that as a result of a public private partnership between Kenya and the Netherlands was established at the beginning of 2015 and in 2016, commercialization commenced after certification by Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis).
Kenya according to him has relied on seasonal ware potato imports from neighboring Tanzania and Ethiopia and French fries imports from Egypt.
He explains the company decided to come up with the project following high number of losses farmers in the country were incurring because of lack of quality potato seeds.
“By improving yields and volumes with consistent high quality potato, the imports used for seed multiplication and processed products can be fully replaced by pure Kenyan produce and manufactured goods,” says Dolleman.
Majority of farmers’ cycle potato harvested on their farms, and convert to seeds without bearing in mind infections caused by pests and diseases- some of the seeds planted are damaged.
Potato recycled have clones of the same generation as compared to seed potato that possess different characters for instance, rate of yields are higher because of hybridization, he explains.
“Quality production equals to quality seeds. Agrico East Africa decided to multiply seeds after realizing that farmers recycle harvested produce that is not certified, a practice that has in the past caused them numerous losses,” he says.
The farm imports at least 200 to 300 tons of potato for multiplication annually. 4 tons are planted per acre for multiplication technology according to demand.
Production of the seed potato on the 1,300 acres potato multiplication farm is mechanized, a practice applied to prevent handling that mostly contributes to damages.
Mechanization is also meant to reduce human and animal traffic on the farm being a quarantine seed multiplication area- to avoid passing germs that an contaminate seeds within the farm.
Dolleman adds mechanization further makes work easier for large scale multiplication within stipulated timelines, for instance, a single machine cultivates, prepare ridges and incorporates fertilizer in the soil.
“Mechanization is practiced on the seed multiplication, it makes work easier and reduces expenditure because one tractor is used for several jobs,” says the manager.
Rate of damage caused during production is also reduced since movement of harvested seeds is by tractors.
Three potato varieties are multiplied on the farm after approval by Kephis including destiny, markies and Manitou.
Production capacity of the varieties ranges between 12 to 16 tons per acre.
Destiny variety he explains is suitable for crisping and has high dry matter content and shallow eyes that is good for processing. It also has high resistance of Y virus and golden nematode.
Markies on the other hand is late maturing variety (matures after 100 days) with dry matter content and that is good for French fries and crisping. It has some resistance to blight and y virus.
Whereas most farmers incur challenges of early blight in potato production, Manitou, a variety that mature after 90 days is resistant to the disease.
“Production rate for all the varieties is high with proper farm practice. This is why we encourage farmers to ensure they plant varieties that are certified to curb losses,” says Dolleman.
An agronomist and production manager of Agrico East Africa Mr Athanasious Kaituyu alias Sungura explains that first practice in potato seed production on the farm is chiseling followed by disc harrowing.
Fertilization spreader is later done according to advice of soil analysts to be able to know the amount of fertilizer among other farm input to apply during production.
Hooktine cultivator mounted with a ridge machine that incorporates fertilizer with soil and nutrients in the soil and ridges behind to form ridges.
A combined cultivator is later used to cultivate and prepare ridges ready for planting. Spacing of seed variety is done at 22 by 75cm interval at depth of 6 inches.
During planting, a planter is used to place potato seeds inside the ridges and spray them with nematicide, that is mounted with a planter and the seeds are covered with soil.
“Work using machines is easier and saves on time, and in seeds production, machines are mostly accurate,” Kaituyu informs the Smart Harvest.
Germination takes ten days, weeding is done by a ranger machine that covers weeds including a section of newly germinated potatoes.
After germination, preventive fungicide against late blight disease is done (four leaves stage) and in areas with cut worms, spray by pyrethroid chemical is applied in the evening.
Later, alternation between preventive and curative chemical application is done according to weather variability.
During rains, spraying is done after five days whereas sunny weather detect seven days- but as per advice of an agronomist.
“Spraying of weeds starts at 4 leaf stage as preventive such as milraz and consent all from bayer crop science.
Then big weeds that are notorious to herbicides such as nut grass,” he explains.
Alternation on spraying is done up to 12 weeks, and it now depends with the use of the produce. At the site being multiplication project meant for seeds, behaulming is done.
Sizing squire is used to measure size of potato seeds, harvesting is done and later the produce undergoes grading that entails removal of chuff and damaged ones.
“Production of potato depends with use, for us, at 12 weeks, it is ready for harvesting but farmers can continue up to their preferred stage,” he explains.
The agronomist notes that selection of high-quality potato seed is essential for the production to avoid seed related problems for farmers.
Harvested produce is later taken to storage facility at the farm that holds at least 500 tons of potato. At the stores, the product is highly protected from temperature and lights.
The storage area is also free from potato waste and cull piles to curb contamination and diseases.
At the stores temperatures are regulated to only 4 degrees Celsius and when it’s to be taken to famers it is transferred from 4 to 10 to prepare them for sprouting.
Regulation of temperatures is done to break dormancy of the seed potato. Regulation depends on the variety for instance markies and Manitou takes two months while destiny takes one and half months.
“We only distribute the seeds to farmers after breaking dormancy, a practice done to boost germination,” says Kaituyu.
Weighing is done, and packaging is done at 20 kilogram each bag as per the grading. Variety graded at size 2 (bigger potato seeds) is sold at Sh50 per each kilogram bag while size two I sold at Sh70 per kilogram.
Certified seed potatoes at the farm must meet legal requirement set by Kephis, certification agency does inspection on production of the seeds on the farm including planting, growing, and storage before distribution to farmers in various localities.
“Kephis officers visits the farm and inspects the crop and observes practices applied before approval,” he explains.
To have clean seeds free from pests and diseases, any visitor seeking entry at the farm must disinfect his or her feet before entry to the farm and vehicle drive through a disinfectant trough.
At the farm, wheat is rotated with potato. The agronomist sates that rotation is done between the two crops because they are not botanically related.
Crop rotation on the farm help curb pests and diseases, and maintain good structure of the soil because of potato root system- potatoes are tubers while wheat is root.
The practice also improves soil structure and additional organic matter.
“Crop rotation is mostly encouraged to prevent pests and diseases and also boost soil structure,” says Kaituyu.
To ensure farmers are conversant with the varieties and quality of seeds produced on the farm, Agrico East Africa conducts farmers training through demonstration farms.
“Farmers can only boost production if they understand farming practices for instance crop rotation among other practices. This is why we are conducting demonstrations in various localities,” says the manager.
Mechanism of capacity production is also being worked on following high demand of quality seeds form farmers and learning institutions. Meru is among localities where demonstrations is being done.
“Future plans is to focus on developing seed market by working with processors because demand of quality seed potato is high,” adds Dolleman.
Apart from the three varieties being multiplied at the farm, the government has approved 13 varieties for importation from Netherlands.
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