Trial farming turns Jeremiah Omanga into sought after 'managu' producer

When Jeremiah Omanga attended a farmers’ workshop five years ago, little did he know it would change his life for the better.

Mr Omanga, a traditional vegetable farmer from Subukia sub-county, says he decided to venture into organic vegetable farming after attending the exhibition held in his locality.

Jeremiah Omanga from Subukia harvest his managu seeds in his farm on 16-09-2015 which he earns from,he says the demand of the comodity is high in Nakuru markets and its environs. (PHOTO: BONIFACE THUKU/STANDARD)

Now, he cannot even meet the demand for traditional vegetables. Thanks to fertile soils and ample rainfall it receives, Subukia County is ideal for production of various crops like maize, peas, potatoes, beans and tomatoes.

But organic farming is a new venture many farmers are yet to explore. Omanga says he learnt this kind of farming from other farmers and agricultural officers who urged him to give it a try.

“Vegetable farming was the last venture I ever thought I could embrace. But I wanted to give agribusiness a try and the demand for vegetables is so high,” he says.

Quality seeds

The father of three says he decided to try his hand in organic farming of managu. For this, he uses compost manure from cow dung and plant residue.

When starting up, Omanaga purchased 500 grammes of seeds from a local agrovet and planted them on a quarter-acre farm that has since increased to four acres.

He chose to concentrate on managu due to its high nutritional value compared to other vegetables like cabbage, cowpeas and kales.

“My first harvest attracted many consumers and vegetable vendors who flocked my farm demanding more than I could produce. Some even booked the crop before it matured,” he says.

The huge demand only encouraged him to put more effort into the venture. To cut on costs, Omanga was trained by agricultural extension officers in the area on how to produce his own high quality seeds.

Two years into the project, Omanga says the crop served him a hard lesson on just how important quality seeds are. His entire crop failed to germinate. He has since learnt to carefully select seeds from the healthiest plants.

“Quality of seeds is very vital in production of managu. The higher the quality, the higher the production. Majority of farmers encounter losses because they use substandard seeds, most of which are dried and packaged in the wrong way,” he says, demonstrating to the Smart Harvest team how to harvest managu seeds.

Managu requires three weeks in the nursery before it is transplanted. For better germination, Omanga says the seedbed should be raised to avoid soil erosion. Piling is also encouraged to avoid spilling of the seeds as they are minute.

When preparing the seedbed, soil is mixed with manure and left idle for three days. The soil should be softened to encourage easier germination.

“Because managu seeds are very tiny, the seedbed must be keenly prepared. Fertiliser is also mixed with soil so they cannot burn the seeds,” he says.

When the seeds have been planted, the seedbed is covered with grass to prevent loss of moisture through evaporation. Once they germinate, the grass is removed to allow sunlight in. The seedbed is irrigated twice a week during dry spell.

One month after transplantation, the crop is ready for harvesting.

Omanga sells his produce at Wakulima market in Nakuru town and occasionally supplies markets in Nairobi.

The first harvest produces 200kgs per acre. A kilogramme of managu goes for Sh40 on average.

A 50kg sack sells at Sh2, 000.

Omanga harvests an average of five 50kg sacks per acre every week. “I earn an average of Sh10,000 per acre every week, money that enables me feed my family and take my children to school,” he says.

As the crop matures, its leaves broaden. This increases the yield to an average of 500kgs per acre per week. Managu is harvested once a week continuously for four months.

“The advantage managu has over other vegetables is that the crop is harvested continuously as it develops new sprouts, especially during rainy season,” he says.

Why managu

After four months of harvesting, the crop develops seeds and is uprooted. To increase the yield, Omanga practises sprinkle irrigation. He irrigates the farm twice every week at a cost of Sh1,400 per acre using water from River Subukia that flows across  his farm.

He uses organic manure he makes from decomposing farm matter and animal waste to improve soil fertility, fix nitrogen and enhances micro-organisms in the soil.

For lands whose fertility is low, Omanga encourages the use of a little Calcium Ammonium Nitrogen (CAN). Other key practices in managu farming include mulching to retain soil moisture and weeding three weeks after germination.

Weed management is one of the most challenging aspects of organic vegetable production, even with rigorous crop rotation. Importance of weeding, he adds, is to avoid competition for space, nutrients and water. A spacing of three feet between trenches is recommended for easier management of the crop. So what challenges does he face? Increasing number of brokers who dictate the markets and prices, he says.

“Vegetable farming is a profitable venture but the rising number of brokers is a major challenge as they all fight to supply the produce. If you do not use them, they will block you from accessing markets,” he says.

Omanga wants to see more people, especially the youth, trying the “profitable” vegetable farming.

To promote it in his area, he has helped 13 rehabilitated alcoholics start the business by leasing them land and guiding them.