Listen Before Owino started making leather from fish skin, fillet firms were dumping 150 tonnes of fish waste, 80 per cent of which was skin, on the beach. This was posing environmental and health hazards. On an early afternoon at Kajulu village, Kisumu East Sub county, Newton Owino tries on a new pair of shoes. […]
Towards Food Security
Squeezing oil out of pawpaw seeds
Listen Researchers at Egerton University believe they have found the perfect ingredient to animal feed and way to counter malnutrition in children. Every day, thousands of pawpaw fruits are consumed in homes and fruit salad bars across Kenya. To eat a pawpaw, you slice it open and remove the seeds which are thrown away as […]
Firm carves niche in branded coffee
Listen Dr Mathenge says value addition earns him more and creates employment. He encourages fellow farmers to follow his example. On the Marua-Nanyuki road, a few kilometres to the Kiganjo Police Training College gate, is the popular Brade Gate Coffee shop stop over.Here, travellers enjoy a hot cup of coffee. But this is not your […]
Turning insect protein into food for man and livestock
Listen Researchers at Egerton University believe they have found the perfect ingredient to animal feed and way to counter malnutrition in children. n a small room at a university in Nakuru County, two researchers are working on a unique innovation that is set to boost food security and provide farmers with fortified feed for their […]
Lowly farmer’s fortunes turn after embracing aquaponics
Listen Symbiotic relationship between chickens, fish and crops allows Sikuku to maximise output on his two-acre farm in Kisumu County. When Mr Samuel Sikuku looks at his farm located in the rocky hills of Kandaria Location, Lower Nyakach in Kisumu County, he marvels at his crops, catfish and tilapia, as he readies himself for his […]
Plucky farmer turns inventor
Listen Kanhiu found a way to reduce the cost of manual labour on his farm by putting together a machine using scrap metal he sourced from local dealers. It is mid-morning at Mohonia village in Laikipa West. On entering Peter Kahiu’s home, you would easily mistake it for a garage, or that of a person […]
New technology from Holland aids breeding of fish
Listen YY-Technology uses natural capacities of Tilapia and environmentally friendly genetic selection techniques. A new fish production technology is set to change the fortunes of farmers experiencing low yields from breeding tilapia in ponds. Fishtec has been introduced by Til-Aqua International, a company based in the Netherlands, which prides itself in producing an all-natural male […]
Why organic fertiliser from TZ is all the rage in Kenya
Listen As concern grows over the impact of synthetic fertilisers on soil composition and the environment, farmers are adopting organic options. Fertiliser reverses declining production In many parts of Kenya, including Nyanza, Due Due to overuse of synthetic fertilisers, Western and Rift Valley soils have become quite acidic, causing a reduction in yields. Continuous use […]
Flower exporter goes green to cut production costs
Listen Company embraced environmentally friendly technology to keep down operation costs and match its clients’ expectation. On entering Oserian Farm at Olkaria, in the southern part of Lake Naivasha, you are ushered in by a kaleidoscope of colours from their wide range of roses. Along the path that leads to the farm’s offices, are hundreds […]
New mushroom variety available
Listen Agaricus Bitorquis has a longer shelf life and is recommended for small scale farming because it is less vulnerable to diseases and is sweeter and high quality. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology has developed a mushroom variety suited for warm weather, opening a new revenue stream for farmers. The button type is […]