Want to start farming? Your complete guide to success

 By Mohamud Ahmed Jama-

    

 

Before you go into commercial crop farming what do you need to consider?

Several things. First, you need to study the market.

 Who do you want to sell to? And when you harvest, will there be a demand for your produce?

Second, timing is crucial. Most farmers time the onset of rains. The problem with that is farmers harvest around the same time and this creates high supply hence lowering prices.

You should also look for proof that your produce will be quickly taken up by the target market. For instance, we know carrots tend to sell better and faster in central than in western Kenya.

(1) What crops does One-Acre fund work with?

We have categorised them in four groups.

 We have cereals: maize and sorghum. Then legumes: beans, soybeans, groundnuts and lablab. 

We also work with farmers growing vegetables: collard greens (sukuma wiki) and black-night-shade (managu). The last category is horticulture: onions and tomatoes.

Among these, which would be ideal for commercial purposes?

All crops have potential of earning a farmer good returns. I would however go with horticultural crops.

(2) Is it true that onions and tomatoes do well in dry areas – like Ukambani?

I believe that is a fallacy. Onions and tomatoes do well primarily in areas of good soil fertility. However, tomatoes don’t need a lot of water to produce a good harvest. In fact, too much rain leaves tomatoes susceptible to diseases. As for onions, rain (water) is only crucial in the first two months especially during bulbing.

(3) Speaking of rains, from your fieldwork, are many farmers in Kenya still practising rain-fed agriculture?

As much as a lot has been said about this subject, majority of Kenyan farmers still depend on rainfall. It is no longer tenable to wait for rain. Because of climate change due to global warming, rains have become increasingly erratic. We generally have good amounts of rainfall but it’s not well spread.

(4) How do farmers prepare for a future with more erratic weather patterns?

Select the crop well. Use the right crop varieties that would do well under the prevailing climatic conditions. These would be drought tolerant varieties and early maturing varieties.

Farmers can also explore other means like water harvesting (during the long rain seasons). You can dig water pans. At one-acre fund we have worked with farmers in need of irrigation. We have provided them with drip irrigation kits. Drip irrigation utilises little water.

It would also help a great deal to practice conservation Agriculture. For instance, mulching reduces evaporation of water from the soil. With mulching, plants can survive longer in low water conditions.

(5) What is the one mistake a majority of crop farmers you have worked with commit?

Among many crop farmers, there is a general belief that crops, as long as there is rain, will do well without fertilisers. During planting, many don’t use fertiliser. But the yield is usually lower than they expected.

The other mistake is use of bad quality seeds. In some instances, it is because the farmer has no access to certified high yield seeds. I would tell farmers who can access seed companies to buy certified seeds as these have been tested to do well with our climate and soils.

Let me also point out that it is not very prudent for farmers to continue waiting for the rains. We can no longer depend on the rains. And if you really have to wait for the rains, prepare your land early so that when it rains it’s all systems go as opposed to land preparation after the rains have began.

(6) How does One-Acre work with farmers to mitigate against these challenges?

We provide farmers with financial solutions by providing them with necessary equipment and farm inputs to achieve good harvest.

My office, specifically, carries out research on new innovations and technologies meant to make farmers’ lives easier. For instance, when a new seed variety is announced by research organisations like KALRO, we go through their findings.  We are able to advise our farmers on new developments.

We check with seed companies if they have seed varieties – for example seed varieties for dry areas.

Let’s go back to horticulture: why is it that most horticultural crops are grown under a greenhouse?

Crops grown under a greenhouse are high value crops that would otherwise struggle in an open field. Tomatoes are a good example. When grown under a greenhouse they are protected from pests, diseases and excess rainfall. This way they grow optimally.

(7) Without a greenhouse can a farmer still grow tomatoes?

Absolutely. Everything that grows in a greenhouse can grow in an open field. However, the challenges of maintaining the health of the plant will result in lower quality yields. Also, crops grown under a greenhouse have longer harvesting cycles – which means, bumper harvest.

You talked about farmers failing to use fertilisers: what if a farmer wants to do organic farming?

Organic farming is possible if the farmer is committed to its practices like use of compost to maintain soil humus and fertility. At One-Acre Fund we train farmers who cannot afford fertilisers on how to prepare compost. It is actually a nice way of reducing costs involved while growing crops.  

Ma doonaysaa inaad bilowdo beer-falashada? Hagahaaga dhamaystiran ee guusha

 By Maxamuud Axmed Jaamac-

    

 

Kahor intaadan gelin beerashada dalagga ganacsiga maxaad u baahan tahay inaad tixgeliso?

Dhowr shay. Marka hore, waxaad u baahan tahay inaad barato suuqa.

 Yaad rabtaa inaad ka iibiso? Oo markaad goosataan, ma waxaa jiri doona baahi loo qabo midhahaaga?

Marka labaad, waqtigu waa muhiim. Inta badan beeralayda ayaa wakhtiyada curashada roobabka. Dhibaatada taas ayaa ah beeralayda inay goostaan isla waqti isku mid ah tanina waxay abuurtaa sahayda sare ee hoos u dhaca qiimaha.

Waa inaad sidoo kale raadisaa caddayn ah in wax soo saarkaaga uu si degdeg ah u qaadan doono suuqa bartilmaameedka ah. Tusaale ahaan, waxaan ognahay in karootada ay u badan tahay inay si ka wanaagsan oo degdeg ah u iibiso bartamaha Kenya marka loo eego galbeedka Kenya.

(1) Waa maxay dalagyada ay maalgeliso Hal-Acre ka shaqeyso?

Waxaan u kala saarnay afar kooxood.

 Waxaan haynaa badarka: galleyda iyo masagada. Ka dibna digirta: digirta, soybeans, lawska iyo lablab.

Waxaan sidoo kale la shaqeynaa beeralayda beeraya khudaarta: cagaarka collard (sukuma wiki) iyo madow-habeen-habeeneedka (managu). Qeybta ugu dambeysa waa beerashada: basasha iyo yaanyada.

Kuwaas waxaa ka mid ah, kuwee ku habboon ujeedooyin ganacsi?

Dhammaan dalagyadu waxay leeyihiin awood ay ku kasbadaan beeralayda soo-celin wanaagsan. Si kastaba ha ahaatee waxaan raaci lahaa dalagyada beerta.

(2) Ma runbaa in basasha iyo yaanyada ay ku fiican yihiin meelaha qallalan - sida Ukambani?

Waxaan aaminsanahay in taasi tahay been abuur. Basasha iyo yaanyada ayaa si fiican ugu horrayn ugu horrayn meelaha bacriminta ciidda wanaagsan. Si kastaba ha ahaatee, yaanyada uma baahna biyo badan si ay u soo saaraan goosasho wanaagsan. Dhab ahaantii, roobka badan wuxuu ka dhigaa yaanyada u nugul cudurrada. Dhanka basasha, roobka (biyaha) ayaa muhiim u ah labada bilood ee ugu horreeya gaar ahaan xilliga guluubka.

(3) Haddaan ka hadalno roobka, shaqadaada beerta, beeraley badan oo Kenya ma weli ku shaqeystaan tacabka beeraha?

Inta badan laga sheegay mawduucan, badi beeralayda Kenya waxay weli ku tiirsan yihiin roobabka. Mar dambe lama sugi karo roobka. Cimilada oo isbedeshay oo ay sabab u tahay kulaylka caalamiga ah, roobabku waxay noqdeen kuwo aan hagaagsanayn. Waxaan guud ahaan haysanaa xaddi wanaagsan oo roobab ah laakiin si fiican uma fidin.

(4) Sidee bay beeralaydu ugu diyaar garoobaan mustaqbal leh hannaan cimilo oo khaldan?

Si fiican u dooro dalagga. Isticmaal noocyada dalagyada saxda ah ee ku fiicnaan lahaa xaaladaha cimilada jira. Kuwani waxay noqon lahaayeen noocyo abaarta u adkaysta iyo noocyo hore u bislaada.

Beeraleydu waxay kaloo sahamin karaan habab kale sida goosashada biyaha (xilliyada roobaadka dheer). Waxaad qodi kartaa digsiyada biyaha. Sanduuqa hal hektar ah waxaanu kala shaqaynay beeralayda u baahan waraabka. Waxa aanu siinay agabka waraabka ee dhibicda. Waraabka dhibicda ayaa ka faa'iidaysta biyo yar.

Waxa kale oo ay si weyn u caawin doontaa in lagu dhaqmo ilaalinta Beeraha. Tusaale ahaan, mulching wuxuu yareeyaa uumiga biyaha ee ciidda. mulching, dhirtu waxay ku noolaan kartaa waqti dheer xaaladaha biyaha hooseeya.

(5) Waa maxay hal khalad ee badi beeralayda dalagga ee aad la shaqeysay ay galaan?

Qaar badan oo ka mid ah beeralayda dalagyada, waxaa jira aaminaad guud oo ah in dalaggu, ilaa iyo inta uu roobku jiro, ay si fiican u fiicnaan doonaan iyada oo aan bacrimin. Inta lagu jiro beeritaanka, qaar badan ma isticmaalaan bacriminta. Laakiin wax-soo-saarku inta badan wuu ka hooseeyaa sidii ay filayeen.

Qaladka kale waa isticmaalka miraha tayada xun. Xaaladaha qaarkood, waa sababta oo ah beeralayda ma heli karo iniin wax-soosaar sare oo la xaqiijiyay. Waxaan u sheegi lahaa beeralayda heli kara shirkadaha abuurku inay iibsadaan abuur shahaado ah maadaama kuwan la tijaabiyey inay si fiican ugu wanaagsan yihiin cimilada iyo carradayada.

Aan sidoo kale tilmaamo in aysan ahayn caqli badan in beeralayda ay sii wadaan sugitaanka roobabka. Mar dambe kuma tiirsanaan karno roobabka. Oo haddii aad runtii tahay inaad sugto roobabka, u diyaari dhulkaaga goor hore si marka roobku da'o dhammaan nidaamyada ay u dhacaan si ka soo horjeeda diyaarinta dhulka ka dib marka roobabku bilaabmaan.

(6) Sidee Hal-Acre ula shaqaysaa beeralayda si loo yareeyo caqabadahan?

Waxaan siinaa beeralayda xal dhaqaale anagoo siinayna qalabka lagama maarmaanka ah iyo agabka beeraha si ay u gaaraan dalag wanaagsan.

Xafiiskaygu, gaar ahaan, wuxuu fuliyaa cilmi-baaris ku saabsan hal-abuurnimada cusub iyo teknoolojiyadda loogu talagalay in lagu fududeeyo nolosha beeralayda. Tusaale ahaan, marka nooc cusub oo abuur ah ay ku dhawaaqaan hay'adaha cilmi-baarista sida KALRO, waxaan mareynaa natiijooyinkooda. Waxaan awoodnaa inaan kula talinno beeralaydayada horumarka cusub.

Waxaan ka hubinaa shirkadaha abuur haddii ay leeyihiin noocyo abuur - tusaale ahaan noocyada abuurka meelaha qallalan.

Aan dib ugu laabano beerashada: waa maxay sababta dalagyada beeraha inta badan lagu beero aqalka dhirta lagu koriyo?

Dalagyada ka baxa aqalka dhirta lagu koriyo hoostooda waa dalagyo qiimo sare leh oo haddii kale ku dhibtooday meel bannaan. Tamaandho waa tusaale wanaagsan. Marka lagu hoos baxo aqalka dhirta lagu koriyo waxaa laga ilaaliyaa cayayaanka, cudurada iyo roobabka xad dhaafka ah. Sidan ayay si fiican u koraan.

(7) La'aanteed aqalka dhirta lagu koriyo la'aanteed beeralaydu miyuu weli beeran karaa yaanyada?

Dhab ahaantii. Wax kasta oo ka baxa aqalka dhirta lagu koriyo waxa ay ku bixi karaan meel bannaan. Si kastaba ha ahaatee, caqabadaha ilaalinta caafimaadka geedka waxay keeni doonaan wax-soo-saarka tayada hoose. Sidoo kale, dalagyada ka baxa aqalka dhirta lagu koriyo ayaa leh wareegyo goosasho dheer - taas oo macnaheedu yahay, goosashada xad dhaafka ah.

Waxaad ka hadashay beeralayda oo ku guuldareystay inay isticmaalaan bacrimiyeyaasha: ka waran haddii beeralayda rabo inuu sameeyo beero dabiici ah?

Beeralayda dabiiciga ah waa suurtogal haddii beeralayda ay ka go'an tahay dhaqamadooda sida isticmaalka compost si loo ilaaliyo humus iyo bacriminta ciidda. Sanduuqa Hal-Acre waxaan ku tababarnaa beeralayda aan awoodin bacriminta sida loo diyaariyo compost. Runtii waa hab fiican oo lagu dhimo kharashaadka ku lug leh marka la beerayo dalagyada.