Agriculture

TOMATO FARMING IN MAKUENI: A Hidden Agribusiness Gem.

Tomato farming in Makueni holds untapped potential in agribusiness. Given the county’s semi-arid climate, farmers are advised to select disease-resistant seeds to maximize their yields.

In tomato farming, proper land preparation for adequate soil drainage and aeration, combined with regular weeding, minimizes competition for nutrients and water.

While farmers are advised to use organic manure or balanced fertilizers for healthy plant growth, mulching also helps retain soil moisture and control weeds.

As tomatoes mature, staking provides essential support to the plants, helping to prevent fruit rot. Additionally, farmers should practise timely pest and disease control to reduce losses.

Consistent water management practices are essential for irrigation, particularly during dry seasons, and tomatoes should be harvested at the appropriate maturity stage to maximize market value.

On Thursday, Makueni County’s Ward Agricultural Officers (WAOs) completed an intensive three-day training and practical sessions at the Kiboko Zoological Investigations and Efficacy Trial Centre, aimed at enhancing tomato farming practices to increase its productivity.

The training, conducted under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), aimed to equip WAOs with essential knowledge and skills to support tomato farmers.

It covered key areas such as the economic importance of tomato farming, climate-related challenges, seed varieties, selection, and optimal growing conditions for improved productivity.

Participants gained insights into Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and food safety, as well as pest, weed and disease management in tomato farming. The training also focused on soil fertility and water management strategies to maximize yields.

Additionally, the program introduced mechanization solutions tailored for small-scale farmers to enhance efficiency, while also covering value addition, business management and effective techniques for training and supporting farmers in the field.

The WAOs were well-prepared to disseminate knowledge, promote best practices and support farmers in optimizing tomato farming.

This initiative is expected to enhance food security, improve incomes and strengthen the tomato value chain in Makueni County.

Mango farming in Makueni has grown into a profitable agribusiness, that has significantly improved the livelihoods of local farmers.

In an effort to boost its production and market access, the County Agriculture Department, in partnership with the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), on Thursday completed a three-day training at Makindu for 30 ward agricultural and extension officers.

The training, developed by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), focused on hands-on practical sessions and a farm visit, emphasizing on modern technologies and best practices to enhance mango farming.

Covering several areas to help improve mango production and value addition, the training introduced Participants to better production techniques, including grafting, pruning, irrigation and fertilization, to boost their yields.

The training also gave an insight on how to manage pests and diseases effectively with a major focus on market access and linkages, post-harvest handling and storage were emphasized to reduce losses and increase profitability.

Further, with respect to the prevailing regional climate, sustainable farming practices were introduced to promote climate resilience and environmental conservation measures with exposure to digital agriculture, where participants learnt the uses of ICT tools for farm management, marketing and accessing extension services.

Lastly, the importance of farmer groups and cooperatives was highlighted, encouraging collective marketing and improving access to financial services.

The trained officers will now pass on this knowledge to farmers in their respective wards, ensuring that mango farming continues to thrive in Makueni.

Iviani farm, located deep at Kwa Kathoka village, has emerged as an example of how cottage industries are propelling Makueni County’s economy to new heights.

This farm specializes in the production of crunchy dried mango, banana, and pixie crisps which find their market in Europe, Canada, and United States as well as the Kenyan market. In a season, the farm processes up to 150 metric tons of raw mango into these sought-after munchies.

The farm, founded by Faith Mumo and Benjamin Munyao, who are still in their youth, has become a key player in supporting the county government’s efforts to stabilize mango prices, provide a reliable market for local farmers, and reduce post-harvest losses.

On Wednesday, during a visit to the farm, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr, accompanied by County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture Joyce Mutua, lauded the initiative for its impact on the local economy. Governor Mutula pledged his commitment to supporting youth-led start-ups through the Makueni County Empowerment Fund, to build a vibrant private sector driven by young entrepreneurs.

Faith also serves as the CEO of BEFA FEEDS—a local livestock feed manufacturing company based at Kwa Kathoka Market Centre. BEFA FEEDS provides affordable, high-quality animal feeds to farmers in the region, further strengthening the agricultural value chain. The two ventures have created hundreds of job opportunities to locals both directly and indirectly.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Wednesday launched a digital soil sampling exercise at Kwa Kathoka, set to cover all 30 wards in Makueni County.

The initiative, led by the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) in partnership with the county government through Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) aims to assess soil fertility across the county.

Karlo Director for Environment and Natural Resources Management Dr. David Kamau, highlighted that the program was prompted by soil fertility challenges in the country.

This exercise is part of a national digital soil mapping program designed to create a soil information system that will guide farmers on soil fertility management.

Speaking during the programme launch, Governor Mutula urged farmers to cooperate with KALRO officers during the exercise, emphasizing that the findings will support better crop growth, food production and nutrition security in Makueni.

“The soil analysis will help determine nutrient levels and guide farmers on proper fertilizer application”, stated Mutula.

The exercise, expected to last three months, will involve 120 young local agripreneurs—four from each ward—who will collect soil samples, create awareness and educate farmers on the importance of soil testing.

The launch was attended by Agriculture CECM Joyce Mutua, Devolution CECM Nicholas Nzioka, Chief Officers Japheth Kiminza (Livestock) and Dr. Victoria Kyalo (Agriculture), among other officials.