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To be a successful farmer, one needs tohave knowledge and the appropriateskills. Additionally, in order to increasetheir yields and income, farmers requireaccess to the right inputs. They shouldalso be hard working and have a strongwill to succeed. In the last few yearsThe Organic Farmer has provided youwith a lot of information and practicaltips on how to improve both crop andanimal production. Every week, wereceive 15 to 20 questions from farmerson various issues, most of which haveto do with the issues we cover in our

articles.This is indeed encouraging for it

shows that farmers want to know moreand even apply some of the technologieswe introduce to them in their farming.But some of the questions relate to howfarmers can buy the various organicinputs that we often recommend. Wefully understand the problem; almostall agro-veterinary shops do not stockorganic inputs. The truth is, if farmershave to realise the full benefits of organicfarming, then they should be able to buythe necessary inputs at a shop near

them.Although farmers have at theirdisposal organic inputs such as plantextracts which they can prepare andapply on their crops when the needarises, others like diatomite, rock phos-phate and other remedies for controlof diseases and pests are altogetherunavailable. Aware of this problem,The Organic Farmer has taken aninitiative to help farmers get access tothese inputs. In the next few weeks, wewill open four centres in various partsof the country where farmers can, not

only get information through our TOFissues and the Infonet-biovision infor-mation platform, but can also purchaseorganic inputs.

These centres will be stocked withsome of the essential organic inputsthat farmers need but have been unableto obtain from their local agrovet shops.This initiative, which is supported byBioVision Foundation, will be under-taken on a pilot basis (See our article onthis page and also on page 6). Shouldthe project succeed, more centres willbe opened in other parts of the country.

It is up to the farmers to make use ofthese centres to keep them going. Wehope that you will utilise the facilitiesto improve production and gain the fullbenefits of organic farming.

Nr. 50 July 2009

TOFR

adio

TOF P.O. Box 14352, Nairobi 00800, Tel: 020 44 50 398, 0717 551 129, 0738 390 715, Email: [email protected]

KBC

Kisw

ahili

service

Thursd

ay

8.15

to8.30

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in this issue

Climbing beans, double yields

Animal health 3Small problems such as bloat andfoot rot need attention.Parasites 4An animals health deterioratesunless they are regulary dewormed.

Beekeeping 8Learn how to attract bees to yournew hive.

Many farmers are calling and sendingSMS through our Tel. 0721 541 590;this is to inform you that this numberis now out of service. Farmers shoulduse the following numbers if theywant to reach us:SMS: All SMS should be sent to Tel.0715 916 136

The Organic Farmer, with support fromits sponsor, BioVision, will open 4information centres in the countryin August this year. The centres willprovide farmers with information andalso organic inputs. The pilot projectto be called i-TOF has selected the 4centres in Kangundo in Eastern prov-

ince, Gatuto in Central province, Moloin Rift valley and Buyangu in WesternProvince. An extension officer willbe deployed in each centre to trainfarmers on organic farming. Page 6

-TOFOur new centres

A lot of beans on a small place:This is the benefit of climbing beans.

And they are easy to harvest!

The Organic Farmer

A large section of the Kenyan popula-tion is unable to afford high proteinfood with adequate proteins, such asmeat and eggs. This is where beans playa very important part; they are a cheapsource of proteins. Unfortunately, theproduction of beans in most parts of

the country is declining. The problemis the lack of good seeds . A survey byThe Organic Farmer at the beginning ofMarch this year indicated that most ofthe seed companies did not have anyof the popular bean seeds. One reasonfor this could be that many farmersrely on their farm-stored beans for seedand hardly buy certified ones. Whatmost of the farmers forget is that suchbeans pick up disease-causing bacteria,viruses and pests while in the shamba.These diseases are consequently spreadin new fields when the same beans arereplanted.

Due to the shrinking land sizes dueto subdivision, farmers can no longerbe able to produce enough beans to

feed the rapildy growing population.Researchers are therefore developinghigh-yielding varieties of beans thatonly need a small area to grow. Inthis issue we look at climbing beans a variety that climbs and spreads onsticks and produce double the yield oflocal varieties. See Page 5

Farmers, use these telephone numbersCallsAll calls should be directed to Tel.0717 551 129 or 0738 390 715.Our landline Tel 020 445 03 98 remainsunchanged.EmailE-mails are welcome, please addressthem to: info@ organickenya.org.


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Bloat can cause death if not treated on timeNr. 50 July 2009

The Organic Farmer is an independentmagazine for the Kenyan farming com-munity. It promotes organic

farming and supports dis-

cussions on all aspects ofsustainable development.TheOrganic Farmer is publishedmonthly by icipe and distrib-

uted free of charge to farmers. The reportsin theThe Organic Farmerdo not necessar-ily reflect the views of icipe.

The Organic Farmer is sponsored by BioVi-sion, a Swiss-based foun-

dation for the promotion ofsustainable development.

www.biovision.chPublisher African Insect Science for Food

and Health (icipe), P.O. Box 30772, 00100Nairobi, KENYA, Tel: +254 20 863 2000,

[email protected], www.icipe.orgEditors Peter Kamau, Peter Baumgartner

Secretariat Lucy W. Macharia

Layout In-A-Vision Systems, 0720 419 584

Advisory Board Nguya Maniania, icipe,

Charles Kimani, farmer, Wangige, JosephMureithi, KARI, Henry Kiara, ILRI, Christian

Borgemeister, icipe, Sunday Ekesi, icipe

Address

The Organic FarmerP.O. Box 14352, 00800 Nairobi, KENYATel: +254 20 445 03 98, 0738 390 715,

0717 551 129, [email protected]

Bloat can be a problemwhen animals are introducedto lush green pastures.

William Ayako

Barely a month ago, most livestockkeepers were so worried about theeffects of prolonged drought on theiranimals. As a result of this, mostlivestock keepers incurred very highlosses. Some pastoralists lost up to 50% of their animals.

However, with the onset of the longrains, livestock keepers especially goat,sheep and cattle keepers are facedwith yet another problem: Bloat. Bloatoccurs when there is an abrupt nutri-tional change in the diet and especiallywhen cattle feed on the lush green

pastures causing the swelling of therumen with gas.

Clinical signs of bloatThe left side of the abdomen behind theribs becomes very swollen causing dis-tressed breathing, and the animal alto-gether stops eating. Sometimes greenfroth comes out of the mouth and nose.Some animals may have diarrhoea.The rumen of cattle, sheep and goatsis like a large vat in which a mixtureof partly digested feed and liquid iscontinuously fermenting producinglarge quantities of gas. For example, an

average cow can produce over a thou-sand litres of gas in a day. Some of thegas is removed by absorption into theblood stream, but most of it is removedby belching during cudding. If forwhatever reason the gas cannot escape,the rumen is literally overblown andthe animal gets bloat.

Types of bloatThere are two types of bloat namely,frothy bloat and gassy bloat.

Animals get frothy bloat when therumen becomes full of froth (foam)because the digestion is upset. Several

animals in the herd get this type ofbloat at the same time when they grazeon a lot of wet, green pasture mixedwith legumes in the field. Animals canalso get it when they feed on ripe fruitsor other feeds that ferment easily. Somepoisonous plants can cause suddenand severe bloat. A sudden change inthe type of food can also cause frothybloat. Frothy bloat normally happensat the start of wet season when the dietsof grazing animals abruptly changefrom dry feeds to wet lush pastures.

Animals get gassy bloat when the

rumen fills with gas because the oesoph-agus is blocked. This type of bloat nor-mally affects one or two animals in theherd at the same time. They get it whenthey choke on something or eat plasticsor when they get a disease like tetanusthat paralyses and hinders them fromruminating.

Treatment of bloatDepending on the type of bloat, severalmethods of treatment can be applied: Do not feed the animal for severalhours. Make them move around toexercise and improve on digestion.

For less severe cases of frothy bloat,give 500 mls and 100 mls of any ediblevegetable oil, solid cooking oil, butteroil, ghee or milk orally to large andsmall animals respectively.

For more severe cases where theanimal cannot swallow, you can tie arope across the mouth of the animalto make it chew the rope to stimulatebelching. For very severe cases of frothy andgassy bloat when the animal is dis-tressed and cannot breathe, it is advis-able to puncture the skin carefully andthe rumen of the animal on the leftflunk to let the gas out. Use a knife orany sharp thing, but the best instru-ment to use is the trochar and cannula.The hole should be made at a handswidth behind the last rib and a handaway from the edge of the backbone.Push hard because the skin is verytough. Gas and froth will come outwhen you make the hole. It helps toput a tube or cannula through the

hole to keep the hole open. Pour somevegetable oil into the rumen throughthe hole to help stop further gas orfroth formation. Do not carry out thisprocedure on your own. Contact a vet-erinary doctor.

Prevention of bloat Feed the animals with dry grass to fillthem up before you put them on newwet lush pasture. Do not water the animals just beforeyou put them on wet pasture.Do not graze the animals on wetgreen pasture early in the morning.

Wait until when the pasture has beendried up by the heat of the morningsun. You should increase grazing hoursof the animals on wet green pasturegradually for about a week.Avoid abrupt changes in the diet ofanimals and always give newly intro-duced feeds in small quantities.

The swollen abdomen is a typical sign of

gassy bloat. Photo PD


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Foot rot is a problem in wet seasonNr. 50 July 2009

Due to reduced weight gain,foot rot can have negativeeconomic consequences to farmers.

William Ayako

Foot rot is an infectious disease ofcattle causing swelling and lamenessin one or more feet. It can turn chronicif treatment is delayed. Weight gainis significantly reduced when grazingcattle contract the disease.

With the onset of long rains, foot rotbecomes quite common among cattle,sheep and goats kept under extensiveproduction systems. This is mainlybecause of the prevailing humid andwarm weather conditions that are con-ducive to bacteria that cause foot rotinfection. However, foot rot is also a

problem under intensive dairy pro-duction systems where dairy cattleare kept for milk production e.g. zero-grazing. Other factors such as breedand housing are known to influencethe occurrence and severity of thedisease.

Under intensive systems whereexotic breeds are kept for instanceunder zero grazing, the disease occur-rence is more severe than in the exten-sive system where indigenous breedsare kept. It is caused by a strain ofbacteria called Fusiformis necrophorus

and others which are always presentin the environment where animals arekept. The animals get the disease fromthe soil on which infected animalshave stepped.Clinical signsThe disease has negative economicconsequences to the farmer becauseit hinders the animal from feeding, ata time when there is plenty of good

feed.The animals become lame on one ormore legs.There is swelling between the twoclaws and sometimes further up theleg. The flesh between the two hoovesbecomes damaged and crusty.Although the disease is not alwayssevere, signs of fever and loss of weightare noted.

Treatment tipsIsolate animals with severe infectionto stop further spread of the disease tothe other animals.Wash the foot especially the skinbetween the claws with hot water- ashot as you can put your hand in.Cut away or trim any decayed part ofthe hoof to remove the infection that isunderneath it.Apply juice from euphorbia trees

such as euphorbia kibwezi to cauterizesome kinds of abscesses and second-ary infections. The juice also stops thewound from bleeding.Move the animals across hot sand ordrier places to control foot rot.Treat infected animals as aboveas soon as possible to avoid furtherspread of the disease to the rest of thecattle herd.

If you visit any homestead with

dairy cattle in the country you willbe appalled by the poor conditionsunder which the animals are kept.Most farmers are good at feeding theiranimals. But when it comes to main-taining hygiene in the cattle housingshed, they do very little to clean thesheds to make sure they are free ofanimal droppings and urine.

What happens in many householdsis that the animal waste is left to accu-mulate to a stage where the animalhave to sleep and wade through theirown muck. This is very unhygienic

and has very devastating effect onthe animals health. Farmers shouldunderstand that animals are affected ifleft to stay in an unclean environment.Their health deteriorates includingmilk production. Dirty sheds are alsobreeding grounds for many disease-

causing organisms. One of the most

common diseases that affect cattle keptin unclean sheds is mastitis. Mastitis isvery common in farms where animals

sleep on floors littered with animal

waste.Another common problem that comes

with poor sanitation in animal sheds isfoot rot as we have explained elsewhereon this page. Any dairy farmer shouldknow that an animal kept in suchunhygienic conditions such as the oneshown in the picture above cannot beproductive. Animals should not onlybe kept in a clean environment, theyalso require some free space for move-ment in order to express their normalbehaviour. Farmers often confine theiranimals in small enclosures due to

lack of space and also for securityreasons. However they should ensurethat sheds are cleaned all the time togive the animals a clean and comfort-able place to stay.

Dirty animal sheds harbour diseases

A hoof of a cow infected with foot rot, bet-

ween the hooves and at the back of the hoof.

Animals need clean shelter Photo TOF


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Nr. 50 July 2009

Deworming improves animal health

Serieson parasitesExternal and internal para-

site infestation are a seriousproblem among livestockkeepers. However there are variousmethods farmers can use to protecttheir animals against them. In the past

issues we gave you tips on externalparasites such as fleas and lice andfeatured the control of ticks in live-stock. In this issue we give you tips oninternal parasites.

Roundworms

Animals infested with worms loseweight and face the risk of increasedinfections and even death.

The Organic Farmer

Grazing animals are always exposedto parasites and are thus constantlybeing reinfected. The levels of infec-tion range from a few parasites tolarge numbers that can cause severeweakness (lost weight gains, poorfeed conversion or increased infection)and even death. A serious pest controlprogram in organic farming beginswith a good understanding of parasitesand the implementation of preventivemeasures. The ultimate objective ofthis is to develop an animal productionsystem where parasites may be presentin small numbers but do not affectthe health or performance of herds.An animal that has not had worminfestation cannot develop resistanceand is thus extremely vulnerable whenexposed to parasites.

Adult animals are much less suscep-tible to most parasites. Young animalsshould preferably be put in new pas-tures where parasite levels are low sothat they can slowly be immunized.Well-fed animals, living in good condi-tions, are better able to resist or tolerateinternal parasites.

Preventive measures Animals should not be allowed tograze on wet pastures. The conditionsthat favour grass growth also favourparasite larvae growth.

The animals should be kept in pad-docks and not taken back into thesame field until the risk of infection hasdiminished. Deworming treatmentshave little effect if the animals arereturned to the same larvae-infestedfield. Overpopulation in paddocksincreases the concentration of para-sites. Harrowing pastures disperses andexposes the parasite eggs and larvae;it should be done at the beginning ofa dry season in a field that the animalswill not be returning to for quite sometime. In barns, animals should be fed fromfeeders rather than directly from theground to avoid contamination as aresult of their mouths coming intocontact with manure or bedding.

Manure to be used for spreadingmay be filled with parasite eggs andlarvae. Composting is a good way toclean manure because the larvae andeggs are destroyed.

Parasite control methodsThe first step in a pest control programis to assess the situation with randomlyselected faeces. This regular controlis important, since certain parasiteshave developed resistance to chemi-cal deworming products. When usinga dewormer, a farmer should treat allthe animals in the herd or group. Fordeworming treatments with naturalproducts, animals should not be fedfor a period of 12 to 48 hours before thetreatment and another 6-hour periodafterwards. Young animals should be

exempted from the fast. In the case ofmilking dairy cows, it may be simplerto lighten their diet by not using silageor concentrates rather than to havethem fast.

Liquid deworming treatments thatanimals do not willingly ingest canbe administered using a funnel anda flexible tube put down the animalsthroat.

Botanical dewormersSeveral plants have antihelminthicproperties, and were in fact a partof the traditional animal husbandrybefore synthetic dewormers were com-monly adopted.Garlic: Garlic is a common plantdewormer that is easy to find. It mustbe used, however, as prophylaxis.Garlic does not prevent the productionof eggs but prevents the eggs of certainparasites from developing into larvae.It can be administered in several ways:

Fresh minced garlic has proved tobe clearly more efficient than garlicextracts for controlling internal para-sites. The leaves and bulbs may also beused. If the animals do not want to eatthe leaves whole, they may be cut intosmall pieces, mixed with molasses andshaped into small balls.Powder: The most practical way toadminister garlic is to add powderedgarlic to animal feed.Wild ginger: Wild ginger or snakeroot(Asarum canadense) grows in woodedareas. The dosage per animal is 20 to 30g of the aerial parts of snakeroot mixedwith wet bran. Wild ginger also hasantibacterial properties.

Adult roundworms deposit their eggs in the animals intestine. These eggs pass into

the environment through cattle manure. After the eggs hatch and larvae moult, theinfective roundworm larvae migrate up the forage and are ingested by grazing cattle.

After ingestion, the roundworm matures in about 3 weeks. Adult roundworms do not

multiply in the host animal; the eggs must pass into the environment to continue the

parasites life cycle. Adult life span is only a few months. Animals will rid themselves

of the adult parasites.

continued on page 8


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Climbing beans provide more foodNr. 50 July 2009

Due to land subdivision anddeclining soil fertility, farmers needhigh yielding bean varieties.

The Organic Farmer

Climbing beans is a variety of beans thatrequires support with stakes (sticks)to climb on when they are growing.The beans can grow up to a height of3.5 metres. They require such supportdue to their imposing length and thinstems. The long stems of this variety ofbeans enable it to produce more podsas compared to normal bean varieties(bush beans). With good management,climbing beans can produce up to 4tonnes per hectare (22 bags per acre).Conventional beans produce between

8 and 12 bags per acre. Due to theirhigh yielding quality, climbing beanscan be grown in densely populatedareas where farmers possess smallparcels of land. Farming areas aroundmajor towns are also appropriate pro-duction areas. The farmers should alsohave access to staking material; this ispossible especially in areas where agro-forestry is practised. The beans can dowell in all areas that have an adequaterainfall of above 1000 mm. But they canalso do very well in dry areas whereirrigation is practised.Varieties: There are four varieties ofclimbing beans; three of these variet-ies have been developed by the KenyaAgricultural Research Institute (KARI).These are the Medium Altitude Climber13 (MAC 13) Medium Altitude Climber34 (MAC 34) and the Medium AltitudeClimber 64 (MAC 64). The advantagesof these varieties is that they producemore grains and crop residue whichcan be incorporated back into the soilthus improving fertility and organicmatter content.The residue can also beused as livestock fodder. The highergrain yield also means more food and

income for the farmer.How to grow climbing beansSeed: Farmers are advised to use cleanseed; preferably those produced byseed companies, research institutions,

Request for climbing beansI am a regular reader of The OrganicFarmer magazine (TOF). Please sendme more information about climbingbeans. Kindly also direct me to whereI can get the seeds? Tel. 0711 754 542This is one of the many questions we

have received in the past few weekson climbing beans. It seems that manyfarmers want to improve their yieldsby growing high yielding varieties.

farmers groups with good disease-freeseed, non-governmental organisationsand any certified seed producer. Theonly problem farmers may face is thatcurrently, climbing beans can only beobtained from informal seed produc-ers. The quality of these seeds is ques-tionable. To overcome this problem,farmers groups in various parts ofthe country are being trained on theproduction of clean seed that can beused by those interested in growingthe beans.Land preparation: It is important toprepare the land during the dry seasonto reduce weeds and ensure the soil isfine. All perennial weeds such as grassesshould be uprooted and exposed tosunlight to kill them. It is advisable toincorporate any crop residue back intothe soil to build fertility.Planting: Planting should be done atthe onset of the rains.Spacing: The beans should be plantedat the rate of 2 seeds per hole, 75 cmbetween the rows and 25- 30 cm fromone hole to the next. One support stickis adequate for 2 bean seedlings whichhelps to reduce the number of sticks

used, other than when one stick is usedto support only one seedling.Fertilizer application: Climbing beansare heavy feeders and require ade-quate amounts of nutrients. A balanced

supply of organic fertilizers or well-de-composed manure should be appliedat planting time. These can be supple-mented with organic foliar feeds.Pest Control: Pest control shouldstart early, just after germination. Useorganic pesticides (Refer to our Plantextracts Special for the various plantsthat can be used to control pests). Themost common pests are the bean-fly,ants, spider mites and aphids. Youngbean tendrils, leaves flowers and youngpods are vulnerable to bird damage.Scare birds away as you do with the

other crops.Disease control: Organic fungicidessuch as copper oxychloride can be usedto control fungal diseases. A numberof plant extracts such as those madefrom a mixture of African marigold,stinging nettle, garlic, rhubarb etc caneffectively control fungal diseases.Weeding: Like other beans, climbingbeans should be weeded at least twiceduring the growth cycle.Irrigation: Climbing beans do verywell in dry areas if there is sufficientwater for irrigation. They can also begrown under irrigation during the dryseason in high potential areas.Climbing beans need supportThe beans must be supported whilegrowing as they are very strong climb-ers. If left unsupported, they will crawlon the ground and will thus not producegood yields. They must be supportedin order to grow upright and producemore grains. Support sticks of up to3.5 metres high are economical for afair and competitive yield. Supportmust be provided within 1 to 2 weeksafter emergence from the ground toenable the young beans to climb andstart producing branches early enough.In areas where maize is grown andsupport stakes may not be available,farmers are advised to grow the beansin the maize fields when the maize isabout to mature, mainly around themonth of August or September. Theleaves of the maize can be plucked offand any weeds removed before plant-ing. The climbing beans can then beplanted at the base of each maize stalkwhich provides support to the climb-ers. When the maize is harvested, thestalks should be left standing in orderto support the beans until they areready for harvesting.Farmers interested in buying climbing beanscan contact KARI Embu, Call Alfred MicheniTel.0720 705 625.

Climbing beans require support


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Nr. 50 July 2009

Host: CBO KangundoDairy Farmers (KDF),running a milk barLocation: KDF-milk barin Kangundo Town

i-TOF information:Within the premises ofKDF, equipped withthe whole informationpackage, run by theTOF-extension workerContact: 0724 331 405i-TOF organic inputsShop: Situated withinthe premises of KDF inKangundo town.

Nairobi

Tala

Kangundo

Kivaani

Siathani

MakutanoMachakos

Kathiani

MitaboniAthi River

To Mombasa

i-TOF centre, Kangundo, Eastern i-TOF centre Gatuto, Kerugoya

i-TOF centre, Buyangu, Western

i-TOF centre Baraka College, MoloKakamega

Mukumu

Chavakali

Mudete

Kaimosi

Kipagara

Buyangu

MajengoVihiga

Ebunangwe

Kilingiri

ShinyaluKhayega

To Kisumu

Eldoret

Kamara

Mau SummitKericho

Molo

Turi

Elburgon

Nyakinyua

Nakuru

Rongai

Njoro

Baraka

College

Nairobi

Host: Main office of the

Sustainable OrganicFarming DevelopmentInitiative (SOF-DI),BuyanguLocation: (SOF-DI)Buyangu, in the com-pound of the Catholicparishi-TOF info centre: Withinthe premises of SOF-DI,equipped with the wholeinformation package, runby the TOF-extensionworker

Contact: 0724 331 456i-TOF organic inputsShop: Situated within thepremises of SOF-DI inthe SOF-DI main office in

Nyeri

Nairobi

Karatina

Kagumo

Kerugoya

Embu

Kutus

Kagio

Sagana

Muranga

Makangu

MururiinGatuto

Host: Amuka Farmers Self-Help Group, GatutoLocation: Meeting andeducation hall of AmukaFarmers Self Help Group,

GatutoLocation I-TOF information:Within this meeting hall;equipped with the wholeinformation package, runby the TOF-extensionworkerContact: 0724 331 375i-TOF organic inputs Shop:An agrovet shop in Kagio;to be named in the TOFAugust-issue and by directmail to farmers groups.

Host: Baraka AgriculturalCollege, MoloLocation: In the threeBaraka outreach centresin Mau Summit, Kamaraand Nyakinyuai-TOF info centre: Withinthese three outreachcentres in Mau Summit,Kamara and Nyakinyua;these three centres areequipped with the wholeinformation package as

mentioned above.i-TOF organic inputs shop:Situated within the prem-ises of Baraka AgriculturalCentre, Molo.

In the last issue of The Organic Farmermagazine, we wrote about our intention toopen centres for information and organicinputs in various parts of the country,called i-TOFs. The idea came from the

many questions we have been receiv-ing from farmers regarding lack of train-ing and inputs. Research done by TOFhas confirmed that few agrovet shops areselling organic inputs.

After some research, we have decidedto set up four i-TOF centres. Since thisproject is on a trial basis, we have iden-tified two agricultural institutions andtwo active farmers groups : Baraka Agri-cultural College, Molo ; SustainableOrganic Farming Development Initiative(SOF-DI), based in Buyangu, Ebunangweand Mukumu; Kangundo Dairy Farmers

CBO, Kangundo, and Amuka FarmersSelf-Help Group, Gatuto.

i-TOF : The information centresEach of the centres will be equipped with:- The farmers toolkit, which consistsof a laptop computer running the offline-

version of the infonet-biovision informa-tion package- An entire archive of TOF magazinessince its launch in April 2005- A variety of publications and books on

organic farming- Other information material deemed nec-essary for training farmers on sustainableagriculture.SOF-DI, Kangundo and Gatuto: Thesecentres host the i-TOF extension worker,a trained agronomist with experience inorganic farming, value addition and mar-keting. This i-TOF extension officer will beresponsible for training all farmers groups

in their respective region. Farmers groupscan book him/her for a one day trainingon specific areas. This service is free ofcharge.Baraka/Molo: The Baraka agricultural

college runs three outposts in MauSummit, Kamara and Nyakinyua will bestaffed with an extension worker. Thethree outposts will work as i-TOF centres.They are equipped with all the informa-tion material as mentioned above.

Organic inputsThese inputs will include commerciallyavailable organic pesticides and fungicidesand soil conditioner, and may includeNeem products, Diatomite, E.M , RockPhosphate (Minjingu), Flower DS etcc.

Since we are looking for the best ways tosupply small-scale farmers with organic

inputs, we chose different possibilities: Baraka will sell the inputs in the alreadyexisting shop at the Baraka AgriculturalCollege. SOF-DI will have a small shop at themain centre in Buyangu.

Where are the -TOF centres?

The telephone numbers of the i-TOFextension workers indicated below willbe working from 20th of July. From

that day, you can start making bookingsdirectly with the i-TOF team members inyour area. If you have questions abouti-TOF before that or would like to reservea date for a course at your place, pleasecontact TOF at the usual phone number.


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Nr. 50 July 2009

Vaccination of chickens importantI want to know the most effective med-icine that can protect my young chicksfrom diseases. Can the same be usedfor turkeys? Tel.0721 422 978

You have asked this question at the righttime when the rains have just started.The wet season is a delicate time forpoultry farmers due to the proliferationof diseases that can wipe out a wholeflock of birds if preventive measuresare not put in place. Young chicks areespecially vulnerable to diseases. Dis-eases such as fowl typhoid are a seriousproblem that is very difficult to eradi-cate once they have attacked chickens.Sometimes they require the culling ofthe entire flock. Regular vaccinationcan protect your chickens against cocci-diosis because the bacteria responsibleare always present in the soil. The bestway to keep these diseases at bay is toensure the poultry sheds are kept asclean as possible at all times. Wash thefloors regularly with organic acaricides

such as neem powder. The followingare important vaccinations that canprevent diseases on chickens:Marek: This is an injection adminis-tered at the hatchery on young chicks.Newcastle: These are inter-nasal dropsapplied to the eyes at 2 to 3 weeks andrepeated at 18 weeks and after every 6months.Fowl Typhoid: This is applied as anintra muscular injection at 8 weeks in

high risk areas and 18 weeks in lowrisk areas.Gumboro: It is applied in drinkingwater from four to fourteen days.

Organic chickens are often reared vac-cine-free because they are reared in aclean environment and are allowed tograze on free range. Organic farmerscan make their own natural antibiot-ics that can protect chickens againstdisease. Extracts from plants such asaloe vera can control a number of infec-tions in chickens if added to drinkingwater.

My cow is eating clothes, soap, bonesetc. I have tried to give a variety ofmineral licks but the problem still per-sists. Please assist me get a solution tothis problem. Tel 0726 071 136

Your cow could be suffering from adeficiency of some sort. Most of the saltlicks available in local agrovet shopsdo not have sufficient composition ofminerals salts that animals require. Tryand buy imported ones. Some areas

in the country lack particular miner-als in the soil which can also affect theanimals. You can also consult yourlocal livestock extension staff to tellyou if there is a deficiency of a par-

ticular mineral in your region. Theycan provide useful advice that maybe of help to you. If this habit persists,consult a veterinarian

My cow is eating clothes

Amuka Farmers Self Help Groupwill co-operate with an agrovet shopin Kagio. Kangundo Dairy farmers will storeand sell the organic inputs in theirpremises in Kangundo, next door tothe i-TOF information office.

In the beginning, The Organic Farmerwill assist the groups to source organicinputs. After that, it will be the respon-sibility of each centre to buy andmarket the inputs to farmers in theirrespective regions.

All farmers groups in the respec-tive regions of the 4 centres will beinformed of the existence of thesecentres and are encouraged to makeuse of the facilities provided. TOF willmake a regular assessment of thesecentres which will form the basis of

any future expansion to other parts ofthe country.

-TOFfrom page 6:

Available training modules1. Soil fertility and conservation

i) Compostingii) Vermicultureiii) Soil conservationiv) Liquid compostsv) Green Manures

2. Crop Nutrition3. Pest Management

4. Disease Managementi) Identification of diseasesii) Disease management andcrop hygiene

5. Water conservation and manage-menti) Harvestingii) New technologies, dripirrigation etc.

6. Animal production and health.i) Feeding and housing in organicsystems.ii) Pasture management andstorage.

ConditionsThe following conditions apply to allgroups that will undergo under thei-TOF training programmes:

The training will be conducted freeof charge to all farmers groups.The farmers have to identify atraining venue and organise ademonstration plot where thetraining will take place.Training will be offered to farmersgroups with at least 15 members

and above.Each training session will take 4to 5 hours.Farmers must observe punctual-ity.

-TOF

-TOF

Which hybrid maize seeds can do wellduring the September January period?

The weather has been rather unpre-dictable this year. Although the MarchMay long rains delayed somewhat,most parts of the country received ade-quate rains in May but dry conditionspersisted in much of June, which hasled to crop failure in most medium andlow potential areas. In our March 2009

Maize varieties good for short rainsissue (Nr.45) we warned farmers thatthere was a possibility of depressedrains. Although you do not explain tous in which agro-ecological zone yourfarm is situated, we would recommendthat you go for early maturing varieties.These include Katumani Composite,DHO1, DHO2, DHO4, DH09 or DH10.You can get these varieties from yournearest agrovet shop or any KenyaSeed Company agent near you.


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Nr. 50 July 2009

How can I attract bees to colonize my hive?Peter Chikombe Saboti, (0728 209 456)is not the only farmer who has problemswith attracting honey bees.

Jairus Lihanda

There are several reasons that preventbees from colonizing a hive. One ofthem is pest infestation. Such pestsmay include ants, wasp, and rats. Ifthe hive has rats nesting in it, it willdefinitely never be colonized. Rats alsoleave a bad smell even after they havebeen removed from the hive. So first,ensure the hives are free from anypests. If there are pests clean the hive.Secondly, have the hives waxed. In case

you are using the Kenya Top Bar hives,wax the bars. For Langstroth hives,wax the frames well.

The second major reason is the apiarysiting. If the apiary is sited in a dampyarea, it is not a conducive site for bees.Bees need a site where they can main-tain right moisture content in theirhoney.

A third reason would be the conditionof the hive. If the temperatures are toohigh in the hive, bees may dislike sucha hive. Hives should be sited under ashade.

Lastly, the positioning of the hives cankeep the bees away because they doenter hives mostly during swarmingseasons. However, bees have swarm-ing routes. These routes are high upabove buildings. Try placing your hivesin catcher positions (on top of trees orbuildings) or use a catcher box to catchbees and transfer them into the hives.

Pack the bees in the hivesIf you try all these and bees still do notenter your hives, you can put them intothe hives. There are different ways ofdoing this, but for this operation, it is

best to seek help from an experiencedfriend. The swarm has a better chanceof staying in its new hive during anectar flow. Do not waste time withswarms smaller than a persons headas they cause more trouble than theyare worth.First, prepare your hive by smearingit with some melted beeswax, so thatsmells nice for bees.Look for a swarm of bees clusteringon a branch from where you can catchthem. Wear your bee suit and smokethem very gently so as not to disturbthem. (Do not smoke if you can avoidit!) Shake the bees into a catcher box orsimilar container, e.g., cardboard box.If the queen falls into the box, the restof the swarm will follow. Wait for 20minutes or so. If they return to their

original site, repeat the procedure oncemore.Once you have the bees, leave the boxin a shady place until evening. Makesure it does not become hot in thecontainer by covering it with a dampcloth.In the evening, take the bees homeand shake them into your empty hive.

If you have other hives, take out acomb with some uncapped honey anda brood comb with eggs and give them

Is it true we have a new variety of bees thatdo not sting? If yes, how can a farmer getthem and for how much? I am a farmer,now keeping rabbits. 0721 611 080.

Yes, it is true; there is a species ofbees that do not sting because theyare stingless. These bees colonize darkareas and are hard to try and domes-

ticate. They produce less quantity ofhoney as compared to the stingingbees. However their honey is highlymedicinal.

Keeping of stingless bees (meli-poniculture) is not yet commercialized

in Kenya. We advise interested beekeepers to concentrate on the honeyBee (Apis Mellifera). One of he majorreasons that keep off interested bee-keepers is fear, but just like you areused to your rabbits, you can get usedto your bees.

First be careful, taking every precau-tion against the stings. Invite an expe-

rienced beekeeper to start you off. Butthe more you visit the hives, the moreyou get used to the bees. In fact, for anexperienced beekeeper, the bee sting ishealthy!Jairus Lihanda

to the bees to encourage them to stayon.

You can also colonize your hivesby making colony divisions. Transfercomb with the queen cell, one othercomb of brood, and two combs of food(honey and pollen) into a catcher box/new hive. Include bees on all combs.Shake in bees from other combs as

well. Remember to put brood combs inthe middle and honeycombs on eitherside to insulate the brood nest.

Stingless bees

from page 4: Worms

Cucurbits: Pumpkin seeds contain adeworming compound called cucur-bitacin. The seeds may be fed directlyto animals.Lupin: A diet made up entirely of

freshly cut, lightly salted lupin is agood dewormer. It is important not toallow free access to lupin; otherwisesymptoms of poisoning may occur.Other plants: Blackberries, raspber-

ries, and nettle are also other plantspecies withdewormingpropertiesthat shouldbe accessiblein pastures.

F e n n e lleaves andseeds arealso used asdewormers.

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