seed time 2011 april june

7/22/2019 Seed Time 2011 April June

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In this Issue

Volume 36 April - June 2011

Pg.2 Pata Negra F1, Word from

ManagementPg.3 Loitokitok Assila LaunchPg.4 Burundi Expose; Hybrid Seedlings

Pg.5 Seed Processing Unit Launch, Mbaazi Recipe

Pg.6 Controlling Melon FlyPg.7 Assila F1 Launch Pictorial

Pg.8 Green Acres Centre

atermelons, botanically called

Citrullus lanatus belong to the amily

o Cucurbitaceae, they originated in Arica.

Watermelons grow large -- but how do you

know when they are ready or picking? With

the many dierent types o watermelons and the many dierent

sizes, it can be conusing. There are some signs to watch or that can

indicate your watermelon is ully grown. Well show you how to grow

and harvest watermelons here.

Planting InstructionsWatermelons preer a hot, dry climate with mean daily temperatures

o 22 to 30C. Maximum and minimum temperatures or growth are

about 35 and 18C respectively. The optimum soil temperature or

root growth is in the range o 20 to 35C. Fruits grown under hot, dry

conditions have a higher sugar content compared to those grown

under cool, humid conditions. The crop is very sensitive to rost.

The length o the total growing period ranges rom 80 to 110 days,

depending on climate.

Spacing: Watermelon vines require considerable space. Youcan sow seeds in hills or rows. Seeds are placed on

hills spaced 1m x 1m. and planted 2cm deep.

One-two weeks ater the seedlings are

established, thin to the best

three plants per

hill.

Continued on pg. 3 ...

Soils: Plant watermelons in good, well-drained soil. The croppreers a sandy loam soil texture with pH o 5.8 to 7.2. Clay

soils do not raise a good crop. Cultivation in heavy textured

soils results in a slower crop development and cracked ruits.

I your soil is dicult, create raised beds by adding organicmatter to improve the drainage and aeration.

Fertilizer Requirements:Watermelons are heavy eeders.Add generous amounts o manure, compost and leaves to

your garden. Work the soil well. Make sure it drains well.

Fertilize with a phosphate ertilizer at planting, 3-4 weeks

later, top dress with CAN or lea development and 4 weeks

ater this, top dress again with NPK triple 17 or ruits and

owering. You may also apply recommeneded oliar eeds

or vegetative growth and owering.

Micronutrients: Apply as determined by soil test.Micronutrients that should be tested or are zinc,

manganese and boron.

Watering: Watermelons need adequate water orproductivity, though their requirements are slightly lower

than those o other vegetables. Plant stress rom limited water

availability will cause them to stop growing and reduce ruit

size and quality. All the same, be careul not to over water. Excessive

irrigation can reduce crop yields by leaching crop nutrients or

promoting disease, it can also cause ruiting plants to collapse rom lack

o oxygen. Watermelons have extensive root systems and can obtain

available ground moisture, thus reducing irrigation requirements.

Check the soil moisture regularly and water as necessary beore the

melons start to wilt or go into stress. Allow the top 1 to 2 o soil to dry

between watering.

Plant Development and Care: Maintaining a healthy plant is thefrst step in disease control. This includes weeding, pruning and proper

spacing to allow good air circulation, especially in wet and humid

weather.

Sunlight- Watermelons need ull sun and heat to grow healthy vines

and big ruit.

Weeding- Watermelons are not good competitors and do not

ourish i weeds shade them or compete with them or moisture

and ertilizer. Remove small weeds to avoid stunting or stressing the

melons. Avoid disturbing the root by cultivation as this weakens vines

and keeps them rom producing ruit.Rotate planting locations and use resistant varieties to avoid

By Daniel Musyoka

Growing A Vigorous Patch of Watermelons

W


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fromManagement

ElizabethMranda

2

By Jared Onduso

Pata Negra F1,

Oh So Sweet

SPOTLIGHTIn the

Benefts

Very high yielding

Long distance shipper, reduced loss

during transport

High market demand because o

medium size and excellent ruit fesh

qualities

Good returns

Attributes

Yield potential o 46 t/acre

Very sweet brilliant red, crisp fesh

Early maturing variety 100-120 days

Dark green round uniorm ruit 7-8 kg in weight

Very vigorous plant with good ruit cover

Excellent transportability due to thick ruit rind

Variety tolerant to Fusarium wilt

The much anticipated rains, though

late, are here with us at long last.

We hope that all our armers will betaking advantage o the rain to plant

our varieties and exercise the good

management practices outlined in this

edition.

As the rains continue to pound most

areas o the country, we at Monsanto (K)

ltd are ocused on ensuring our seed is

available in the Agrovet nearest to you.

In this edition, we have given coverage to

our new kids on the block Water Melon

Pata Negra F1 and Tomato Assila F1. We

cover the launching o Tomato Assila F1

in Mwea, Central Kenya and in Loitokitok

towards the South-Eastern part o the

country. The two events were very

successul. Our entire Monsanto team

was out o the oce interacting with the

armers and listening to the experiences

they go through as they try to better

their lives.

Worth mentioning, are the new hybrids

we have added to our product portolio.

We have the Watermelon Sentinel F1

(variegated oval) and Cucumber Darina

F1(Ashley type). We have also added to

our Hybrid Tomato Anna product line by

availing a new armer-riendly 500 seed-

pack.

We cannot wrap up this edition without

highlighting our partnerships, which

have been strategic in the growth o the

hybrid seed business.

So, this season, we once again encourage

our esteemed armers to grow our

cabbage Victoria F1 and Blue Dynasty

F1, these have proven themselves inthe highlands and warmer parts o the

country respectively. We assure you that

these varieties will be available to you at

the most competitive prices.

We wish you all the best.


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NewsMONSANTO

In Mid-March, Seminis ocially launched

hybrid Tomato Assila in Loitoktok. Farmers

rom Loitokitok and its environs came to

witness the birth o this new arming baby

in the region.

Tomato Assila has excellent eatures that

armers have long been yearning or. It is

a boon or tomato growers who have long

relied on the ordinary open pollinated

varieties (OPVs), normally low yielding and

with poor disease resistance.

Assila can yield up to 30 tonnes per acre,

twice as much as the OPVs and is tolerantto the deadly Tomato Yellow Lea Curl

Virus(TYLCV) popularly known in the area

as ngumi. The variety also has a longer shel

lie compared to OPVs.

At the event, Seminis technical sales sta

. . .continued rom pg 1

pest and disease accumulation.

Pruning - Remove deormed and melon y-stung ruits. Deormed

ruits result primarily rom water stress and/or insucient

pollination. These ruits are removed at an early stage in order to

obtain uniormly well-shaped ruits. In some instances growers

remove well-ormed ruits i there are more than two or three

melons already developing on the plant. Reducing the number

o melons per plant, concentrates the plants producing power in

a smaller number o ruits, thereby increasing size and perhaps

quality.

Insects and PestsEarly use o insecticides is important. While constant scoutingis crucial in controlling pests and diseases. Fungicides can be

eective i used early.

Major insect pests include aphids, melon y and mites. Powdery

and downy mildews, anthracnose, alternaria lea spot, gummy

stem blight and Fusarium wilt are some o the common diseases

aecting watermelon. However, some cultivars are resistant to

some diseases.

Harvest RecommendationsIt is dicult to tell i a watermelon is ripe by just looking; it must

be examined. Watermelons will not continue to ripen ater harvest.

For best quality, be sure to scout the crop daily so that melons can

be picked when they are at their best. Here are indications you can

look or:

Thump it. When thumped an immature melon will give

a metallic plank and a mature one a dull plunk, i the

harvester can determine the dierence. This method should

only be used when the melons are cool; an immature melon

will sound mature i it has become warm throughout.

Look at the color on the top. The ruit is ripe when there is

little contrast between the stripes. Another indication is when

the surace color o the ruit turns dull.

Look or the spot where the melon rested on the ground; a

yellow or a cream-yellow colored spot suggests ripeness and a

white or pale green spot indicates immaturity.

The curly tendril immediately opposite where the melon is

attached to the vine will be brown and withered when the

melon is ripe.

Storage and HandlingWatermelons are not adapted to long storage. At low temperatures

they are subject to various symptoms o chilling injury and loss

o quality, and at high temperatures they are subject to decay.

Between 10 and 150 C is a good compromise. Watermelons should

be consumed within 2 to 3 weeks ater harvest, primarily because

o the gradual loss o crispness. Quality hybrids are able to keep

longer.

Watermelons should not be dropped, thrown, or walked on, as

internal bruising and esh breakdown will occur.

Unveiling Hybrid TomatoAssila in Loitokitok

were able to show armers the advantages o planting hybrid tomato varieties over OPVs. Addressing armers, Kobus Burger Monsanto

Lead or the Vegetable Seed division, thanked them or their support retierating the companys commitment to helping armers meet

their objectives. SEE PAGE 6 FOR MORE EVENT PICTURES]

By Nathan Koskei

>>> Monsantos Kobus Burger unveils the Tomato Assila banner , looking on are Loitokitok farmers and the Monsanto team

3


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L

With this kind o income,

our childrens education

is guaranteed.

Burundi Farmers Marvel at Monsantos HybridsBy Wamae Mwangi

M

Raising Healthy Seedlings Begins with Good Seed

We use hybrid seeds rom certifed

seed companies. ... we fnd that

Monsanto Hybrid seeds have better

germination vigour and percentageresulting in higher usable transplants

thus reducing costs.

By Paul Dondi with David Ndungu

SpeakGROWERSThe

4

onsanto recently held a feld day in Burundi

to promote its hybrid varieties in the region.Among these were onions, tomatoes and

cabbages. The crops impressed local armers. Farmers in

the area usually grow Open Pollinated Varieties (OPVs),

which are oten low yielding with poor disease tolerance.

One armer attending the event had this to say:

The onions I usually grow give me less than 15tonnes

per acre. But today I have seen or mysel that with

Jambar F1 and Mercedes F1, one can get up to 23tonnes

per acre! It is impossible to achieve such a harvest with

open pollinated varieties. I have also seen tomato AnnaF1 in the feld; I was impressed that it continues to

produce ruits or close to a year. Having such a crop, will

ensure that we have continous income all year round.

With this kind o income, our childrens education is

guaranteed.

I thank Monsanto or fnally bringing to us products

which will reward our hard work. I also thank you or

your commitment in supporting us with the technical

inormation we need to realize ull yields

ongonot Farm is a plant propagaon nursery raising plug

seedlings for both horcultural and oricultural farmers.

We use hybrid seeds from cered seed companies. In parcular,

we nd that Monsanto Hybrid seeds have beer germinaon vigour

and percentage resulng in higher usable transplants thus reducing

costs. Our range of seeds from Monsanto include, Tomato Anna F1,Onion Jambar F1, Cabbage Victoria F1, Tomato Assila F1, Broccoli

Heritage F1 and Sweet pepper Redknight F1 amongst others. Our

farmers also prefer Monsanto variees because they are high

yielding and fetch them good returns.

Apart from just having quality seeds, Monsanto oers one of the

best customer-service.

They ensure that our

sta is well-equipped

with informaon

and see to it that any

product informaon

is disseminated to thefarmer through our

nursery. Working with

Monsanto has ensured

growth for our nursery

business as we are now able to reach farmers from various parts of

the country.

>>> Standing amid Monsantos Cabbage Victoria F1 seedlings are LongonotFarms Joseph Muthomi and Dorcas Ayuma with Monsantos David Ndungu (middle)


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5

Monsanto Maize Sales Team from East Africa recently joined their

South African counterparts for the ocial launch of the third and

nal phase of Monsantos technologically advanced maize seed

plant in Lichtenburg, South Africa. The facility was ocially opened

by Kobus Lindeque, area Director of Monsanto Africa.

The plant, known as Thobontle (Setswana for great harvest),

was enlarged to supply excellent quality maize seed to farmers. Itbegins operaons from May 1 2011.

Monsantos aim is to provide food to all people in a sustainable

manner and good quality seed is the origin of all food, says

Lindeque.

The new phase comprises a storing facility which accomodates

approximately 140 000 bags of maize seed each holding about 25

kg. A new cooling facility at the site keeps maize at temperatures

under 150C, this area holds up to 40,000 bags of maize seed. Bags

for local sales as well as for export can be kept under opmum

condions at this new facility which contains state-of-the-art grain

drying and laboratory research facilies.

The dryer secon can process some 320 tonnes of maize cobs daily. At the dryer the whole cobs are put in drying bins and dried to the required

temperature and moisture content. Thereaer, the kernels are shelled and samples taken to the laboratory for tesng. The seed is tested for

purity, emergence and where necessary, the presence of the Bt- or Roundup Ready genes.

High-tech Maize Facility Launched in South Africa

Ingredients kg pigeon peas (dried); or substitute black-eyed pea or cowpeas --cleaned, soaked, and rinsed

one or two cups each of thick and thin coconutoil

2 cloves garlic, minced1 inch ginger, grated cup corriander (dhania) finely choppedone or two onions, choppedone hot green chili pepper, cleaned and choppedone teaspoon curry powder -- or turmeric

salt, to taste

MethodIn a large pot or using a pressure cooker, boil pigeon peas till tender.1.Stir in the thin coconut milk, Continue to simmer over low heat. Add2.more water as necessary to prevent the peas from becoming dry. While

peas are simmering: Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a pan. Add thecurry powder to the oil and stir for a minute. Fry the onion and chilli

By Nashone Mukabane

RECIPE: Mbaazi wa Nazi(Pigeon Peas in Coconut Milk)

pepper until they are tender, add garlic, ginger and corriander.Add peas to the fried mixture. Continue to simmer until peas are tender3.enough to eat. Then, add the thick coconut milk and simmer on thelowest possible heat for five to ten minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve with Chapati or Rice.

NOTE:Thick and thin coconut milk are made from the meat of the ripened coconut. They can be approximated by diluting canned coconut milk.Thick coconut milk is prepared by directly squeezing grated coconut meatthrough cheesecloth. The squeezed coconut meat is then soaked in warm water

and squeezed a second or third time for thin coconut milk.

When using canned coconut milk. Use unsweetened coconut milk; shakethe can well, before opening. Divide the contents of the can into two parts,

placing about two-thirds of the cans contents in one measuring cup and theremaining one-third in another. Add enough hot water to each cup to maketwo cups. The first is the thick, the second is the thin.


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LoitokitokTomatoAssilaLau

nch

Mwea Tomato Assila Launch


7/8

QUESTIONSAnswered

Your

By Jared Onduso

What is a Melon Fly?The melon y (Bactrocera cucurbitae), is a ruit y o the amily

Tephritidae. Its a serious agricultural pest aecting various

horticultural crops including watermelon.

Lie CycleThe adult emale y lays eggs in ruit leaving punctures or stings in

the skin. Though eggs are generally laid in young ruit, they can also

be laid in the succulent stems o host plants. The emale may lay

as many as 1,000 eggs. The eggs are deposited in cavities created

by the emale using its sharp ovipositor.The eggs hatch into larvae

(maggots) which tunnel into the ruit causing rotting. Aected ruit

will oten all rom the plant prematurely.

When larvae have fnished eeding, they leave the ruit, burrow into

the soil, pupate then emerge as adult ruit ies. This lie cycle will

typically take 14-28 days or completion.There may be as many as 8

to 10 generations a year.

How can one Spot a Melon Fly?Melon ies are most oten ound on low, leay, succulent vegetation

near cultivated areas. In hot weather they rest on the undersides o

leaves and in shady areas. They are strong iers and usually y in

the mornings and aternoons. They eed on the juices o decaying

ruit, nectar, bird aeces, and plant sap.

Adult ruit ies in general are typically about the size o a house

y and are reddish-brown to dark brown in colour, with yellow

markings on the thorax (the middle body section).The distinctive

eatures o melon y include:

A yellow stripe in the middle o the thorax between the

wings

A black (oten incomplete) T-shaped marking on the

abdomen (the rear body section)

Additional dark patches towards the outer edge o the

wings

7

Is it possible to save mycrop from Melon Flydamage?

How do they Destroy the Crop?Melon y damages ruit in the same way as other ruit y

species. The melon y can attack both owers, stem and

root tissue, and ruit. The adult emale y typically lays

eggs in ruit leaving punctures or stings in the skin. The

eggs hatch into larvae (maggots) which tunnel into the

ruit causing rotting. Melon y larvae can also develop in

blossoms and some vegetative portions o plants. Among

vegetative plant material, newly emerged seedlings and

terminal shoots are preerred. Similarly, among ruits,

immature ruit is usually selected. Aected ruit will oten

all rom the plant prematurely.

Larval eeding damage in ruits is the most damaging.Mature attacked ruits develop a water soaked appearance.

Young ruits become distorted and usually drop. The larval

tunnels provide entry points or secondary invaders;

insects as well as bacteria and ungi that cause the ruit

to rot. Damage can also occur rom egg-laying even when

larvae do not survive because oviposition allows entry

o microorganisms or causes deormities in the growing

ruit.

Some dierences in damage among cucurbits exist. Seedling and

stem damage is more common in watermelon and cantaloupe than

in squash, cucumbers, and pumpkin. Blossom damage is serious

among all cucurbits except cucumber. Both male and emale

blossoms o squash and pumpkin are aected, but in watermelon

and cantaloupe the male blossom generally escapes attack.

How can I get Rid o Melon Fly?

A number o methods can be used to control melon y

menace. They include:

Wrapping developing ruit with a protective covering

and the use o baited traps.

Field sanitation: Destroy all unmarketable and inested

ruits and dispose crop residues immediately ater

harvest. Inested ruit should be buried 3 eet undersoil surace. Adding lime is helpul in killing emerging

larvae.

Use trap crops.

Chemical sprays: Using proteinaceous liquid attractants

in insecticide sprays is a recommended method o

controlling adult melon y populations in the vicinity o

crops. The bait insecticide sprays are applied to broad

lea plants that serve as reugia or melon y adults.

Baits serve to encourage the adults (especially emales)

to eed on the spray residue and can provide good rates

o kill. To be eective, bait-insecticide sprays must be

used in combination with good sanitation practices.These practices include destruction o unmarketable

ruit on every harvest date, and destruction o crop

residues immediately ater economic harvest has been

completed.

Image: Alton N. Sparks, Jr., University of Georgia, Bugwood.org


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CLIENTSMeetour

reen Acres Centre is located

about 250 kilometres north o

Nairobi in the heart o Nyahururu

town - host world renowned Thompsons

Falls.

The shop opened its doors in 1993. Its

vision, in Mr Warugongos own words,

is ... to eradicate poverty and to put

ood on the table or the ever increasing

world population. Seed supply has been

an integral part o the business over thepast 17 years. The busines has grown

and now caters or armers in Nyandarua

County and beyond.

MONSANTO KENYA LTD,

TUSKYS HEAD OFFICE COMPLEX

MOMBASA RD.

P.O. Box 47686, 00100, NAIROBI, KENYATel: 254 20 2060922/44, 3574301/4,

Fax: 254 20 823086, 3574300

Mobile: 254 722 205594, 722 205294,

722 205529, 254 733 600468, 733 629414www.monsantoarica. com

(L-R) Green Acres shop attendant, Linus Githinji; Proprietor ,Mrs. Warugongo and Monsantos David Ndungu

Over the years, they have resorted to van

selling in reaching out to customers who

live ar o rom the town; this approach

has allowed them to grow their market-

share.

The directors, Mr and Mrs Warugongo,

always make sure that their employees

are skilled and updated in their

knowledge o modern arming needs

through regular trainings. Having well-

trained personnel means that they can

handle the growing number o customers

and give dependable advice. This has

contributed towards achieving

the business objective o oering

customers high quality arming

inputs. With frst-rate inputs, armers

have been able to attain requiredproduction levels, translating to

enhanced ood production in the

area.

The relationship between

the Monsanto sales team and

Green Acres Centre cannot go

unmentioned. The Monsanto team

gives regular eedback regarding

the supply o seeds, which has been

o great help in planning and crucial

to the growth o the business.

With growth, the businesss has

seen need to invest in IT (Inormation

Technology), this has made ordering o

products and stock management more

ecient - shortages are now a thing o the

past.

Mr and Mrs Warugongo are grateul to

Monsanto or helping them win the trust

o the armers they serve by oering

consistent quality in seed and service.

Monsanto leads in innovation - helping

armers realize their dreams by oeringhigh yielding varieties.

Tomatoes being a key crop in growth

o their business, Green Acres Centre is

partnering with Monsanto in getting the

new tomato Assila F1 to armers in Ngarua,

Subukia, Rumuruti, Kiamariga and Pesi.

EVENTSAPRIL Kibwezi Field Day Kibwezi

Tomato Field Day Tanzania

Burundi Expose Burundi

MAY Field Day Uganda

Fintrac-Technoserve training Tanzania

JUNE Meru ASK Show Meru

Rwanda Expose Rwanda

Uganda Expose Uganda

G

Green Acres Centre

seed time 2011 april june

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