Rabbit farming is one of agricultural activities in Kenya that has not been fully embraced despite rabbit meat being one of the best source of protein and healthier than other meats.
Rabbit meat contain more protein and less in fat than beef, pork, turkey and even chickens meat.
As a result commercial rabbit farming in Kenya is becoming popular day by day. For a long time, commercial rabbit farming in Kenya for meat production has not been taken seriously.
For now, rabbit farmers in Kenya are now raising highly meat producing rabbits for commercial production of meat and they are earning good cash by doing this business.
This is one of the farming enterprise where youths can venture in as a group and employ themselves instead of complaining there no job. Rabbit farming does not require a lot of resources thus making it easy to start.
Some of the common coconut tree disease issues include fungal or bacterial diseases.
Fungal pathogens can cause bud rot, which is diagnosed by the appearance of black lesions on young fronds and leaves. As the disease spreads, the tree becomes weak and has a difficult time fighting off other invaders.
Eventually, the fronds will all be gone, and only the trunk will remain. Unfortunately, the coconut tree dying is inevitable once the disease has spread and the tree should be removed.
The fungus Ganoderma sonata causes ganoderma root, which can injure many species of palm trees by feeding on plant tissue. Older fronds begin to droop and collapse while new fronds will be stunted and pale in color. There is no chemical control for this disease, which will kill palms in three years or less.
Leaf infestations called “leaf spots” can occur on coconut trees and are caused by both fungi and bacteria. Circular or elongated spots develop on foliage. Prevention includes not letting irrigation wet the foliage. Leaf infestations rarely kill a tree but can be controlled by fungicidal sprays if severe.
The successful treatment of coconut tree issues can normally occur with prevention and early detection of coconut tree disease and pest infestations.
A wooden chair made from coconut tree.(photo courtesy of ofdesign)
Coconut trees have proven to be the most productive and have the longest life span, whilst impacting the least negative short and long term effects on the environment and the well being of the community.
Coconut plants have an endless amount of uses for not all for edible resources including, coconut milk, coconut oil, coconut sugar, coconut nectar, coconut vinegar, but also non edible items for furniture, utensil and even musical instruments.
Tapping a coconut tree for its sap is a centuries old tradition that does not harm the tree or impact the tree’s ability to produce coconuts.
Production of Coconut syrup also known as Coconut nectar, is unlike the production of sugar cane, based sweeteners, because of the the diverse nutrient density of such a plant, which is the reason why is should be held above the rest when compared with manuka honey.
Our Coconut Syrup has shelf Life of 2yrs from date of manufacture, which is very rare that any of product is ever wasted due to expiring.
According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) Coconut sugar is the single most sustainable sweetener in the world.
Propagation refers to the multiplication or natural increase in a population in plants . In oder to increase the number of crops available in the farm one can graft a plant or propagate the crop.
Grafting refers to a small shoot or scion of a tree inserted in another tree,the stock of which is to support and nourish it.
Sample of coconut trees being propagated at the nursery before planting.
Coconut is one of the plant that is propagated in order to increase their species in the farm.
The coconut palm is a tropical plant and is generally grown in humid, tropical regions. It grows optimally in areas with an annual mean temperature of 27°C (80.6°F) with in excess of 2000 hours of sunlight per year and thus the reason why coconut does well at coast regions of Kenya.
The palm will thrive in a wide range of soils from sand to clay as long as they are well draining and well aerated or with good supply of oxygen ,with a pH between 4.3 and 8.0.
Propagation Coconut palms are propagated exclusively from seed. The seeds are ready for planting when the coconut milk can be heard splashing noisily around inside the seed when it is shaken.
Seeds are germinated by planting in seed beds before transferring to a polythene bag or nursery beds after germination. Seeds should be planted on their sides in a shallow hole with enough soil to cover about one third of the seed.
The seed should be watered regularly to prevent it drying out. Germination usually occurs after about 3 months but may take up to 6 months.
Transplanting Coconut seedling can be transplanted from 6 months onwards. Trees require a wide spacing and are typically planted 8–9 m (26–30 ft) apart allowing a further 8–9 m (26–30 ft) between rows.
Dwarf varieties can be spaced closer together and are typically planted 7.5 m (25 ft) apart allowing another 7.5 m (25 ft) between rows.
The above guidelines needs to be followed when planting coconuts seedlings.
There are two types of varieties distinguished from the palm species Cocos nucifera that is allogamous which is achieved through cross fertilization and autogamous that is achieved through self a fertilization.
The allogamous varieties are designated with the term “large coconut palm’ .The most widely cultivated allogamous varieties are divided in two groups. On the one hand, plants that bear a large number of coconuts of medium size.
common coconut palm of West Africa, the Seychelles Islands, the Hebrides, and the coconut from the Lakshad weep Islands (India).
On the other hand, the second group includes plants bearing an average number of large coconuts, each one of them yielding a large output of coconut .
They usually measure between 10 and 12 m high. They are very precocious and bear a large number of small coconuts. Dwarf coconut palms are classified according to the colour of the inflorescence and the fruit: “green dwarf’ (“Plumilla’), “yellow dwarf’ (” Eburnea’) and “red dwarf’ (“Regia’).
These varieties usually bear a large quantity of coconuts but few copra. Due to their precocity they are of great interest in the selection processes.
The fruit of other palm trees not belonging to the species Cocos nucifera are also consumed, among which stand out:
“Coco de mar” (Lodoicea maldivica): It is an enormous coconut of almost 25 kg of weight. Native to the archipelago of the Seychelles and other islands on the Madagascar coast. Its size triples that of an average coconut.
“Pijiguao’ (Bactris gasipaes): It has a radius of 6 cm approximately and it gathers in clusters of 100 fruits and 10 kg of weight. Its importance lies in its starch content.
“Corozo corojó (Bactris minor): The palm of this variety reaches 30 m high. The leaves draw an elegant arc. It spreads all along the tropical strip of Panama to the western Indian coast, up to Colombia and Venezuela. This fruit does not exceed 4 cm long and is covered by a white skin. The juice is the best part of it.
“Salaca’ (Salacca edulis): Original from the south-east of Asia and cultivated in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. The palm rises up to 5 m from the ground and has a large crown formed by branches that reach up to 7 m long. The fruit is rounded or oval and the size of a large fig. The scale-like skin resembles a tile roof, it is hard and thin at the same time and of a white or dark reddish tone, according to the variety.
The pulp has a bittersweet taste and is slightly astringent, specially if it is slightly unripe. It is divided in three “segments’ covered by a membrane of waxy texture, inside which is a brown and oval bone or seed which is not edible. The ripe fruit is kept for few days in a fresh place, although if they are left soaking with the rind in water with salt and sugar, they within a period of weeks .
Coconut farming in Kenya over the years have not been embraced by many farmers despite being a good source of income.
Coast region of Kenya has the potential to support growth of this crop due to good weather conditions experienced in this region.
Government of Kenya in collaboration with county governments of coast region to support coconut farming.
This region had the capability for generating over Kshs. 13 billion from coconuts against the current production worth Kshs. 3.2 billion.
The national government has earmarked Kshs. 500 million for the revitalisation of the coconut industry at the Coast to increase livelihoods and boost economic development.
The Government plans to grow the sub – sector by 10 per cent yearly by supporting farmers to plant one million coconut seedlings annually. The Agriculture ministry is to supply farmers with early maturing, high – yielding and diseases tolerant.
The expansion of farms under coconut crop from the current 200,000 hectares to between 300,000 and 500,000 hectares will help generate more income for farmers. The Coast region has the potential to produce more than the 170 million nuts attained last year.
Farmers in fish farming sector are facing challenges all over.
Like any other farming premise fish farming in Kenya have not been doing well over the past years.
The following are some of the main challenges facing this sector;Environmental Problems with Fish farming fish farming is a way to create a much larger amount of fish much more quickly, cheaply and efficiently than with wild caught fish.
Pollution .This density of fish creates problems like disease and pollution. The biggest source of pollution is the accumulation of fish waste and uneaten food beneath the sea pens which can degrade the quality of the surrounding water.
Like commercial farming operations on land, the density of fish in these pens necessitates certain chemicals to keep animals from getting sick and to keep things clean. The chemicals used in marine aquaculture operations such as medicines like antibiotics and vaccines used to prevent corrosion of equipment (cages, etc.)
The amount of pollution from fish farms also depends on how the fish are contained. Open-net, or pen systems, allow for a direct exchange of water, where as “closed contentment” methods have a barrier which filters the water.
biodiversity another way aquaculture can have a negative impact is by introducing farmed species into the wild and therefore changing the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems. Even when measures are taken to prevent escapes, predators like birds and sharks, equipment failure, human error, severe weather and other complications mean that escapes of farmed fish are inevitable.Since farmed fish often have been bred via selective breeding they have a lower genetic variation than wild fish. If they interbreed with the wild fish it can result in a less genetically diverse, and therefore less robust, population. Another concern is infertile offspring. For example, Atlantic and Pacific salmon belong to different genera and while they can produce offspring,those offspring will be unable to reproduce (like mules). If populations of non-native species become established they compete with native populations for resources such as food and breeding sites. Since farmed fish are selected and bred for certain genetic criteria like size, quick growth and hardiness, escaped species can become invasive, which has been recognized as one of the main causes of global biodiversity loss.
When deciding on the pond site and design, there are some factors to be considered.
Some of these area. One Source of water to fill the pond and how the same water will be brought to the pond: The general raw is that the pond water inflow and outflow should equal the pond volume over the period of a month.
If the inflow is too low, water quality may suffer from oxygen reduction or accumulation of toxicants.
The water should keep the pond full throughout the culture period. The pond should fill up in less than a week.
Place screens or a small net on pond inlets and outlets to keep out predators, insects.
Second consider Size, shape and depth of the pond;Relatively shallow ponds are productive. However, the shallow end should be at least 0.5m deep to avoid invasion by weeds and predation of the fish.
The size and shape of the pond can vary depending on the fish population and the farmer’s taste.
Sample of a modern fish pond.
Soil types; top soil is high in organic material and should not be used to construct pond dykes. Land should be composed of good quality soil. Areas with rocky, gravelly, or sandy soil are not suitable for pond construction. Soil that will be used to build the dykes must contain at least 20 percent clay so the finished pond will hold water throughout the growing period.
Lastly but not the least,slope of the pond bottom must have a sufficient slope for good drainage. A slope with a drop of 2cm for every 10m along the pond bottom is appropriate. If the slope is too gentle, the pond will not be easily drained. If the pond is too steep, it may be too shallow at one end or too deep at the other end.
With the above guide lines one can be able to identify an area to start fish farming and start earning.
Commercial fish farming in Kenya is not a new business idea. Kenya is endowed with many aquatic/fish resources with successful aquacultural potentials.
Highly varied climatic and geographic regions are available in Kenya, covering a part of Indian Ocean coastline, several large rivers, and a portion of the largest freshwater lake in Africa. And all those water sources are contributing much for fish farming in Kenya.
Fish farming in Kenya is gaining more roots with people from different parts of the country venturing in this business.
Nowadays, commercial fish farming in Kenya has become a great income source and business idea for the individuals. As a result, numerous commercial fish farms can be seen throughout the Kenya. Some of those fish farmers are farming fish for profit making and family consumption family.
Benefits of fish farming ,includes the following.
All those small or large scale fish farms are contributing much in the total economy and nutrition demands in Kenya.
Fish is a great source for food and nutrition. You can earn some extra money by setting up a fish farm along with meeting up your daily family demands.
Along with rapid population growth sources of employment are decreasing. Commercial fish farming in Kenya can be a great source of employment for those unemployed people.
The unemployed educated people can also start fish farming. This will create a working opportunities and earning livings.
Commercial fish farming also helps for proper utilizing of water resources of Kenya.
gold soil 