Maize farming in kenya pdf

Current maize production, postharvest losses and the risk of mycotoxins contamination in tanzania abstract agriculture is the backbone of tanzanian economy. Pdf adoption of maize production technologies in the coastal. Maize is susceptible to both drought and waterlogging. Maize farming may be a simple business to start but behind it are requirements needed to gain success. Maize farming in kenya, it is the single most extensively grown crop in kenya.

Stands of silage maize are yet denser, citation needed and achieve a lower percentage of ears and more plant matter maize is a facultative shortday plant and flowers in a certain number of growing degree days. In the bulk of maize growing areas of kenya, the yield of maize without fertilisers or manure. With ugali, mukimo, muthokoi and githeri being the meals on most dinner tables, it is no wonder that the production of this precious grain through maize farming in kenya can barely keep up with the demand. Maize growing zones in kenya and recommended varieties. Plant early to improve maize production infonet biovision. Despite past successes, continued investment in maize productivity remains crucial to agricultural growth and food security.

Maize is produced for both home consumption and market with smallscale farmers only selling an estimated 20% of their production. Maize yield trends and agricultural policy in east africa. Maize is the staple food in zambia and most smallscale farming households are engaged in maize production. Maize with a high percentage of translucent of hard endosperm is preferred by the dry milling industry, because it produces more of the popular highquality and highvalue products sought after than does soft maize. Easy way to plant maize for maximum harvest daily nation. Ids institute of development studies mard 2001a national agricultural extension policy, nairobi, kenya. Maize farming in kenya is the backbone of food security in this country. Area and production of selected cereal crops crop africa 2012 area ha production t maize 34,075,972 70,076,591. It is the staple food for more than 80 per cent of the population. For example, investment in maize research is required to produce a new generation of. Business report5, kenya already ranks as one of the best places to access credit 8th in the world. Ploughing should go a depth of at least 20cm and should be conducted two to. Maize production maize is the most important cereal grain in the country 65% of staple food calories mohajan, 2014 40% of total crop area in kenya era, 2015 produced by a large majority of smallholder farmers 2 3300.

Knowing the fact that maize is commonly used in different area especially as a food supply to a lot of countries. Improving maize productivity has been a major goal of the zambian government. Kenya grain and feed annual 2016 kenya corn, wheat and. The government still imports tonnes of maize from neighboring. Success stories of wealthy farmers dominate kenyan media regularly, but not all tales involve heavy spending and a big workforce. Constraints and opportunities of maize production in. Fertilizer is used predominantly on maize and agricultural marketing is dominated by maize sales among smallholders govereh et al. Corn harvested for silage is an important feed crop, where cropland often is limited. Maize and other cereal yield variability is influenced by initial conditions such as suitability of the farming system for cereal cultivation, baseline production quantities. Maize in kenya is planted by small and largescale farmers alike. Commercial maize farming information modern farming methods. The first step towards obtaining good maize harvest is ensuring that the farm is wellploughed and ready for planting. Regional workshop on an integrated policy approach to commercializing smallholder maize production.

Egerton university food and agriculture organization. Introduction maize zea mays l is the most important and most widely distributed cereal in the world after wheat and rice. Planting density affects multiple aspects of maize. It has become a staple food in many parts of the world with total production of maize surpassing that of wheat or rice. Nafziger encyclopedia of life support systems eolss 1. Maize grows best on deep, welldrained, fertile soils, and where total seasonal rainfall exceeds 500 mm. Introduction in kenya crop production is spreading rapidly to marginal areas formerly considered unfarmable due to steep slopes and frequent droughts. The economic consequences of striga hermonthica in maize. Kenya flat fuite was introduced by european settlers. Western kenya, elgeyo marakwet, coffee growing areas of central kenya and parts of nyanza. Before maize production of uganda started to increase to reach a level of 2,800 tonnes in 2019, it went through a trough reaching a low of 286 tonnes in 1980.

This article will make it easy for you to find the crop with highest profit per acre in kenya while. Since its introduction into africa, maize has been cultivated extensively in east and west africa, and has spread to senegal, upper volta and niger republic. Foremost, the farming community mush know the potential of the land under cultivation and the essential crop husbandry measures necessary to achieve the maximum possible maize yields without compromising the lands productive sustainability. In 2019, maize production for kenya was 3,400 tonnes. Maize farming and production business in africa is a highpotential opportunity for the continent. Wheat production will remain flat as farmers respond to lower prices. The central bank of kenya has been tightening its policy to curb inflation, raising interest rates to as high as 18% as of december 2011. Maize farming in kenya, unearth untapped white gold. It actually takes a lot of years to gain experience in maize farming or any kind of crop you want to farm.

Unesco eolss sample chapters soils, plant growth and crop production vol. It is widely eaten in various forms and more than 900 million africans depend on maize every year because it is often cheaper than. Maize is a main staple crop and a source of income and employment. Maize national bureau of agricultural commodity and food standards. Pdf institutional and social economic factors affecting. Western kenya the lake region is a major maizeproducing region of the country. In 2019, maize production for uganda was 2,800 tonnes. Maize is a common crop in eastern africa and is the staple food for most households in western kenya. History of kenyan maize production, marketing and policies lilian kirimi. Kenyan farmers adoption of hybrid seeds is said to be one of the highest in the world. While subsistence farmers may not be keen on having a business plan for each season of planting, commercial maize farming requires a detailed guide for success.

Maize also known as corn in some countries is one of the most common and important food crops across africa. Fasnairobi forecasts a marginal increase in corn production in kenya in the marketing year my 20162017 because of government of kenya gok and county governments support to farmers. How i harvest 40 bags of maize per acre daily nation. Maize varieties grown, kilifi and kwale districts, coast province, kenya. Maize is reasonably tolerant to soil acidity, but if the soil is very acid, liming will improve the soil and enhance maize yields. Dent corn dent corn is farm animals and more gluten of kernel tone to egg and mea from the production point of corn gives a g resistance period variety nutrients limates the suitable climate for well growth and development of. Maize farming is as old as man itself, and it has been done commercially in africa in general and nigeria in particular for decades now. Tomato profit per acre, cost of cultivation, yield in india. Approximately 25% of kenyas population live in the.

History of kenyan maize production, marketing and policies. Economic analysis of alternative maize storage technologies in kenya by kimenju, simon c. Indeed local farmers know the qualities of each seed variety they have. Maize is kenyas principal crop and is wholly dependent on rainfall, while only about 17%. Pdf potentials of hybrid maize varieties for smallholder farmers in. Some admixture yith the local caribbean flint must have taken place, which probably accounts for the proportion of yellow and purple kernels seen in small farmers fields. Maize crop production in kenya has faced a lot of challenges over the. Maize farming is a highpotential opportunity for nigeria and its people, especially those who are willing to learn how to turn a business idea as this to wealth. The continued subdivision of large wheat farm makes wheat farming increasingly. Smallholder maize production efficiency in kenya john olwande. An immigrant crop, maize is today the most widelygrown staple food of subsaharan africa and an important wage good in many countries. Major varieties grown by farmers and reasons for their preferences, kilifi. Oluoch 1the african agricultural technology foundation 2international centre of insect physiology and ecology. The local yellow maize in east africa probably was derived from the early.

Modern farming techniques in developed countries usually rely on dense planting, which produces one ear per stalk. In hest africa, bvo main types of maize can be identified, the. Sustainable intensification options for smallholder maize. Between the 2011 and 2014 growing seasons, western kenya produced an average of 1. Current maize production, postharvest losses and the risk.

It accounts for about onethird of the gross domestic product gdp, provides 85 percent of all exports and saves as a livelihood to over 80 percent of the total population. Maize farming is very popular among the farmers in many parts of the world. Maize national bureau of agricultural commodity and food standards ministry of agriculture and cooperatives ics 67. Successful maize production depends on the correct application of production inputs that will sustain the environment as well as agricultural production. Cereals like sorghum, millets, wheat, maize and rice are major staple foods of the most population. For a long time, farming has been reserved for people living in rural areas or those with large tracts of land. Today several farming systems are used and maize and beans are the main crops included in the crop rotation pers. Green maize, fresh on the cob, is eaten roasted or boiled separately or mixed with legumes. A spatial assessment of land suitability for maize farming. Maize is a staple food to a large proportion of people in kenya nearly all agricultural households plant maize smallscale production dominates 70% of total production there has, however, been evidence of stagnation in maize production and productivity increasing gap between production and consumption. Chemical composition of the maize kernel components % carbohydrates 84,0 protein 10,9 fat 4,5 minerals 1,3 table 1. The use of maize forage for animal feeding is becoming very important on small scale mixed farms in kenya.

Pact between kntc and ocp kenya heralds new era in fertiliser supply. Pdf maize is the primary staple crop in kenya and plays an important role in the livelihood of the people of kenya. Largescale maize farmers 9 trans nzoia uasingishu nakuru overall maize yields 90 kgbagsacre 19 20 20 19. Kenyans consume maize in a wide variety of ways ugali, porridges and beer. Ngae 1 1kenya agricultural research institute, muguga south p.