2021
Youth in Kajiado and Bungoma benefit from Safaricom Foundation funding
Most young people no longer view agriculture as a viable and dignified source of livelihood. In fact, the average age of a farmer in Kenya is 60 years. This is not good news for the food security of our nation. Safaricom Foundation through the Wezesha program is hoping to address that by shifting the mindset of the youth and highlight opportunities in agricultural production to support their livelihoods.
2021
Reduce the cost of feeding your chicken, pigs and fish with the Black Soldier Fly
Every time we interview a livestock farmer in Kenya, one of the major complaints we hear from them is the punitive cost of commercial feeds. Feeding livestock cost effectively is a major headache for most farmers. A black wasp-like insect by the name Black Soldier Fly (BSF) may hold the key to solving this problem that has burdened livestock farmers for decades.
2021
Farming ideas that will be lucrative in 2021
In 2020, there was one universal catchphrase: ‘A bad year’. It was not an exciting year either for farmers. The pandemic interfered with the levers of the economy. Farmers who earn a living selling produce were affected. But 2021 is a new opportunity to try again. Farming is generally a beneficial venture. It can however be more lucrative or offer better outcomes. For this to happen, a farmer has to pick the right specialty. The following are six farming ideas we predict will prove lucrative in 2021.
2020
5 deadly livestock diseases and how to control them
It is important to recognize the dairy cattle herd in general and then the individual cows in particular for any health issues through attentive observation, touching, smelling and even by hearing sounds from cows. These are important points to identify health problems in the herd and to take appropriate action on time. This article will help you identify some of the most common yet fatal diseases and how to control and prevent them.
2020
4 Popular Goat Breeds that will make your dairy goat farm successful.
Dairy goat farming is increasingly gaining popularity particularly in the high potential areas where land for dairy cows is diminishing. The smaller land sizes cannot support dairy cattle, making the dairy goat a better option. Like the dairy cow farming, dairy goat farming requires proper and careful selection of breeds in order to yield good results.
2020
7 things you must get right for successful poultry farming
Poultry farming can be a fulfilling and rewarding venture if done right. However, just like any other business ventures, it requires meticulous planning and research if one is to succeed. Here are some basic things that one needs to understand before venturing into poultry farming.
2020
Factors you must consider to breed superior pigs
The quality of the pigs you breed determines how profitable your pig farm will be. Superior breeds furrow more piglets and pack more weight therefore fetching more cash. Selecting quality gilts and boars is make or break decision for a pig farmer that could either lead to bloom or doom of the farm. In this article, we outline factors you need to consider when selecting gilts and boars for breeding in your farm.
2020
Critical things you need to do in the first 24 hours after a calf is born
A calf is tomorrow’s cow. From the health point of view, the life of a bovine is divided into two parts; the first 24 hours, and the rest. The first 24 hours of life of a calf is so important that it has a strong bearing on the rest of its life. A calf not provided adequate care in the first 24 hours may succumb to diseases or will always remain weak and an under-performer, even though it has good genetic potential and is provided a good environment.
2020
General signs to observe when purchasing an animal
Farmers will find themselves looking for animals to purchase from time to time. The purchasing process is itself daunting and it helps when a farmer engages in the process from a point of information. Did you know that just by look at the physical features of animal you can tell a lot about it’s health? What signs you should look out for when choosing an animal to purchase?
2020
How to manage calf pneumonia
Calf pneumonia is one of the most common calf problems in the farm, especially during the cold season as is currently experienced in the country. About 67% of pneumonia cases affect calves less than three months old. The early months of a calf’s growth affect its lifetime performance. If stunted during this time chances are that the calf may not reach its full performance potential later in life making the farmer to incur losses.