Farmers in Ndeiya, Lari sub county have been advised to embrace greenhouse farming technology to enhance crop production and food security.
Speaking in an interview in her office on Monday, the sub county Agricultural Officer Jane Muigai said that green house farming had led to massive improvement in crop production, income and self sufficiency in food production.
The officer noted that the area heavily depended on vegetable crops imported from other regions such as Kagwe where farmers mainly relied on rain fed agriculture.
The effect has been high food prices during the dry seasons or total scarcity of certain vegetables such as tomatoes.
“Green house production of horticultural crops is raising hopes that popular vegetables will become available throughout the year at affordable prices,” said the officer.
She said that construction of green houses was fairly cheap compared to the yields that emanated from the practice, noting that once properly constructed, a greenhouse could last up to five years, during which the farmers would be planting and harvesting crops in cycles.
A farmer requires about 240 square meters of land and a green house kit to get started.
The kit comprises a water tank, irrigation drip lines, a plastic sheet, seeds and chemicals which the officer said may cost a farmer about Sh150, 000.
The house can accommodate up to 1,000 seedlings which yield tones of harvested fruit such as tomatoes, she explained.
Muigai pointed out that growing crops under greenhouses had many advantages, among them the ability to produce huge quantities on a small piece of land, continuous harvesting and long shelf-life.
For example, tomatoes have a shelf-life of 21 days compared to 14 for those grown in the open.
It also takes a shorter period – two months – for greenhouse-produced tomatoes to mature, while it takes a minimum of three months with outdoor farming.
Due to controlled irrigation and temperatures, the crop has a continuous output of flowers and fruits, all at different stages.
Most crop infections were also kept at bay since green house techniques incorporated hygiene practices keeping insects and pests at bay hence minimal use of pesticides.
The officer confirmed that farmers who had adopted green house farming to grow horticultural crops have been reaping massive profits from the venture.
A tomato farmer who uses this method can harvest up to 3, 000 tons of crop and make about Sh240,000 from every harvest which takes place after 60 days.
It is therefore a viable income generating activity that the officer encourages farmers to embrace.
The agriculture department offers technical advice on many aspects of farming through extension services. They advise on the appropriate farm input acquisition and the correct way to fix irrigation connections.
They also advise farmers on reputable organisations that construct green house structures.