Is it Bread and Butter in Kenya’s Wheat Basket?

Most wheat producers have their total disease management program in place once the seed is in the ground. By that time, decisions have been made relative to crop rotation, tillage/ seedbed preparation, variety selection, seed quality, seed treatment, planting date, seeding method, seeding rate, and soil fertility. Individually and collectively, these decisions can play an important role in influencing which diseases develop, ‘their severity, and their effect on crop yield and weight.

The giant New Holland machine rips through the plantation, raising blinding dust in its wake. After one long trip amid the humming of the engine, it deposits grain into a waiting truck before embarking on a virgin set of rows. Tens, perhaps hundreds of combine harvesters have pitched tent, slowing traffic on the Bomet-Nairobi road and bringing roaring business in Narok and other trading centres.

Fast Track eight to nine months later and the scenes are completely different. The sight of farmers around drying wheat on the ground with agents haggling over price and quality is a reminder of how farmers take advantage of the plentiful sunshine to cut post-harvest costs. Makeshift canvas driers line both sides of the Maai Mahiu-Narok- Bomet highway, a section of the Northern Corridor transport system that creates a shorter link to western Kenya.

Wheat Growing
Narok is Kenya’s undisputed wheat basket, producing slightly over 250,000MT which is around 70% of the national wheat output in any given year. Wheat is the second most important cereal grain in Kenya after maize though rice is also going up. Wheat farming in Narok is largely done for commercial purposes on a large-scale. The region produces the hard variety wheat which is the best for baking quality, making it popular with millers.

Scientists at the Kenya agricultural Livestock and Research Organization (Kalro) are instrumental in coming up with varieties that are stress tolerant disease resistant. In addition they have higher yields, are drought resistant, no lodging and have tillering capability. The crop is grown both by small scale and large scale farmers. The fields are ploughed by tractors during the dry season. This is followed by several harrowing with a round of non-selective herbicides.

Conditions Favoring Wheat Farming in Narok
Gentle slope
The land where wheat is grown is gently or fairly level and this has allowed for mechanization. Additionally, most of the farms have not been sub-divided making it easy for machine cultivation.

Altitude
The growing areas have a high altitude ranging from 1500 – 2900 mm. This reduces the incidence of diseases.

Moderate rainfall
The wheat growing areas receive moderate rainfall ranging from 500 mm to 1,200 mm which promotes the growth of wheat.

Warm temperature
Warm temperatures of 150C to 200C at least for three months. This enables maturity of the wheat.

Fertile soils
Deep fertile black clay soils which lead to high production.

Dry spell
Warm dry sunny spell which enhances ripening of wheat and harvesting.

Crop Production
Wheat is machine intense farming with most of the work done mechanically. The area has one main season running from November to July. Land preparation is mechanically done either by ploughing or tilling. Control of weeds is done manually by small scale farmers while large scale farmers use modern scientific methods e.g. application of herbicides.

Integrated weed management practices; includes scouting, historical information related to other mechanical, cultural, biological and other chemical control practices are advisable.

An integrated approach to weed management, whether in crop or non-crop land, is an important environmental and economic consideration. Multiple management practices can be used in an integrated plan to prevent or delay the development of herbicide resistant weed populations.

Farmers should Monitor treated weed populations for resistance development. Prevent movement of resistant weed seeds to other fields by cleaning, harvesting and tillage equipment and clean planting seed. Use of certified seed greatly minimize the introduction of weed seeds from herbicide- resistant biotypes.

Farmers are advised to start with a clean field and control weeds early by using a burn-down treatment or tillage combined with a pre-emergence herbicides. After planting, farmers apply post emergency herbicides if necessary.

Crop Protection
Wheat farmers rank disease as one of the top factors limiting wheat yields on their farms. Disease management is a key component of high-yielding wheat. Some diseases, must be managed proactively and cannot be controlled once they are established. Other diseases, such as foliar diseases caused by fungi, can be managed by the timely application of foliar fungicides.

Stem rust popularly known as UG99 because of the country it was first discovered (Uganda) and the year it was named has not been, giving farmers a breather. Also referred to as the polio of agriculture, the disease can wipe out up to 70 per cent of the crop. In addition, farmers should also be careful of yellow rust, leaf rust, septoria also known as glume botch, and fusarium (late infection). Other than diseases, insects could also be a menace. The Russian wheat aphids are the main insects though cut worms, caterpillars, wire worms, chaffer grabs can also wipe your wheat.

Disease Management
Most wheat producers have their total disease management program in place once the seed is in the ground. By that time, decisions have been made relative to crop rotation, tillage/ seedbed preparation, variety selection, seed quality, seed treatment, planting date, seeding method, seeding rate, and soil fertility. Individually and collectively, these decisions can play an important role in influencing which diseases develop, their severity, and their effect on crop yield and weight.

Because pre-plant and planting decisions are important in the management of wheat diseases, you need to understand how they affect disease.

Depending on the rainfall pattern, farmers should do a minimum of three to five fungicide sprays. All fungicides must be applied within specific growth-stage. Fungicides provide the greatest benefit when plants are protected from disease between flag leaf emergence and soft dough. The most critical stage is typically from mid head emergence through flowering. This is the period in which fungicide applications are often most beneficial.

Scouting for disease
Scouting for disease is very important for two reasons. Yearly scouting helps you to build an on-farm database that can be used to select appropriate disease management tactics for future crops. Scouting also helps you determine if and when to spray fungicides. Once fields are properly scouted, data can be used to determine disease control options. Course of action should be started only when you are fully armed with up-to-date, accurate information.

Variety selection
Decisions relating to variety selection are, perhaps, the most important decisions in managing diseases.

Every commercially available wheat variety has a unique range of reaction to common diseases. Which and how many varieties are planted determines the potential for certain diseases. Failure to consider the implications of variety selection in managing diseases is a costly mistake made by many wheat farmers.

Crop rotation
Crop rotation helps in the management of wheat pathogens that survive between wheat crops in wheat residue. When a crop other than wheat is grown in a field, levels of wheat pathogens decline. This occurs simultaneously as the residue of previous crops deteriorates. Reduced levels of pathogens can translate into reduced disease pressure the next time wheat is produced.

Tillage / Cultivation
Ploughing wheat residue hastens the breakdown of residue that harbors certain disease organisms. This can help reduce levels of take – all and foliar diseases, such as Septoria leaf blotch and tan spot.

Insects Management
Scouting for insect pest is important for two reasons. Yearly scouting helps you build an on-farm database that can be used to select appropriate insect management tactics for future crops. Scouting also helps you determine if and when to spray insecticides. Once fields are properly scouted, data can be used to determine insect control options. Course of action should be started only when you are fully armed with up to date, accurate information.

Decision to apply an insecticide should be based on scouting and the use of threshold. Scheduled or automatic applications of insecticides should be avoided because unnecessary application can be more costly than just the cost of the insecticide. Application of insecticides on an as-needed basis will allow beneficial insects to be preserved which reduces the likelihood of secondary pest out breaks.

Scouting for insects
Depending on when the crop is planted, insect problems vary from non-existent to severe. Identifying the pest and understanding its potential for damage is necessary when selecting appropriate control methods. Each pest does not respond the same way to a given method. Monitor fields at least twice per week. Walk a “V” or “W” pattern through the field and select plants from 12 random locations along the pattern. When plants are still small (up to 10 leaves), examine 6 adjacent plants per location for insects and disease. As plants get larger sample 3 leaves per plant on 6 adjacent plants per location (total of 216 leaves).

Insects cause injury to the leaves, stems, roots, and fruit. The developmental stage of the plant at the time of attack often governs which plant part different insect pests may injure. However, some insects feed specifically on one plant structure; others may feed on several structures. The first step in control is to identify the insect. Most insect problems can be treated as needed if detected early, but no one insecticide will adequately control all the insects that may attack a crop. Scouting for insects is the most efficient way to determine what problems may exist and what action should be taken.

In addition to monitoring for pest insects, some beneficial species exist which should be considered. Several species of predatory and parasitic insects are present in crops. These natural controls are considered especially during early season. Big – eyed bugs, minute pirate bugs, fire ants and Cotesia wasps are four important beneficial insects. The presence of these natural controls may delay the need to treat for bollworms. The use of beneficial insects should be maximized in attempts to reduce production costs.

When the crop is ready for harvesting, the small scale farmers use simple tools e.g. sickles or sharp knives to cut the wheat heads. The cut wheat is threshed dried and winnowed. Large scale farmers use machines mainly combine harvesters.

Migratory bird menace
Recently the crop has also come under attack by the quelea, a migratory bird species that can consume thousands of acres of crop in a week. Each bird consumes 10 grammes a day, and if uninterrupted by farmers who scare them away, nine million birds can decimate 90 tonnes a day. Farmers need to be more prepared in controlling the migratory birds.

Harvesting and Post harvesting
Many farmers harvest 12 bags from an acre and above with an increment vary. In harvesting, farmers must ensure the dry grain has attained a moisture content close to 14. To be successful farmers, they must ensure they have their own silos or store where they can fumigate, dust or spray. Thereafter depending on the market price, they can store and wait for better prices.

Challenges Facing Farmers
The productivity of wheat in Narok is under threat due to the following:

Inadequate capital
Generally production is very expensive. Some of the small scale farmers do not have enough capital for the purchase of expensive farm input such as fertilizers, herbicides and hire farm machinery e. g., tractors and combine harvesters. The crop is in some instances affected by pests and diseases can destroy the crop leading to low yields.

Climatic hazards
Narok can be compared to Les Vagas. It is very important for farmers to confirm rain patterns through weather setilites probably in the US or UK. Farmers can also visit weather sites like Accuweather in the internet. Heavy stormy rains during the rainy seasons can destroy the crop by flattening it leading to rotting. Drought before the crop is ready may destroy the entire crop.

Price fluctuation
Price fluctuations on the domestic market leads to losses for the farmers as at times, they are made to sell their produce at very low prices. Kenya is a wheat-deficit country relying on imports to meet the growing demand for the product. Millers take advantage of the deficit and flood the market with imported wheat to lower the local prices to unmanageable levels. Middlemen also can infiltrate the system. To cushion this, farmers can form an association to take care of their interests.

Why the Government should support the farmers
Wheat has benefited the economy of Kenya and can still grow it to higher levels through:

Industrialization
Wheat farming has led to the development of related industries in the growing areas and also in the major urban centres e. g., Nairobi, Eldoret and Nakuru. These are mainly industries that deal in confectionaries. These are not able to feed the country so there is room to grow more.

Infrastructure
Roads have been established in the wheat growing areas to assist in the transportation, this has assisted in the improvement of rural infrastructure.

Saves foreign exchange All the wheat grown in Kenya is for local consumption. However, the country still has to import some wheat to satisfy her domestic requirements. Wheat farming therefore helps the government to save foreign exchange by reducing the amount of wheat imports.

Employment
Many people have gotten employment through wheat farming directly and indirectly. For example, while some have been employed directly on the wheat farms, others are employed in the related industries e.g. bakeries and other confectionaries.

Source of income
Through wheat fanning, farmers have earned an income directly through the sale of their crops. This has raised their standards of living and helped in alleviating poverty in the country.

Deficit
All said and done Kenyans are far from achieving near self-sufficiency in their essential supply of wheat and bread. The current population of 40 million is increasingly urbanizing and the demand for wheat is estimated at over one million metric tons compared to annual output of 450,000 tons or only 45% percent.

Not much has changed in the past four decades; our national output is fairly much the same as it was in 1969 when the population was 10.9 million and more rural. The population has since then increased over 3.6 times, so we are depending more on imported wheat and using more foreign exchange. The bottom line is that with farmers producing 5.6 kg of wheat per Kenyan today compared to 20.5 kg in 1969, the stress and conflict between farmers and consumers is bound to continue rising.

Last Word
The soil life in Narok is completely depleted and if caution is not taken, we will be nailing the last nail on their coffin. Farmers need to revamp the soils through the right crop rotation. Other than the commonly used maize for rotation, there is need to change to Canola, Sunflower and Garden Peas.

Secondly, farmers must change to conventional or zero till. Chisel plough not disc plough to break the hard pan can also be of help. This will open the soils for good aeration and water infiltration for better sucking of the water by the roots.

Lastly farmers invest millions and forget that their fate can be determined by Kshs. 1,500 for soil testing. Soil Ph and soil solubility tests will determine certain levels of fertilizer and guide on nutrition for a better crop.