Wheat Farming In Kenya

Wheat is a cereal crop, majorly grown for commercial purposes.   Main Growing Areas in Kenya are: Nakuru, Narok,Trans Mara, Laikipia, Uasin Gishu, Nyandarua, Meru Central, Trans Nzoia and Keiyo.

Wheat Varieties

Pasa, Kenya chirika, Mbuni, Kenya kwale, Kenya popo, Kenya fahari, Kenya kongono, Kenya Nyambu, Kenya Nyangumi, Kenya paka, Kenya kulungu, Kenya nungu, Kenya Tembo, Kenya Mbweha, Duma, Ngamia, Mbega, Ks farasi, Ks Mwamba.

Ecological requirements

Rainfall:700-1000mm annually

Altitude:1800-3000 above sea level

Temperature:

Soils:

Land preparation

For virgin land plough 4-6 months before planting. Stubble land plough 1-2 months after harvesting.

Planting done at onset of rains. Seed rate range from 75-125kg per hectare depending on variety

Fertilizer application

Planting

Sow with seed drill, for small scale farmers seeds and fertilizers can be broadcasted and covered with a light harrow in the last harrowing time.

Weed management

Use herbicides eg 2-4 D amine, Buctril, Granstar and Glean at 4-6 leaf stages

Pest management

Chafer grubs: Spray with suitable insecticide

Cut worms: Seed dressing with imidacloprid, use suitable insecticide eg decis

African army worm:Use suitable insecticide

African boll worm: Use suitable insecticide

Semi loopers: Use appropriate insecticide

Cereal aphids: Use suitable insecticide

Russian wheat aphid: Control at first sign of infestation with suitable insecticide eg dimecron

Birds: eg Red billed quelea quelea, chestnut weaver birds. Use bird scaring devices, liaise with the nearest agricultural department for assistance on the birds control strategies.

Rats: Practice field sanitation, trap the rats, bait with rodenticides, effectively clear bushes around the cropped field and biological control using dogs and cats.

Disease management

Stem rust: Plant resistant varieties, timely sowing, use fungicide eg swing

Yellow rust: Plan resistant varieties, use fungicides eg swing

Brown leaf rust: Plant resistant varieties, use fungicides eg alto-combi

Leaf and glume blotch: Use clean seeds, crop rotation, field sanitation, use fungicides eg alto-combi

Yellow blotch: Seed dressing, crop rotation and field sanitation

Spot blotch: Crop rotation, field hygiene, seed dressing with suitable chemicals eg improdione

Loose smut: Plant certified seeds, seed dressing

Scab head blust: Crop rotation, seed treatment

Take-all disease: Crop rotation with non-cereal crops

Harvesting

After 4-7 months from planting depending on altitude

Post-harvest handling

Grains should be dried to 13.5% moisture content, this prevent rotting of grains and