As more innovations in agriculture are evolving and taking course, more and more new ones are being developed mostly by students who want to solve many of the climate challenges farmers have been experiencing including the most recent heavy rainfall experienced in May.
The weather patterns ranging from prolonged droughts in 2022-2023 to the latest heavy rains have impacted farmers negatively as Sh 3.7 billion was lost across the country due to the floods according to Isaac Mwaura the Government Spokesperson.
Combining the science and the classroom skills, Rachael Kwamboka, a second-year student studying Agricultural Education and Extension has taken it upon herself to prove that the new technologies are the only solution to some of these climatic challenges experienced.
Kwamboka showcased her latest technology during this year’s South Eastern Kenya National Show in Machakos County. Her new technology innovation of using polythene tubes to grow vegetables is a comparison of both the traditional farming ways and her new technology.
She says that together with her friend bought a polyethene bag tube and tied one side and left the other side open. “We then mixed chicken and goat manure which is typically organic with soil in the ratio of 1:1,” said Kwamboka.
Further they filled the tube and tied the remaining side and laid it down on a raised surface with small holes on top with a spacing of 25:30 and other holes behind it to help in draining excess water after irrigation.
“We then transplanted our spinach seedlings from the nursery and replanted them in the tubes via the small holes we made on top of the tube,” says Kwamboka. “We also water them two to three times a week to prevent transplant shocks.”
Transplant shocks is a condition that a plant can wither after removing it from its original condition.
Further Kwamboka adds that they also monitor the nature of the soil to ensure that it has enough water. “After one month our vegetables are ready with bigger results as compared to the traditional methods we had planted alongside this technology,” adds Kwamboka.
More results
Kwamboka says that they transplanted their spinach seedlings and replanted them in both two ways, one in the polythene tubes and the other using the traditional ways. “The new innovation proved more results as compared to the traditional method one as shown in the pictures,” she added.
“When we compare this technology with the traditional methods, the innovation gives us seven healthy leaves per plant as compared to the traditional one that gave us four leaves,” reiterates Kwamboka.
Another advantage according to her is that the new technology is more profitable compared with the traditional methods. “In this technology, we don’t experience soil erosion and all the nutrients are enclosed in one place, no weeds are seen and no pesticide chemical is used to control pests as the organic manure prevents them all,” she adds.
Before they commenced the use of this technology, the agrovet gave them a spacing of 25:30 while using the tube to avoid overcrowding of the crops. “So far we have spent Sh 420 to purchase the tube, after selling our first product, we got Sh 1440 pocketing Sh 1,000 from just one polythene tube,” she adds.
She reiterates that the technology has enabled them to start earning as early as second year on campus helping them in their daily expenses thus avoiding relying on everything from their parents.
This then means that if farmers embrace this innovation, the results are highly profitable and as it is built, it can be used anywhere either at rooftops and balconies. “Farmers can use it also in arid and semi-arid areas or if they experience farms with a lot of stones, the stones can be used as layers and the polythene tubes placed on top of the stones,” she adds.
The tubes can be reused up to one year. “For beginners, they can ask for them from their local hardware, they are just normal polythene tubes used in buildings,” she remarks.
Further Kwamboka says that she is working hard to come up with more innovations by the time she will be finishing her university education, this will help transform agriculture in Kenya from its traditional ways to modern methods as it is this year’s Agricultural Show theme of “Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth”
