Frank Nordmann: Proven successful smart-farming technologies: the case of potato initiative Africa GRIMME Landmaschinenfabrik

Transcription

1 : Proven successful smart-farming technologies: the case of potato initiative Africa GRIMME Landmaschinenfabrik

2 Outline Background Partners On farm demonstrations Results On Station trials Challenges Lessons Learned Recommendations

3 Background Potato is an important food and cash crop. More than 800,000 farmers depending on because of high potential for raising incomes and the value of livelihoods. 95% are small-scale with less than 2 ha of farm land. Demand increasing with its nutrition awareness-half daily adult requirement of Vit. C, significant Vit. B, Iron, Potassium and Zinc Increase in production is through expanding areas under production and repeatedly planting potato on the same site

4 Potato Utilization in Kenya

5 Background Yields less than 10 t ha-1, against realistic yields of up to 30 t ha-1 with improved practices. Constraints; limited quality seed (health and utility), plant nutrition, disease management, cultivation techniques, post harvest losses, accessibility of labor Gender dynamics related to the potato PIA pilot project aimed at raising production efficiency and quality through involvement of different stakeholders

6 Partners Mechanization Component FMD, AMS + Private service providers (Grimme) Plant Nutrition MEA + (K+S Kali) Seed Varieties (Solana + Europlant) Crop Protection Bayer + Syngenta Participating farmers/groups State Department of Agriculture Crop Directorate Nyandarua County Government International Potato Center (CIP) Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK)

7 On farm demonstrations Sites Selection Selection with KEPHIS Soil sampling- Nutrients and Diseases Demonstration set up Mechanization Varieties Plant nutrition Crop protection Farmers Field Days and Feed back Conducted in 3 sites Planting, Vegetative, Harvesting Structured questionnaires (150 farmers)

8 Results County No of Sites Area (Ha) Altitude Nyandarua m Nakuru m Bungoma m Meru m Demo Layout Bayer Syngenta Mechanized Operations Farmers Practice Research rec Practice Caruso Shangi Jelly Connect Caruso Shangi Jelly Connect Farmers spacing, 50Kg N/Ha, Own saved seed, 3 to 4 fungicide Sprays Spacing 75cm by 30cm, 90 Kg N /Ha, Clean Seed, Monitored Spray

9 Results 30 Yield increase due to improved production practices 25 Yields In t/ha Farmer Practice Research rec. Modernized Production package

10 Variety Component Yield comparisons of the Varieties in different demonstration sites Yields in T/Ha Bungoma Meru Nakuru Nyandarua 0 Local Connect Caruso Jelly Variety N/B; Local- Nyandarua-Shangi; Meru- Asante; Bungoma-Arka

11 Mechanization Average hours per hectare used for different operations in potato production Mechanized Manual All operations Weeding Planting Fertilizer App 0,6 9 Harvesting Bed/Ridge

12 Mechanization Post Harvest Losses 33 % 2.5 %

13 Crop Protection %Disease severity Late blight progress under different crop protection regimes Days after Planting Bayer FP Research rec Syngenta

14 Farmers field days 9 farmer field days organized, Planting, Vegetative, Harvesting in 3 counties Over 2000 Small holder farmers in attendance 40% Women 60% Men

15 Farmers Perception Bungoma Nyandarua Mechanization Options

16 Farmers Perception Before After Willingness to Pay Actual Investment in Fertilizers 47% 96% Ksh 2,100 Ksh 2,900 Investment in more advanced fungicides 42.7% 83.8% Ksh 10,200 Ksh 18,300 Expensive Inputs Government subsidized fertilizer: Not for potato Counterfeits low quality chemicals in the market

17 On station experiments University of Nairobi Experiment 1: Effect of fertilizer and rates on potato yield 4 Varieties (Caruso, Jelly, Connect and Shangi) 2 Fertilizers ( DAP and NPK 16:8:22+ 2MgO + 2S 2 Application rates (45Kg N/Ha and 90Kg N/Ha) Experiment 2: Yield loss due late blight 4 Varieties (Caruso, Jelly, Connect and Shangi) 3 fungicide spray regimes (weekly spray, Bi weekly spray and no spray) Experiment 3: Determination of the processing qualities of the new potato varieties On going at the University of Nairobi Department of food science and Technology

18 Crop protection component Fungicide Spray Regime Variety Control Bi Weekly Weekly Unica Caruso Connect Jelly Shangi

19 Plant Nutrition Yield response of different varieties to fertilization regimes Yield in grams per plant Caruso Connect Jelly Shangi 0 Blend 90Kg N/Ha DAP 90Kg N/Ha Blend 45Kg N/Ha Fertilizer regimes DAP 45Kg N/Ha Control

20 Challenges Technical capacity for the machinery operators Potato majorly grown in highland characterized with sloppy terrains Over reliance on rain-fed agriculture-timing of the operations Seed availability and import logistics Extreme weather condition in some areas

21 Lessons High potential for further productivity increases More impact through smallholder farmers participation and ownership A lot of optimism and willingness to invest in new technologies Public Private Partnerships- Private sector role in the value chain Platform for Interactions and Networking btn farmers,experts and different stakeholder

22 Recommendations Capacity building on machines operators Awareness Creation on the specific utilization of different Varieties Loans and credit facilitation to stimulate investments in Modern technologies Farm economics trainings to Smallholder farmers Strengthening extension service networks Local seed multiplication through the decentralized multiplication

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24 Thank you for your attention!