French Beans Farming in Kenya.
French Beans Farming in Kenya (Mishiris) are one of the crops that dominate Kenya's export market with a low rate of local consumption. The production of these mishiris is mainly done in hot areas such as Machakos, Thika, Murang'a, Kirinyaga, Naivasha, Nyeri and Embu, with the common varieties in the Kenyan market being Amy, Teresa, Samantha, Serengeti, Julia and Paulista.
French Beans Farming in Kenya
Ecological Requirements for French Beans farming in Kenya
Temperature - French Beans Farming in Kenya
French Beans Farming in Kenya do well in the ideal temperature ranges of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. They can grow in temperatures between 14 and 32 degrees Celsius, but extreme temperatures lead to poor flower development and poor fruiting. They ripen earlier in warmer regions.
Altitude - French Beans Farming in Kenya
French Beans Farming in Kenya do well at an altitude between 1000 and 2100 m above sea level.
Rainfall - French Beans Farming in Kenya
If you depend on rain to do French Beans Farming in Kenya, well-distributed rainfall of 900 to 1200 mm per year is needed.
Soil - French Beans Farming in Kenya
French Beans Farming in Kenya require well-drained clay soils to heavy loam soils rich in organic matter. The ideal pH is 6.5 to 7.5, but they can tolerate pH below 4.5.
Crop Rotation for French Beans Farming In Kenya
French beans should not be grown more than twice on the same land without other crops being grown in rotation. Crop rotation when growing French beans helps control weeds, disease, soil erosion, reduces pest populations and rejuvenates the soil.
Seeding Rate for French Beans Farming In Kenya
The seeding rate for planting French beans is 30 kg per acre, planting at 1 kg per row 100 feet spaced 3 inches apart.
Be sure to use certified seed from reputable suppliers where the seed is disease-free and well-selected. If you are doing French Beans Farming in Kenya under contract, the contracting company will usually provide seed.
Season the seeds with Fernase-D (a combination of Lindane and Thiiram) at the rate of 3 grams (2 level teaspoons) per kilogram of seeds.
Demand for French Beans Farming in Kenya
An important outlet for these French beans is the European Union market. And with its weather conditions, the export market in Kenya is divided into two main seasons:
The Low Demand Season - French Beans Farming In Kenya
This mainly occurs from June to September each year. It is characterized by large supply from those producing with prolonged rains and low demand from the EU market, as they can produce theirs until then. The results of this scenario are ones that any risk-averse farmer should really avoid. Prices are often low, ranging from Kshs 20-50 per kg, or they simply cannot market their products. This is probably due to the discards that are part of the menu in this sector. Also, there are many quota issues where companies can choose to buy a certain amount from you, leaving you with plenty of French beans to feed yourself.
The High Demand Season - French Beans Farming In Kenya
This usually runs from around September to March. During this period EU markets face winter and their only option is to import and this is when Kenyan farmers find a goldmine. The main supply during this period comes mainly from irrigation, so the supply is generally low. Prices vary from 60 to 80 Ksh per kg. If things go as badly as they did in 2012 when there was a freeze effect, the surviving farmers would sell a kilo at Ksh 250. Export companies sought them out like the Malaysian plane.
French Beans Farming in Kenya; Investment
The cost can be minimized, especially if you are fully involved in rain-fed agriculture and own your own land. Also, if the soil is new (little used), some fertilizers and pesticides may not be necessary.
Harvesting is generally done twice a week for fine grains and three times a week for extra fine grains. It lasts about three weeks. A major setback is the rejection of their products if they do not meet established quality standards. You end up regretting why you came up with the idea.
Manure Application; French Beans Farming in Kenya
Manure should be applied at the rate of 10 tons per hectare when planting. This is especially where the soils have low amounts of organic matter. Apply the manure in the planting furrows and make sure it is well integrated into the soil before planting.
Fertilizer Requirements - French Beans Farming in Kenya
At the time of planting, 200 kg of DAP fertilizer per hectare is required. Apply fertilizer in the planting furrow and mix well with the soil before planting the seeds.
The coating is done with CAN fertilizer, at the rate of 100 kg per hectare, when the plants are at the stage of the first three leaves. Dress the top again, in the same proportions as at the beginning of flowering.
Foliar fertilizer is applied every 2 weeks from the fourth week after planting until the middle of the pruning season. Examples of recommended foliar foods are Bayfolan and Rapid-Grow.
French Beans Farming In Kenya – Planting.
French Beans Farming in Kenya _ Planting
French bean planting begins at the onset of the rains. The growing season can be extended year round by watering your French bean farm.
The main export season for French beans in Kenya is from October to May. French bean planting should be timed so that most of the crop is ready between October and mid-December, and mid-January to late May.
French Bean Planting Calendar - French Beans Farming In Kenya
For continuous production, plant French beans at 2-3 week intervals in appropriately sized plots. This will ensure you harvest every 2 weeks.
Spacing for French Beans - French Beans Farming In Kenya
French beans should be sown in single rows of 30 x 15 cm (1 seed per hole); or double rows of 60 by 30 by 10 cm. Plant the French beans in blocks of four individual rows, separated by a path of about 50 cm, to facilitate handling.
French Bean Seed Rate - French Beans Farming In Kenya
The sowing rate of French beans is 50 to 60 kg per hectare. French beans are planted directly in the field, in a well-prepared patch.
French Bean Harvesting Time - French Beans Farming In Kenya
Your French beans will be ready to harvest in 45-60 days in warm climates.
Irrigation of French Beans Farming in Kenya
French beans need water because it is essential for consistent quality crops. If you are growing French beans in heavy clay soil, it is recommended to use furrow irrigation and plant French beans in the furrows. The reason for this is that French beans are affected if they become soggy.
Irrigation is recommended in French bean fields for continued production even if it does not rain.
Irrigation in French bean farms is by furrow or sprinkler.
Mulching for French Beans Farming in Kenya
To prevent fungal diseases in young French bean plants, it is recommended to use mulch in your French bean garden. Mulching keeps soil from spattering young French bean plants. if the soil splashes the plants, it creates the conditions for fungal diseases.
Weed Control for French Beans Farming in Kenya
Weed control is an important activity in French Beans Farming in Kenya because it eliminates weeds that compete with French beans for much-needed nutrients.
Weeding in French bean fields is done two to three weeks after germination. The second weeding activity is carried out 3 weeks after the first. Take care when removing weeds so as not to disturb the shallow roots of young French bean plants.
It should not be weeded when the flowers are developing to prevent them from falling. Avoid weeding when fields are wet to prevent the spread of disease and hardening of the soil.
6 Steps to a Successful French Beans Farming In Kenya.
Pests Affecting French Beans Farming in Kenya
Root-Knot Nematodes - - French Beans Farming In Kenya
Root-knot nematodes damage the roots of French beans, causing bumps called galls. This affects nutrient uptake through the roots and can cause the affected French bean plants to wilt and wilt.
Damage caused by root-knot nematodes opens the plant to bacterial and fungal infections.
To control root-knot nematodes, practice crop rotation Weed crops that are not affected by root-knot nematodes, e.g. Maize and other grasses. Eliminate other nematode hosts, e.g. weeds. Leaving the soil without crops during dry weather will help eradicate nematodes.
Bean Fly - French Beans Farming In Kenya
The bean fly is a small fly that likes to land on each leaf of the French bean. It lays eggs on the leaves. The eggs hatch and it is in the larval stage that the bean maggot does a lot of damage to French beans. Bean maggot larvae mine the stalk of French beans. It also feeds on the cotyledons of young French bean plants.
French bean plants infested with bean flies will stun and split the stems at ground level. The leaves will turn yellow.
Bean flies on French beans can be controlled by using chemicals to treat the soil. seeds and sterilize them in plants.
Bean Thrips - French Beans Farming In Kenya
Bean thrips affect beans by making holes in bean flowers when they feed on them. They can be controlled by foliar spraying before flowering and pesticide spraying during flowering.
Aphids - French Beans Farming In Kenya
Aphids suck the sap from the stems, leaves and pods of French beans. Affected plants are stunted. They also open the plant to other infections, such as common bean mosaic virus, because they act as vectors for the virus.
Aphids on French beans can be controlled through the use of cultural and chemical methods.
Red Spider Mites - French Beans Farming In Kenya
Red mites are small pests that affect French beans by feeding on the leaves. The color of damaged leaves will turn brown and silver. You will notice cobwebs under the leaves of a French bean plant that has been affected by spider mites.
To control red mites on French beans, remove weeds that act as host plants. You can also use pesticides to control mites.
Cutworms, Beetles, and Caterpillars - French Beans Farming In Kenya
Caterpillars, beetles and caterpillars feed on French bean plants at night and hide during the day. They chew the stems of young plants, just above ground level. The affected plant may eventually topple over. They can also feed on the leaves of the French bean plant.
They can be controlled using pesticides and if the infestation is not severe, manual collection can be done, as they hide in the ground near the affected plant.
American Bollworm - French Beans Farming In Kenya
The American bollworm affects French beans by piercing flower buds and young pods. French bean pods affected by FAW will not form or develop until mature.
Diseases That Affect French Beans Farming in Kenya
Rust - French Beans Farming In Kenya
Rust is a fungal disease that affects French beans and other beans. This disease is characterized by raised white spots on the lower leaves of French beans. These white spots turn red or dark brown a few days after the onset of the disease.
Rust on French beans is common where humidity is high.
To control French bean blight, practice crop rotation with crops that are not part of the bean family. You can also plant varieties of French beans that are rust tolerant.
Rust on French beans can also be controlled with chemicals applied every two weeks.
Angular Leaf Spot - French Beans Farming In Kenya
Angular leaf spot is a fungal disease that affects the leaves and pods of French beans. Stems, leaves and pods develop angular spots with purple edges. Angular spots have gray centers. French bean leaves that are affected by angular leaf spots may eventually drop off.
To control angular leaf spot on French beans, plant certified disease-free seed or treat French bean seed before planting. You can also use chemicals to control angular leaf spot on French beans.
Root Rots - French Beans Farming In Kenya
Root rot is a family of fungal diseases that affect French beans. Root rot is characterized by yellow stems at ground level. Stems are French beans that are affected by root rot and eventually wither and stunted plants.
French bean leaves that are affected by root rot lose their normal yellow color and may eventually drop off. A farm infested with root rot will often have French bean plants growing unevenly.
To control French bean root rot, coat the seeds with fungicide at the rate of 3 grams per kilogram of seeds. You can also spray French beans with fungicides when they start to develop leaves.
Bacterial Blights - French Beans Farming In Kenya
French bean Bacterial Blights is a disease that greatly affects French bean farming in Kenya, especially in cold and humid climates. Bacterial plague spreads when water splashes on infected French bean plants or the remains of dead plants.
French bean plants affected by Bacterial Blights will develop ring-shaped spots on the leaves. The leaves will begin to turn yellow and develop dry margins. The pods of plants affected by Bacterial Blights will be soaked in water.
To control the bacterial pest in French beans, plant certified disease-free French bean seed, destroy affected plants, and practice crop rotation with plants that are not part of the bean family.
Bacterial blight on French beans can also be controlled with the use of copper-based fungicides.
Anthracnose - French Beans Farming In Kenya
Anthracnose is a seed-borne fungal disease that affects all parts of the French bean plant and thrives in cool, wet conditions. Splashing water, wind, and physical contact are some of the ways anthracnose spreads from one French bean plant to another.
French bean plants affected by anthracnose will develop sunken brown spots on bean pods, slanting brown spots on French bean leaves, and oblong streaks on French bean stems.
For the control of anthracnose in French beans, certified disease-free French bean seed was used. Practice good field hygiene and crop rotation with plants that are not part of the bean family. It is advisable to plant varieties of French beans resistant to anthracnose. You can also use fungicides to control anthracnose in French beans.
Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV) - French Beans Farming In Kenya
Common bean mosaic virus is a seed-borne viral disease transmitted by aphids and affects French beans at all growth stages, with varying symptoms at different growth stages.
If your French beans have been affected by the common bean mosaic virus, the leaves will curl, spot, and fail to develop. They will be malformed and the plant will atrophy. The French bean plant will produce an abnormal number of side shoots.
To control common bean mosaic virus, use certified clean, disease-free seed. Plant resistant varieties of French beans. Control aphids, which are the main vectors of common bean mosaic virus.
Powdery Mildew - French Beans Farming In Kenya
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that attacks the stems, leaves, flowers and pods of French beans. The disease is characterized by a powdery growth that covers the stems, leaves, flowers and pods. The white powdery growth then turns black. In some cases, the leaves turn yellow and fall off.
To control powdery mildew on French beans, practice field sanitation and crop rotation with plants that do not belong to the bean family. You can also use fungicides to control powdery mildew in French beans.
Downy Mildew - French Beans Farming In Kenya
Downy mildew is a fungal disease that affects French beans, where the leaves develop a white to grayish growth that begins on the underside. The growth then spreads to cover the entire leaf.
Downy mildew on French beans can be controlled using fungicides and practicing field sanitation. Crop rotation with plants that do not belong to the pod bean family can also be used to control this disease.
How to Get the Most From Your French Beans Farming In Kenya
Getting the most out of French beans has never been easy. Production management is a precise and delicate procedure that requires a thorough knowledge and understanding of the requirements of the crop. When grown in the right conditions, French beans can be extremely productive.
Best Fertilizers for French Beans Farming In Kenya
When given all the nutrients they need, French beans are extremely productive. All fertilizers should be used within the first month as they mature in 45-60 days depending on the variety.
80–100 kg of DAP should be applied during the planting season. DAP must be properly mixed into the soil before planting to prevent fertilizer burn. If you are planting during the dry season, you will need to water before or after planting so that the fertilizer dissolves.
When two or three leaves appear, top with Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) at a rate of 100-120 kg per acre, followed by NPK 17.17.17 at the same rate at the start of flowering. The amount of fertilizer needed, on the other hand, varies with soil conditions.
Depending on the soil conditions and the type of bean, in most cases 4-8 kg of fertilizer per kg of seed should be applied.
Foliar application should be done regularly. Excessive nitrogen application, on the other hand, is not suggested because the main focus of plants is excessive vegetative development rather than flowering and yield composition. As the crop matures, foliar feeding should be varied. When plants are young, farmers must use a "foliar initiator" and then convert to high-nitrogen foliar nutrients during vegetative growth. At the start of flowering, a high potassium foliar should be used.
CONCLUSION - French Beans Farming In Kenya
In conclusion, French Beans Farming in Kenya can make a quick buck, but only if you play your cards right. You are very likely to suffer losses. Recognizing the continued demand for beans, exporting companies are adopting contract farming with farmers. This involves setting fixed prices that run throughout the year, whether in low or high season. These companies provide seeds and agronomic services on credit to ensure good quality products with a low probability of rejection.
So, if you are considering getting into French Beans Farming in Kenya business, the best option is to capture a solid market first and then scale up production as your point of sale requires it. Until next time, enjoy.
Known locally as Mishiri, French beans are traditionally grown in Kenya for export. Over time, local consumption of French beans has increased.
French Beans Farming in Kenya can be on a large and small scale. However, it is recommended to do French Beans Farming in Kenya on a small scale, with staggered plantings whenever possible. This is because French Beans Farming in Kenya is labor intensive.
French Beans Farming in Kenya are both for the fresh market and for processing. They can be processed by canning and freezing.
In Kenya, the peak of the export market is between October and May.
French beans take 45-50 days to mature, making them a good crop for farmers looking for short production cycles.
FAQ - French Beans Farming in Kenya
What Is The Average Production Per Acre - French Beans Farming In Kenya
A farmer can harvest between 300 and 450 kg per kilogram, which corresponds to 6 to 9 tons, with the correct feeding, irrigation, pest and disease control and the right ecological conditions. Production of different types, however, fluctuates. For three weeks, a farmer can harvest French beans three times a week.
What Is The Yield of French Beans Per Acre - French Beans Farming In Kenya
French bean crop at six (6) tons per acre.
For fine and extremely fine grains, harvesting can be done twice a week and three times a week, respectively. It continues like this for about three weeks. Six tons per acre and nine to fifteen tons per hectare are produced in two and a half months.
How Long Do French Beans Take To Mature - French Beans Farming In Kenya
Depending on the crop, environmental circumstances, and management strategies used, French beans can take 45 to 60 days to mature.
How Much Should An Acre of French Beans Yield - - French Beans Farming In Kenya
The profitability of French beans is governed by export market demand and the current supply from producers. A kilo of French beans costs between Ksh 70 and Ksh 100 during the high season, which runs from mid-March to mid-April. With an average of 6 tons per acre, a farmer can earn between Kshs 420,000 and Kshs 600,000 per acre. During the low season, which runs from June to September, prices can drop to Ksh 30 per kg, meaning a farmer will only earn Ksh 180,000 per acre.
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