Vegetable farmers, and especially tomato farmers, in Kiambu County are set to generate fortunes from their farming after receiving training on modern tomato grafting technologies.
Tomato grafting is the horticultural technique of joining the upper fruiting part of a tomato plant (the scion) onto a disease-resistant or vigorous lower root system (the rootstock) so they grow as a single plant.
The programme, a joint venture between Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) and the Kiambu County government, is aimed at impacting farmers with best modern farming practices to increase tomato yields and impact on their income.
Experts from KOPIA who held a training programme for over 100 farmers at Juja Farm area in Juja constituency noted that tomato grafting is one of the most effective way of dealing with soil-borne pests and diseases that cripple tomato farming in most regions.
Led by KOPIA Kenya Director Dr Ji Gang Kim, the experts quipped the new technology enhances soil-borne diseases resistance by protecting against aggressive soil pathogens and pests, including Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, corky root rot, bacterial wilt, and root-knot nematodes.
“Most farmers have been incurring losses in their farming because of over reliance on the conventional methods of farming. We are training them on latest technologies that will maximise their yields and generate them good returns while playing a crucial role of ensuring and enhancing food security in the region and across the country,” Dr Kim said.
He quipped that tomato grafting increases vigour and yield by enhancing the root system strength, allowing the plant to mine more water and nutrients. “Studies show grafted tomatoes can increase marketable yields by 30% to 50% compared to ungrafted plants,” he said.
Dr Kim who was accompanied by other experts from KOPIA and the Kiambu County Chief Officer in charge of Agriculture Bernard Njoroge averred that improves resilience against environmental extremes such as high soil salinity, drought, excessive moisture and extreme heat or cold.
Joseph Munyua, an agricultural research scientists based in Juja, encouraged farmers to adopt their new technologies so as to beat the perennial pests and diseases problems they’ve been facing in their farming.
While noting that access to quality and hybrid vegetable seedlings has been a major setback for farmers, Munyua rallied farmers to go for grafted seedlings and high quality ones for success of their ventures.
On his part, the Chief Officer reiterated that the new farming technologies being availed to farmers through the partnership are set to significantly impact agricultural practices across the county.
Njoroge noted that with the right training and access to quality planting materials, fertilizers as well as extension services, farmers in the county will enjoy bamper harvests and generate huge fortunes from their ventures.
He quipped that the Kiambu County government has been on the forefront in distributing quality seeds to farmers across the county with an aim of improving their yields, enhancing their income and ensuring food security in the region and in the country.
Farmers led by Margaret Waithera hailed the KOPIA-Kiambu County partnership noting that it will go a long way in unlocking new opportunities for them including market linkages among others.
