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Dairy goats are more profitable than dairy cow farming in Kenya

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  Dairy goats are more profitable in Kenya than dairy cows Farmers who rear five dairy goats stand to benefit 45 per cent more than those farmers rearing one dairy cow. This is because goats do not need much feeds and space to keep yet their milk always retails at high price as compared to that of a cow. According to Hellen Kamba, a farm manager at Shambah Dairies farm based in Kangema, Murang’a County and which offers training to smallholder dairy goat farmers, dairy goats need less land or space and feeds as compared to the same number of dairy cows. “Farmers need to be aware that a half an acre of Napier grass can support five dairy goats while the same measure of Napier grass only supports one dairy cow. With this knowledge out there farmers can make the right decision on which venture to pursue,” said Kamba. She says that one dairy cow can give 20 liters of milk a day and a liter of dairy cow milk sells at Sh37 while five dairy goats can give 13 liters of milk daily fetching
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Dairy goats for sale in Kenya, Mount Kenya region

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  Are you interested in dairy goat farming in Kenya? Located some 15 kilometers from Chuka town in Kathatwa sub-location is Murang’a Farm owned by Sammy Murithi, 30. Murithi keeps goats of the  German Alpine and Toggenburg breeds , animals that he says have changed his life for the better thanks to their good income “These breeds are hardy and have the ability to adapt to virtually all agro-climatic conditions while producing to their maximum. Their farming has given me an opportunity to live a decent life,” Murithi says.  So what makes his animals thrive? Muriithi farms brachiaria grass that helps him boost his dairy production. The fodder has thick leaves that make it hard for weeds to thrive, grows well in a wide range of agro-ecological zones and has a high vigour and high crude protein of between 14 – 20 percent.  The grass also experiences minimal attacks from pests and diseases making it a good choice.  For good breeding, Murithi says good nutrition, good housing
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FOR AFRICAN AGRICULTURE TO FLOURISH, HI-TECH EQUIPMENT ARE NEEDED

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Africa must adopt smart farming solutions African agriculture has slowly evolved from the time when a black woman with a hoe in the hands was the default symbol of agriculture in Africa. Over the years, farmers have adopted mechanization at various levels with small agricultural equipment like single-axle walking tractors becoming more and more popular. Depending on which country you are in, medium and large-scale farmers in Africa are moderately mechanized whereby basic farm operations like land preparation, planting, spraying, and harvesting are carried out using conventional basic mechanical machinery. Medium and large-scale farms (50 Ha and above) constitute less than 10 percent of the total agricultural land. In Kenya for instance, agriculture is predominantly small-scale and is carried out on farms averaging 0.2-3 Ha mostly on a subsistence basis. In Nigeria, over 80% of farmers are small family farms averaging 0.5 Ha, and there are very few large-scale farm operations. With th
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Owning land is not a good reason to start farming, but market is

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Farming should start from the market and flow to the farm What motivates you to get into farming? Your land or your market? Nowadays, owning a small piece of land is fashionable, especially if you buy it yourself instead of inheriting it from your parents. In Kenya for example, most middle-class income earners are in rush to buy land with the intention of putting up a building in the future or resell it when the value appreciates. It is common to hear people saying that no one should ever buy a car before buying land. Read also: How to start profitable farming Read also: How to make money farming For this reason, I have heard people saying that they have a piece of land lying idle somewhere and that they wish to do some farming activities as they wait for the next step. While it is a good idea to keep thinking about how to add value to your idle land, it is equally very risky to do speculative farming. With or without a land title deed, you can become a farmer as long as you start your
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When should a farmer consider buying a tractor?

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  When is it worth buying a tractor or any agricultural machinery? Machines such as tractors are at the center of livelihoods in rural areas, especially among farming communities. They make work easier by replacing manual workers to drive heavy implements and to haul the heavy loads. But is buying a tractor a good choice for your farm? When is it a wise investment decision to buy a tractor for your farm? Buying a tractor for the sole use on your farm may not be the most lucrative business to do especially if you are planning to use it on a small farm. Owning a tractor is fun and exciting to work with, but here are a few questions that every farmer might want to consider before buying a tractor. Read also:  How many tractors, combines or rippers do I need for a 10 ha farm? Do your farm operations rely on the work of a tractor all year long? For example, after using the tractor to plant, when next will you need it again for your farm? Is your farm highly integrated to keep your t
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How social capital can benefit small scale farmers in Africa to aggregate themselves

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  Social capital is the enabler of the aggregation of small-scale farmers in Africa  Aggregation of farmers cannot be possible without social capital. In Africa, rural households co-exist in a friendly environment but they never do business together as a group of farmers. How can Africa take advantage of its high social capital to mobilize small-scale farmers' aggregation? Watch this short video for an in-depth analysis
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Apple seedlings in Kenya - The Wambugu Farm Apples in Nyeri County

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  Where to get apple seedlings in Kenya and how to grow them - Wambugu Apple
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Common components of seed planters

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Basic parts of a planter that you should know Planting machines (planters) are an assemblage of components, each designed to meet a particular function, for example: open a furrow, meter the seed, deliver the seed to the furrow, close the furrow and firm the seedbed. All planters share common components and mechanisms intended to open a trench, singulate seed, drop seed at an intended spacing and depth and close the trench. However, the differences in these designs can have major impacts on accuracy. Components that are common among most planters can be logically grouped by function into the following categories: 1. Soil-engaging components The functions performed by the soil-engaging components include opening the furrow, placing the seed, covering the furrow, and firming the seedbed. Where there are high levels of surface residue and relatively unprepared seedbeds, devices to cut or otherwise manipulate soil and residue (row preparation devices) maybe required in addition
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The new Valtra A Series 5th generation model

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Valtra A Series 5th generation model The popular Valtra A Series, twice the recipient of the Machine of the Year award, in 2017 and in 2019, is going into its 5th generation. The tractor range is now available with many new features that have been requested by customers. The model series continues to comprise seven models to choose from, all of them available as so-called GL-models, which feature an easy-to-use mechanical transmission. The best-selling 105 and 115 horsepower models are also available with a four-step powershift transmission. In these HiTech 4 models, transmission is controlled electronically. All A Series come with Valtra’s renowned shuttle transmission including the integrated handbrake. Visit the Vatra Website to learn more about the A-series 5th generation
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The ultimate benefits of a cab tractor to the farmer

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Open station (Platform) tractors are for short hours while cab tractors are for long hours of work I have heard many people asking why most small tractors are built without cab while most large tractors are only built with cab. The answer to this question could be as simple as you can imagine but it can get complex as well. To keep it simple, small tractors are generally less expensive and hence it may not make a lot of sense to substantially increase the price of a small tractor by including the cab. Most cabs are high-end and hence are relatively costly. The complex part of the response could be: When a farmer buys a small tractor, it could be assumed that the amount of work he wants to accomplish is not that much and he may not be spending a lot of time working with the tractor, therefore the operator's comfort may not be a top priority. For example, small tractors could be used for short-distance transportation, mowing, road up keeping, and operating small to medium-sized
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Classification of Massey Ferguson Combine Harvesters

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  MF ACTIVA, BETA, and HI-Line models Pioneers of combine harvester technology from the PowerFlow header to the latest precision farming equipment, the Massey Ferguson combine harvester range includes the conventional straw walker, rotary, and hybrid separation systems to match all crops and conditions. Models of MF ACTIVA Economy  1. MF Activa 7340 This is a flatland machine equipped with AGCO Power Engine tier 4 final, 4 cylinders, 4.9L with 175 HP. The threshing system is made up of 5 straw walkers.  2. MF Activa 7344  Flatland equipment equipped with AGCO Power engine tier 4 final 6 cylinders, 7.4 L with 218 HP. The threshing system is 5 straw walkers. Works with rigid and flexible headers as well.  Models of MF ACTIVA Utility  1. MF Activa S 7345  Flatland equipment with AGCO power engine tier 4 final 6 cylinders 7.4 L 243 HP. 5 Straw walkers 2. MF Activa S 7 PL 7345  ParaLevel equipment with AGCO power engine tier 4 final 6 cylinders 7.4 L 243 HP. 5 Straw walkers. Lateral tilt 4W
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Factors that affect combine harvester performance

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Performance of a combine harvester Combine harvesters are machines that are manufactured for exclusive use on the farm. They are mostly used for harvesting cereals, wheat, rice soya, corn etc, threshing and separating grains from materials other than grain, as well as delivering grain to the grain wagon. The following are some of the factors that could affect the performance of a combine harvester in the field: 1. Combine ground speed   The combine must travel at the recommended speed to avoid overworking or underworking the combine, 2. Weather condition Dry weather is recommended during harvesting 3. Landscape Sloppy land affects the functioning of the combine in many ways. Eg cutting level, clogging of materials, and stability of grain tank. etc 4. Level of crop maturity Crops that have not fully matured or fully dried are difficult to thresh. Learn more here about how to optimize the use of your combine harvester for high performance. Read also: Types combine harvesters and header
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Story of Wambugu Apple Farm

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 The famous Wambugu Apple Farm courtesy video
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The power of a 2WD walking tractor

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  What a walking tractor can do
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Mechanization is the key to timeliness and accuracy of farming activities

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Mechanization is an enabler of timekeeping Forward-planning and acquiring the right agricultural machinery are the two critical practices that farmers can adopt to improve the timeliness and accuracy of farming activities. Today, most people talk of precision farming, but in simpler terms, timeliness and accuracy in farming operations are a common denominator among all successful farmers. If you are a farmer, small or large-scale and you have never worried about the time to start and finish activities on your farm, this article is for you! A farmer should worry twice as much (if not more) about accomplishing tasks on time than hitting the target yield. Yield is a consequence of timeliness! Read also: How many tractors do I need for my farm? Read also: With climate change, farmers have less time to plan and execute activities It is critical for farmers to always ask themselves if they are accomplishing tasks (planting, spraying, harvesting, etc) on time. Farmers may be unable to
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