Francis Ngatia, a farmer in Thigio Village, Laikipia County, has proved that farming is viable even in the midst of drought.
On his farm, Ngatia has mastered the art of organic farming, which not only guarantees the production of chemical-free food but also lowers production costs.
The farmer grows carrots, which are intercropped with maize for easier management. He explains that the maize provides shade, besides retaining moisture and repelling pests and insects.
“It is difficult to control pests and insects in carrot fields since the available insecticides will not penetrate the soils to where the pests and insects multiply. Also, due to the heavy canopy of carrots, it is almost impossible to effectively spray insecticides on the entire plant. But with intercropping, inspects and pests are drawn to the maize where it’s easier for me to control them,” he told Smart Farmer Africa.
He explained that carrots require soft soil, preferably loam soil, adding that one must dig at least 30 centimeters deep.
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He then prepares shallow furrows and applies manure mixed with soil. Ngatia does not use any commercial fertilizer during planting or at later stages.
Planting then begins, with the sowing of seeds in the furrows. Germination takes about two weeks, with a spacing of about 5 centimetres between the plants and 10 centimetres between the rows.
He explains that such spacing helps the tubers to enlarge freely, adding that he uses about 2 kilos of carrot seeds on a one-acre farm.
“After germinating, thinning is important to retain healthy plants and avoid nutrient competition. Also, when left to grow next to each other, the carrots become deformed, compromising the quality,” he explains.
The farmer uses about 12 bags of manure on an acre of land, which he gets from his cows and sheep. He also sprays vegetative foliar fertiliser two to three weeks after germination, manually controls the weeds, and then waits for the harvest in about three months.
From one acre, Ngatia harvests 10,000 to 12,000 carrots, selling a kilo at an average of Sh40, but sometimes between Sh80 and Sh100 when the market is good.
The carrots are planted between the rows of maize, at a spacing of one meter. The maize yields an average of 5 to 7 bags an acre.
“I prefer growing carrots since they are not labour and capital intensive. They have a ready market in Laikipia where there is minimal farming due to adverse weather. The crop matures faster here due to the heat,” he says.
