KARATINA UNIVERSITY

INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT REPORT

BY

George Sagini Okiomeri

A102/0107G/16

Submitted to school of Agriculture And Biotechnology in

Partial fulfilment of requirement for the degree of

Agricultural Extension Education.

2018/2019 academic year

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DECLARETION
I declare that this report is my original copy and it has not been published by anyone else in tertiary learning
institution for a similar purpose from the best of my knowledge.

Date……………………… sign……………………..

Approved by ______________________________signature_______________stamp____________
KALRO Attachment coordinator

This report was submitted to school of agriculture and biotechnology for examination purposes and was
approved by:

DR.DENIS MAINA.

Sign______________________ Date___________________

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PREFACE
Sending students on industrial field attachment is not only a requirement of the university but it is vital and
very important to the student. It is done to familiarize students with the working environment which they
will engage in after formal qualification. The duration for the industrial attachment was 8 weeks from 13th
May to July 8th. The attachment ensures full comprehension and application of the theoretical facts covered
in the university and expose them to the matters that are found wanting in the Society.

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DEDICATION
I dedicate this work with love and gratitude to the almighty God who always stands by me in all my field
work. Furthermore, I dedicate this to my beloved parents who are sole sponsor of all my academic
requirements. Finally to my beloved caring and nurturing lecturer Madam Kirui and KALRO Njoro for
assistances and conducive environment during my attachment.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Firstly I would wish to appreciate Karatina University, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology,
Department of Agricultural sciences for giving me a chance to undertake a productive field attachment and
allocated me with an assessor who guided me on how to accomplish the industrial field attachment and the
way to go when compiling my report.
I would like to recognize the commitment and invaluable efforts of my station supervisor, Mr. Langat
Kipkemoi for his support towards my stay in KALRO-Njoro. Won’t fail to mention Madam Purity and
Madam Joyce who took me through the yield trials carried out in the institution and also how to carry out
the emasculation process. My regards also go to Mr. Otuke who closed the section by taking me through
the wheat seed processing stages and Mr. Patrick Mbehero who contributed to my understanding of oil
crops such as soya bean, rape seed, sunflower and many more. He also taught me how to breed these oil
crops, the breeding techniques, the importance of these oil crops and also how to carry out field layout.
I would also like to recognize the contribution of all supervisors, students and casual workers whom
contributed to success of my two moths stay at KALRO.

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ASBTRACT
This report contains all activities carried out during an industrial attachment at KALRO-Njoro between 13th
May and 8th July 2019. It explains events in various department: cereal breeding, social economics, oil
crops, horticulture, farm section, natural resource management and biodiversity. It further discuses about
library, other sections and challenges faced during this period.
KALRO-NIORO is a centre that carries out research on food crops I. e. cereals, oil crops and tuber crops.

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FORWARD.
The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research organization (KALRO) was established through the
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Act of 2013 and given the mandate to conduct agricultural
And livestock research of strategic national importance and produce improved technologies, we believe
that the scope and diversity of our mandate allows us to contribute significantly to the National development
agenda through provision of scientific innovation that is the key to Kenya's
Economic growth. Further, we believe that our clients are crucial to the success of our endeavours.
 Underpins the importance KALRO bestows in improving service delivery to clients
 It informs KALRO clients, stakeholders, development partners and the public about the
organisation, her vision, mission, mandate, core values and functions.
 It also informs KALRO clients about the services and products offered, highlights expectations of
KALRO clients are urged to give feedback on its products, services and delivery mechanisms so that they
can be served better. KALRO is committed to promoting clients with the highest quality service and
products as available resources will permit.
The efforts to ensure IS0 9001: 2008 and IS0 17025: 2005 Certification is further proof that KALRO has
fully embraced the Quality Management system and was committed to quality service delivery to our
clients.

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Contents
DECLARETION ......................................................................................................................................... ii
PREFACE................................................................................................................................................... iii
DEDICATION............................................................................................................................................ iv
ACKNOWLEDGMENT ........................................................................................................................... iv
ASBTRACT ................................................................................................................................................. v
FORWARD. ............................................................................................................................................... vi
KALRO NJORO ......................................................................................................................................... 1
Background history ................................................................................................................................... 1
VISION ..................................................................................................................................................... 2
MISSION .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Objectives of the centre ............................................................................................................................ 3
Core values................................................................................................................................................ 3
CEREAL BREEDING................................................................................................................................ 5
Wheat Breeding ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Goal for Breeding Wheat .......................................................................................................................... 5
The crossing block .................................................................................................................................... 6
Emasculation procedure ............................................................................................................................ 6
Yield trials................................................................................................................................................. 8
PYT (preliminary Yield Trial) .................................................................................................................. 8
Functions of KEPHIS ............................................................................................................................... 9
Cold room ................................................................................................................................................. 9
OIL CROP BREEDING SECTION........................................................................................................ 11
Production Situation in Kenya ................................................................................................................ 11
Limitations of oil crop production in Kenya:- ........................................................................................ 11
Identification of oil Crops ....................................................................................................................... 12
Soya beans .............................................................................................................................................. 12
Oil crop value chain ................................................................................................................................ 18
Planometric Map ..................................................................................................................................... 19
SOIL AND CROP MANAGEMENT SECTION ................................................................................... 22
Soil conservation measures at KALRO Njoro ........................................................................................ 24
HORTICULTURE .................................................................................................................................... 26
Avocado .................................................................................................................................................. 26
Cabbages ................................................................................................................................................. 28

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 Eggplant .................................................................................................................................................. 28
SOCIAL ECONOMICS ........................................................................................................................... 30
Biometrics ............................................................................................................................................... 30
ATIRI programme .................................................................................................................................. 30
LIBRARY .................................................................................................................................................. 31
Scope of KARD ...................................................................................................................................... 31
ENTOMOLOGY SECTION.................................................................................................................... 33
Current Research Control ....................................................................................................................... 33
Integrated Pest Management ................................................................................................................... 34
Randomization of chemicals in FAW 2019 trials. .................................................................................. 35
FARM SECTION...................................................................................................................................... 36
Livestock programme ............................................................................................................................. 36
Farm machinery ...................................................................................................................................... 37
Management of fall armyworm............................................................................................................... 39
How Push-Pull technology works ....................................................................................................... 39
OTHER SECTIONS ................................................................................................................................. 41
Accounts section ..................................................................................................................................... 41
Challenges faced during attachment ................................................................................................... 41
CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................... 41
RECOMMENDATION. ........................................................................................................................... 41
REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................................... 42

viii
KALRO NJORO

KENYA AGRICULTURAL AND LIVESTOCK RESEARCH ORGANIZATION

FOOD CROPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

NJORO CENTRE

P.O. Box 523-40200, Ki

Telephone: +2545161120/61528/61720
Website: www.kalro.org
Wireless: 35140865
Fax: +2545161576
Email: karinjoro@africaonline.ac.ke
Website: www.kari.org, Kenya

Background history
The Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research Organization (KALRO) Food crops Research center Njoro
is located 20km South West of Nakuru town in West rim of Rift Valley. It’s in Njoro sub-county of Nakuru
County 200km from Nairobi at an altitude of 2120 meters above sea level.
KALRO Njoro has a long history of food crops research, in fact one of the oldest in the country. It was
established in 1927 for the management of wheat rust diseases, following introduction of wheat in the
country earlier in the century. Since then, the centre has steadily grown to host world class level phenotping
platform for the rust disease and has expanded its research components to include research in oil crops, in
tubers and roots and in agronomy, soil and water management, integrated pest and disease management and
social economics.
Physical address.
Kari-Njoro,
Private bag 20107, Njoro, Kenya
Telephone: +2545161120/61528/61720
Wireless: 35140865
Fax: +2545161576
Email: karinjoro@africaonline.ac.ke

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Website: www.kari.org, Kenya
Nature of the organisation.
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Institute (KALRO) is Kenya's Agricultural research institute
that provide cutting-edge, sustainable technologies that contribute significantly towards alleviation of
poverty as well as provision of raw materials needed to develop and sustain a vibrant, predominantly
agricultural-based industrial sector. KALRO must deliver the required technologies, knowledge and
information in a rapidly changing environment currently characterised by increasing population, erratic
weather conditions, fluctuating economic performance and evasive food security. KALRO has therefore
had to perform efficiently and plan diligently to rationalise activities in order to allocate available resources
appropriately, ensuring cost effectiveness.
Historical perspective of KALRO.
Efforts to strengthen the agricultural research system was characterised by wasteful diversification of efforts
vis-I-vis set priorities. The latest efforts coincided with the collapse of the East African Community in 1977,
which led to a critical appraisal of the structure and functions of the research institutions in Kenya. The
science and technology Act 1979 established semi-autonomous research institutions to strengthen the
organisation and management of research in the country. Under the act KALRO was established and given
the mandate to:-
 Carry out research in agriculture, veterinary sciences and forestry.
 Co-operate with other organisations and institutions of higher learning in training programs and in
matters of relevant research.
 Liase with other research bodies within and outside Kenya carrying out similar research.
 Disseminate research findings.
 Co-operate with the parent ministry, The National council of science and technology and the
relevant research committee in matters pertaining to research policies and priorities.
 Undertake all such things as appear to be necessary, desirable or expedient to carry out its functions.
Plans to integrate the former East African Community research activities co-ordinated from Muguga with
those of the 1Wnistry of Agriculture (MOA) and that of Livestock Development (MLD) did not materialise
immediately. Consequently, activities of the envisaged broad-based K. A. R. I became confined to the
operational and administrative set up at Muguga. Due to inadequate co-ordination, the productivity of the
National Agricultural Research system continued to decline. The system was therefore reorganised by
merging the scientific divisions of MoA and MLD with K. A. R. I, Muguga, to create a new K. A. R. I with
the aims of achieving major National projections through:-
 Conservation of the national resource base
 Attaining and sustaining projected targets of major food resources
 Promotion of under developed food crops and animal resources
 Improvement of horticultural and other export crops
 Development and promotion of industrial crops for local manufacturing industries,
 Development of indigenous scientific capacity.

VISION
Kari envisions a vibrant commercially oriented and competitive agricultural sector, propelled by science,
technology and innovations that respond to demands and opportunities.

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MISSION
KARI-NJORO’S mission is to contribute to increased productivity, commercialization and competitiveness
of wheat, oilseeds crops and other demanded agricultural products through generation and promotion of
knowledge, information and technologies that respond to client’s demands and opportunities.
Objectives of the centre
The KARI-NJORO is guided by the following objectives in caring out its activities in process of meeting
its vision and mission to their clients.
 To generate and promote appropriate wheat, oilseed and other demanded crop varieties through
germplasm acquisition and screening, variety improvement and crop biotechnology applications
for demand driven agricultural product value chains.
 To generate and promote agronomic and pest management technologies for wheat and oil seed and
other demanded commodity agricultural product value chains.
 To develop and promote markets and marketing strategies for wheat, oil seed crops and other
demanded commodity agricultural product value chains.
 To facilitate and advocate policy options for enhancing demand driven wheat, oilseed and other
demanded commodity agricultural product value chains.
 To strengthen the capacity for implementing agricultural product value chains research through
establishing effective linkages and partnerships.
 To enhance dissemination and adoption of suitable technologies on agricultural product value chain
research within our mandate districts.
 Extension service providers to Community based organizations (CBOs, FBOs CIGs,
NGOs, etc.)
Core values
The institute embraces the following core values in pursuing the journey to leach and meet its mission,
vision and objectives in corporation with the clients’ expectations.
 Transparency, Accountability and cost effectiveness.
 Integrated and holistic approach.
 Impact performance and service delivery.
 Scientific excellence, creativity and flexibility.
 Partnership and collaborate advantage and synergies.
 Effective knowledge and information management.
 Respect of staff and clients diversity.
Guiding principles of the company
The institution is entirely guided by the following principles in meeting the clients expectation and in
providing the best professional services and advice to their clients at all times and even improving the
services to higher magnitude.
 Integrity.
 Respect.
 Justice.
 Selfless.
 Objectivity.
 Honesty.
 Leadership.

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  Decency.
 Competency.
 Hard work and commitment.

Roles of Agricultural research.

Enhance skilled manpower
Enhance biosafety while using the existing technologies
Aid in policy formulation
Helps to conserve biodiversity sustainably

ORGANISATION STRUCTURE

CENTER DIRECTOR

DEPUTY CENTER
DIRECTOR

Cereal Livestock Farm Natural Administration Social

breeding section resource economics
management

Library Transport Horticulture Security Oil crops Secretarial Subordinate

services services personnel

Supplies Accounts

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CEREAL BREEDING
Introduction
This is the major section in the station. It carries out both national and regional mandate at centre.
National mandate involves carrying out research on small grain cereals, usually wheat in all growing areas
which include Uasin-Gishu, Trans-nzoia, Nakuru, Narok, Nyandarua and parts of Eastern province. The
regional mandate includes carrying out adaptive research on all small grain cereals in the region like Mau-
narok, Eldoret,Nakuru, Bomet and Kericho
Wheat Breeding
The crop was introduced in Kenya by Lord Delamere in 1906. He wanted a variety for his bread that could
be produced locally in the country.
Objectives
The main objectives of the section are:-
 Yield improvement
 Disease the crop resistance
 Good agronomic traits
 Drought tolerance
 Early maturing
 Tolerance to aphids especially Russian Wheat Aphid (RWA)
 Tolerance lodging
 Appropriate management package
Goal for Breeding Wheat
The main goal is to produce wheat varieties that are well adopted [o the ecological conditions in the country
and high yielding.
The main activities in the section include:
 Marginal area programme aimed at producing varieties for the drought prone areas
 Breeding for acid Soils of Uasin-Gishu district
 Breeding for resistant to the RWA
 Breeding for high yield potential
 Breeding durable disease resistant
 Breeding for high protein quality and quantity
 Improving for protocol of double haploid technique
Plant breeding
KALRO-Njoro produces a number of variety of wheat I. e. Ego IO variety, Njoro 2 variety
The above varieties have been undergoing multi-rotational trials in different areas as experiment where the
phenotypes are tested for Veld and diseases e. g. stem rust and leaf rust. Analysis is done to get data. They
can undergo crossing from F1 to F8 generation. The F8 generation cannot be released to farmers because
it's still in the early stage. Breeders consider the genotype that is well adapted to the different varieties.
Three stages are undergone
 Advanced Yield Trial (AIT)
 Preliminary Yield Trial (PW)

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  National performance Trial (NPW)
The whole process is called conventional trial.
Plant breeding section is all about crop improvement. It basically improves crops. The main objectives of
this section are:-
 Develop high yielding crops
 Develop crops that are tolerant to biotic and abiotic factors
 Develop crops with higher nutritional content.
There are several approaches that are used in plant breeding
a) Conventional Breeding
It mainly involves cross and see-pollination methods. Wheat is a self-pollinated crop. It undergoes a process
called Emasculation process whereby the different species of wheat are crossed to create species that are
hybrid. F1 generation is crossed to obtain F2 generations. Plant breeders select the best quality.
b) Biotechnology
It is a science researcher's use by using techniques/tools that are used to improve plants in the laboratory.
The main techniques are Tissue Culture and Molecular breeding
Visit to the Cage
In the cage different crops are grown for the purpose of research. Tricitum estiva (Wheat) is grown in the
cage mainly for selection purpose of cross breeding. Marker assisted selection is done to confer disease
resistance. Biotechnology supports breeding and marker assisted selection. Phenotypic markers can be used.
They are selected by what the breeder can physically see and touch. Genotypic markers involves the genetic
constitution of the wheat plant e. g. Tallness or dwarf.
The crossing block
The aim is to prevent natural seed set from pollen from the same floret, spikes or plant. After emasculation,
the stigma remains receptive to pollen, for several days during which time pollen must be provided from
unknown sources moving through the air. Plants and spikes selected for emasculation should:
 Be vigorous, healthy and representative of the variety or line only one spike per plant unless there
are insufficient plants available.
 Select spikes which have fully emerged from the boot but which have not yet begun to flower.
Florets in the centre of spike are the most advanced
 Anthers that have already shed pollen, or are just about to are discarded
 Care is taken not to break the tender culm.
Emasculation procedure
The bottom and top one or two spikelet's are eliminated with the aid of scissors. These are the youngest
spikelets and are more often sterile or form the smallest seed. By use of forceps, the Centre the remaining
spikelet's are then removed because their ovaries do not mature at the same time as the rest of the florets.
Only two flowers are left in each spikelet. The glumes, lemmas and paleas are then cut just above the stigma
for each flower on the spikes. Time is saved by removing the three anther on each at the same time. The
floret is pinched slightly to open with forceps the anthers are removed out the top. When cutting the glumes,

6
the cut is made half way to prevent damage of stigma when the cut is low or preventing the pollen to reach
the stigma if the cut is too high.

After emasculation, the spikes are identified by use of a tag on which it's indicated by use of a tag which
it's indicated by use of a pencil the initials of the person who did the emasculation, the date and name of
the female parent. The spike is then covered by use of a glycerine bag and depending on temperatures and
the humidity, it may be pollinated within two, three or four days at mid-morning. If wet and cold, the florets
develop slowly, so that pollination can be made tip to four days later. If it I warm and hot, it may be
necessary to pollinate after only two days.
Pollination
Pollen has to be found at just the correct stage on the female parent. There are three main systems used for
applying the pollen to the female parent. They are-
 Traditional system-one male anther/one female floret system.
 “Approach system” one male spike/one female spike system.
 "Go-Go" system-one male spike/one female spike system.
The last system is preferred method at NPBRC-Njoro. A suitable male spike about to shed pollen is chosen
for each female spike. The spike corresponding to each female parent is labelled using a tag. Once prepared,
the male spikes are staked in the ground exposed to air and sun. When the glumes of the other spikes are
cut, the anthers of the first spikes come out of the floret and are ready for pollination. Pollination is done
by first cutting off the top of the envelope on the female spike to prevent undesirable pollination by pollen
from surrounding plants. The envelop is then blown open and the male spike is placed carefully upside
down, into the envelope so that pollen falls inside and the spike is twisted back and forth (Go-Go).
This permits pollination even when the growth cycle is well advanced and large amounts of pollen from
good spikes may no longer be available. By use of this method, faster pollination and 95% successful
crosses are expected.
After pollination, the seed sets, matures and is harvested individually. The material harvested is F1
generation and is forwarded to the early generation's section

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Yield trials
Early generation
Early generation is determination of potentials of individual lines/population from the early stages of selfing
(self-pollination) through field evaluation, the objective is to estimate line generation is used to identify F2
plants with superior progenies from which F2 derived lines can be obtained. Field evaluation carried out
from f2 to f8 generations. Poor performing lines are discarded. The plants for F1 are determined the
objective of the breeder such as disease resistance, size of the ears of the wheat, number of tillers and early
maturity. The parents are then crossed and the f1 generation found. In F1, there is no selection because the
plants are homozygous hence referred to as pure lines or inbred lines, therefore the F1 are harvested and
planted as
F2 generation
Selection of desired traits is done and the selected plants are harvested individually from each population.
Selection index is attached to the required trait usually required to as scoring. Five plants are selected from
a row of line. The selected plants are harvested and then threshed. The seeds are advanced to F3 generation.
A same criterion is used to advance to F4.
F5 generation
Selection is done as described above but the harvesting is based on ten plants from selected
Row/lines. The seeds are harvested and advanced to F6 and from F6 to F7 and to F8. At F8, successive
lines are selected and bulked. They are then threshed and taken to PYT (Preliminary
Yield Trial). Duration of early generation takes about eight years but because of two seasons of planting it
takes about four years.
PYT (preliminary Yield Trial)
The sub-section deals with materials from the early generation and the materials are divided into two:-
 Local material: These are materials selected by breeders
 Introduction material: these are materials for international nurseries
How PYT is carried out
PYT is carried out in CRBD (Complete Randomized Block Design). Complete block design is experimental
arrangements in which each variety or line to be tested occurs in each block unit. This design has the
advantage of producing unbiased estimates of varieties, the plot is usually 1. 44 meters by 6 meters. After
the PYT, the materials can be promoted to NPT (National Performance Trial) NPT (National Performance
Trial)
This is done in all ecological zones where wheat is grown. Usually after the PYT the new release has to be
compared with other varieties. The existing varieties include Njoro BWI, Njoro BW2, Kenya Kulungu,
Tembo, Kongoni, Fahari, Nyangumi, Kudu, Leopard, popo, papa, Mbweha, Kwale, Mbega, Duma, Pasa,
Mbuni, Chiriku, Ngamia and Bounty.
Achievements
Up to 2002, the section had released 164 varieties of wheat, 12 varieties of barley, 2 varieties of
Triticale, 2 varieties of Durum.

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Wheat seed processing
The main objectives of wheat seed processing section is certification of seeds and variety maintenance it
undergoes several stages
 Ear to row the machine selects wheat heads and threshes them individually. KEPHIS selects 200
to 300 to be planted in rows and harvested individually.
 Row to plot: the best varieties are selected and planted by a machine (planter) Laboratory
dispensing is also done undergo varieties are bulk together
 Breeder's bulking involves seed maintenance. The seeds are planted in big fields whereby joint
observation i5 done by breeders and KEPHIS.
 Pre basic stage
 Basic stage
 Certified seed stage 1-4
Functions of KEPHIS
(Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service)
Inspection of machines in the industry.
Allow seed dispensing
Approve seeds to be released to farmers for planting
Approve label request
Cold room
The centre has one cold room in cereal breeding. Its main purpose is to conserve wheat germplasm at very
low temperature to avoid loss of genetic resources for future breeding. Therefore the centre acquires genetic
materials from various sources including donations and exchange. These wheat germplasm are analysed,
documented at the centre and later distributed to breeders. All genetic resources for wheat in Kenya are
conserved at the centre. However, some may be conserved at National Gene Bank of Kenya (NGBK) at

9
KALRO Muguga. The cold room is also used for fertigation purposes. This involves raising of wheat
seedlings in a cold room. This wheat called “winter wheat” is suitable for those countries experiencing
winter conditions.

Wheat is therefore subjected to very low temperatures of up to -20°C. This slows down the growth. The
seedlings are kept in a cold room as soon as they emerge at room temperature. They stay in the cold room
for two months and two weeks.
After this period these seedlings are planted to the field and carefully observed for diseases and for other
traits.
They are later screened for diseases and readings are recorded. It is important to note that this wheat is not
planted for harvesting of seeds.

10
OIL CROP BREEDING SECTION
Introduction
Oil crops are mainly grown for the oil content present in them oil crops have several uses:-
 Source of food for both humans
 Source of yields for livestock
 Medicinal value, for example Linseed
 Used as rotational crops which maintain soil fertility and control pests and diseases.
 They are used as bio-fuels
 They are used as raw materials for industries
 Improving the living standards of the farmers and creation of jobs in the rural sectors
Breeding Objectives

 For all oil crops that can be grown in Kenya, the breeders have the following objectives.
 Development of oil crops with high seed yield
 Development of oil seals with high protein and oil content.
 Oil crops that are resistant to pests and diseases
 Development of materials that is uniform in the maturity and height.
 Development of varieties resistant to abiotic stress such as heat and acidity.
Mandate for oil crop breeding
 Development of oil crop varieties (sunflower, soybean, rapeseeds and linseed) and their production
packages in the various Agro-Ecological zones.
 Co-ordinate research in oil crops in all KA R1 Centre.
Production Situation in Kenya
The production level of oil crops in Kenya is scattered among different areas hence marketing of the
products becomes very t. Local production of vegetable oil is low in the country hence the need for
importation. There is diverse climate in Kenya for production of the vegetable crops.
The consumption per capita of oil in Kenya is also below the recommended level. Kenya has continued to
import voluminous quantities of vegetable oil and fats despite the good climatic and edaphic conditions for
their production in the country. Presently about 380, 000 metric tons are consumed annually. According to
WHO the average consumption per capita/minimum requirement is13.5 litters per person annually. This
necessitates on importation, consequently draining the needed foreign exchange to the tune of about 11. 1
billion Kenya shillings annually. Since the country has the potential, there is need to do oil crops breeding.
Limitations of oil crop production in Kenya:-
 Poor pricing for the commodity:-the price of oil crops has been very low compared to other crops
such as wheat and maize, thus very few farmers are willing to plant the crop.
 Inappropriate production technology:-the production technology of the crops is not clear.
Very few people know how to extract oil from the crop.
 Poor infrastructure:-The country lacks good infrastructure to encourage investors in oil crops to
come to the country. Also make it difficult to market their crops.
 Lack of credit facilities:-For farmers lack credit facilities to start oil crop farming
 Poor policies on the oil crops:-Poor government policies on the oil crops especially on imports have
paralyzed the industry

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Identification of oil Crops
Oil crops grown at Kenya are:-
Common name Scientific name Family

Sunflower Helianthes annus Compositae

Soya beans Glycine max Regomeciale/flarasie

Rape seed Brassica hapes Brasicae crussiferae

Safflower Carthamus tincforiess Veronica galmonis

Coconut Cocus crocifera Palmae

Pea nutt Archis hypogeal Legends

Cotton Cocus crocifera Maspabae

Simsim Sesame indicum Pedaliaeceae

Oil palm Claeis gunienis Palmae

Corn Zea mays Graminae

Jojoba Simondrasra clammuinus Jartropha curcus

Caster seed Precillious commmunis Forbiacice

Muster seed Bracissa guncea Crussiferae

Soya beans
Introduction
The soya bean is presently the world's most important grain legume in terms of total production and
international trade. Soya beans is of high nutrition value. It contains approximately 40% protein, 2o. 6 fat
and 2o% carbohydrates. It is also rich in most of the essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. This
composition makes the soybean the most nutritious grain legumes crop in the world. It is used together with
the cereals in the preparation of high quality, protein- rich and well balanced human foods and livestock.

12
Breeding of Soya beans.
The major breeding work in soya beans was carried with sponsorship from the German Technical co-
operation. During that period of the project (1993-1998) new introductions were brought in from other
tropical countries such as Nigeria, Brazil, and Zambia and were evaluated in various Agro-ecological zones.
Those that showed superiority in terms of yield and resistance to diseases such as soybean Mosaic virus
and rust were recommended for those particular areas. Varieties that were being grown prior to the new
introductions were used as checks. Currently, new lines are being evaluated and the seeds for the previously
released varieties are importance of the crop as a source of proteins. The new soybean varieties yield more
than twice as much as the old ones.
Outputs
Recommendations on adapted soya bean varieties for specific agro-ecological zones of the country.
The germplasm is usually obtained from outside the country. When it arrives the germplasm is first planted
under quarantine for screening (usually one year).
1. Introduction to germplasm
The germplasm is usually obtained from outside the country. When it arrives at the centre it is planted under
quarantine for screening (usually once a year).
2. Screening and Selection
After the sunflower has passed the quarantine, it passes now to the screening and selection.
The crop will take some time being screened and selected. Screening involves:-
 Screening of diseases
 Performance t i.e. Yield
 Height and stem (should only have one stem)
 Adaptiveness of the crop
From here, the crop will proceed to either the crossing block to be used on crossing variety or to the PYT.
3. Crossing
Crossing leads to hybrid lines. It involves use of emasculation (removal of anthers and introduction of
pollen on the stigma) then the crop is covered to avoid pollen from other plants.
4. PYT (preliminary Yield Trial)
The yield is assessed and compared to other existing varieties and it takes about one year to assess the crop.
5. NPT (National Performance Trial)
At this point, the variety will be taken to various locations where the sunflower can be grown.
The performance of the variety checked and compared to existing variety (check variety) If the data
collected proves to be good, then the variety will proceed to next stage and if poor, it will be discarded.
6 Seed Increase
At this stage also the naming of the seed takes place. Naming of sunflower involves use of animal names
and recognition of origin of the variety, Kenya varieties have Kenya at the beginning but those from outside
don't have the word e. g. Kenya Fedha.

13
7. Seed release
Seeds will be sold to seed merchant e. g. Kenya seed that will increase the seed and sell to the farmers. The
hybrid seeds are produced through CMS (Cytoplasmic Male Sterile)
C. M. S
In this system, plants with a particular cytoplasm and lacking nuclear fertile genes are male sterile but will
produce progeny if pollinated by male fertile plants. However, nearly all the progeny will be male sterile
because they contain the material cytoplasm which happens to have male sterility factors.
The company will combine the three to come up with hybrid lines that it will sell to the farmers.
Breeding Terminologies
There are several breeding terminologies that plant breeders use
 Plant breeding
 Domestication
 Quality
 Selection
 Heritability
 Heterosis
 Hybrid
 Inbreeding
 Inbreeding depression
 Yield
 Biomass
 Protandry
 progeny
 Autogamy
 Hetero
 Rogueing
 vivipary
 Emasculation.
 Clone
 species
 Genome
 Seed
 True seed
 Germplasm
Breeding Methodology
The breeding methodology employed depends on whether the oil crop is self-pollinated or cross-pollinated.
For cross-pollinated crops, the following methods are applicable
 Mass selection
 Back cross
 Hybridisation
 Synthetics
 Recurrent selection.

14
Breeding program for oil crop s
There are a number of breeding programs that breeders use:
 Germplasm conservation and maintenance: in this programme In-situ and exsitu methods are used.
 Crop improvement: the programme involves selection and different varieties of oil crops are
crossed to obtain improved varieties.
 Seed production: this programme involves seed certification and bulking
 Technology dissemination: result are carried out, extension methods, through farm demonstration
and agricultural shows.
Breeding of oil crops at the centre

Sunflower breeding

Lin seed

15
 Oil palm tree

Breeding Methods
There are two main methods of breeding oil crops
 Conventional breeding: it involves selection and natural hybridization
 Non-conventional breeding: it involves molecular breeding Le, Genetically Modification of
Organism.
Sunflower Breeding
There are two types of varieties developed in sunflower, namely.-
 Open Pollinated Varieties
 Hybrids.
Open pollinated varieties: a number of lines or varieties are allowed to inter-pollinate freely and the result
material is planted. Selection is crossed out depending on the breeding objectives and the materials that
show superiority are isolated and evaluated over several generations. The superior material is maintained
as open pollinated varieties.
Varieties such as Kenya Shaba and Kaya Fedha were developed this way.
Hybrid production: Hybrids are produced as a result of controlled pollination between two or more
developed lines in sunflower, There are different systems of pollination control in plants which include
 Dioecism-In which the female and male parts are separated in a single plant for instance pawpaw.
 Protogamy -System in which the female part matures before the male part and hence the seeds are
formed from different females.
 Protandry-system which male part matures earlier than female part.
 Incompatibility- system in which pollen from the same plant is not compatible with the stigma of
the same plant.

16
  Male sterility- system in which only the female matures and produces pollen. The genes controlling
the sterility are found in the cytoplasm rather than the nucleus hence the term cytoplasmic male
sterility (CMS)
In sunflower hybridisation, the cytoplasmic male sterility (CMC) system is applied. The CMC was
discovered in 1969 and thus before 197o all varieties were open pollinated varieties. In the cytoplasmic
male sterility, three lines are developed which are-
 A line-Male sterile line
 B Line-Maintainer of A
 R Line-Restorer of sterility in a line
To develop a hybrid, A-line is crossed with an R-Line to form a single cross hybrid
A-line X R-line = F1 a hybrid
The hybrid so formed undergoes the various stages of evaluation as described in cereal breeding.
The table below shows characteristics of the recommended sunflower varieties.
Importance of Breeding
 Ensure genetic purity
 Ensure availability information on released varieties.
 Ensure availability of clean planting materials
 Evolvement of superior varieties.
 Ensure development of propagation procedures
 Ensures protection of breeders rights
 Provide records of origin of germplasm
Oil Extraction
There are five ways in which oil can be extracted from the oilseeds. They are:-
Industrial technology-oilseeds are rolled between mills and the flakes so produced dissolved in a solvent
that extracts the oil.
Intermediate (expellers) technology-the oilseeds are continuously fed, cooked, crushed and pressed to expel
oil as it passes through the machine.
Oil plate presses: the oil seed are pressed slowly and the materials forced down into a cylinder with a larger
number of small holes from which oil is expelled.
Indigenous oil expression method-The oilseeds are ground manually to obtain a paste that is heated,
Ram presses. The ram press is a manually operated mechanical press capable of pressing range of oilseeds.
The ram-press works by applying pressure on seed inside a cylinder and cage by means of a piston. Under
pressure, the past a restrictor. The ram-press is the method of oil extraction being promoted by the oil seeds
section to the farmers in their mandate region especially so in Lare and Laikipia. The ram-press is portable,
manually operated and requires minimal maintenance. As the farmers learn to extract oil for their domestic
use so will be the increase in extracted using a ram-press.

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 Oil crop value chain

Extension
workers

Research Seed
stations growers

Consumers

Agro vets

Retailers

Whole sellers farmers

Millers Middlemen

Transporters

Visit to the Farm

We were taught how to carry out field layout for randomization and replication. Other
Practical’s involved
 Plant identification
 Emasculation Process
 Rogueing
 Selection
 Experimental planting kit preparation

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 In the field notes have to be recorded Examples of field notes scored are
 Plot area
 Species
 Variety
 Budding date
 Date of planting
 Date of emergence
 Seed rate
 Elongation date
 Plot weight
 Pests
 Diseases and susceptibility
 Maturity indexing
Planometric Map
This is a map showing over ground and underground features in a farm propagation area. The main aim is
to allow for continuity. KALRO as an institution has a planometric map.
Considerations When Designing a Planometric Map:
 Define the site using GPS co-ordinates
 Show acreage of the farm border
 Extent of mechanisation
 Extent of infrastructure e.g. watering points
 Adequate storerooms
 Should have a parking area which should be spacious enough
 Large roads to allow movement of vehicles to allow overtaking
 Changing room for storing farm gear i.e. Gumboots
 Shelter structures.
 Wind breaks e. g Tress [o prevent soil erosion
A sample of a planometric map

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 REP 1

Walking
path

3 7 4 6 1 5 2 REP 2

7 6 5 3 4 2 1 REP 3

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Above is a sample of a right angle and a randomised planometric map with 7 varieties in three replications.
Every variety is planted three times but only once in a single replicate. A single replicate has seven plots,
these plots should have a uniform slope and edaphic factors.
Seed Production
A seed is any part of a plant that can be propagated
True seeds: is the entity of the plant used for fertilization.
Seeds carry the gene potential limit of a variety of crop. Breeders carry out seed certification which basically
regulating seed production turned to the growers and distributed to the market.
Systems of Seed Production
There are two systems used in seed production:
 Formal seed system: it caters for 20% of the seed needs in the country
 Informal seed system: it caters for 63% of the seed needs.
Classes of Seeds
 Breeder's seeds: these are seeds under supervision of the breeder.
 Registered seeds: these are seeds that have been approved by certifying agents (KEPHIS)
 Foundation seed: they are registered seeds by breeders used for production of certified seeds
 Certified seeds: these are breeders, registered, foundation seeds that are given to farmers
 Pre basic seeds.
Qualities considered
Phytosanitary qualities: absence of diseases. Specialised equipment's are used to check for inoculants
Genetic qualities: non-sprouting, yield and uniformity
Physiological qualities: they should be well formed
Analytical quality: presence/absence of inert matter.
Seed Certifying Agencies
Seed certifying agencies check for the following
 Distinctiveness
 Uniformity
 Stability
 Purity
 Quality

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Example of seed certifying agent is KEPHIS.-(Kenya plant Health Inspectorate service.)
Plant Description scored by agencies
 Seed size- small medium or large
 Seed colour
 Head, neck and shape
 Hilum colour
 Number of seeds per plant
 Degree of lodging
 Number of tillers
 Growth habit
 Presence of awns e.g. wheat
 Plant height
 Leaf shape
 Maturity
 Presence/absence of pappus
 Protein and oil content
 Disease prevalence
 Yield per plant
 Shattering e.g. soya beans
 Spineless.
We also carried out threshing and seed selection of various oil crops I. e. soya bean, sunflower and linseed.

21
SOIL AND CROP MANAGEMENT SECTION
Introduction
This section deals with both cereal crops and oil crops. Cereals include- maize wheat and barley, Oil crops
include:-sunflower, soybeans and rapeseeds. The two types of crops are for national mandate and regional
mandate. For efficient running of the section, it is divided into four subsections:-Cereal crops, oil crops,
soil chemistry and weed control.
Cereal crops
The section works hand in hand with cereal breeding section. All the cereal crops grown in the region are
evaluated in the section. Usually adaptive research (research which involves farmers directly e. g. The
research officer's plant crops on farmers farms) is carried out. This helps to show the farmers what exactly
takes place and in this adaptive research, the section works with extension officers.
Objectives of adaptive research
 Reduce the input cost-because of increase in price of fertilizers, farmers can use manure so long as
it brings the some results
 To establish the combination ratio of fertilizer and manure.
 Method of fertilizer or manure application
The chain of communication in adaptive research is as shown below

Reserch station

Extension services

Farmers

The communication is two way in that new innovations from research centres are relayed to farmers by
extension officers. The feedback from the farmer are sent back to research station by extension officers for
further research.
Wheat Agronomy
The following activities are carried out on wheat production:-land preparation. Seeding and seed rate, weed
control and fertilizer use efficiency.
A. Land preparation
The section divides the land into two for different treatments:
 New land/virgin land: · Usually which has not been utilized for four years.
 Old land/stubble land

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 B. Seedling and seed rate
The seeds are either drilled or broadcasted as the method of seeding. Drilling is by a planter machine while
broadcasting is by scattering seeds all over by use of hands and is mostly used by small-scale farmers.
Seed rate varies from one variety to another. The determinant of seed rate is;-
 Ability to tiller whereby more tillers need less seed rate and fewer tillers need more seed rate.
 Fertility of the soil.
C. Weed control
Weed control in wheat is mainly by chemical methods, various companies bring their herbicides, which are
screened in the section. After screening the section findings will be channelled to the farmers basing on the
following:-
 Efficiency of the herbicides
 Application rate
 The crops suitable for each herbicide

D. Fertilizer
The section looks at the fertilizer use efficiency. They carry out research on methods of fertilizer application
on wheat farms, application rate of different fertilizers and comparative research on fertilizer I. e. The rate
of fertilizer recommendation on new land is different to that of old land.
Oil-crop Agronomy
The same procedure followed in cereal agronomy takes place in oil crop agronomy. Aspects undertaken
include:-
 Tillage
 Cropping system
 Fertilizer application
 Seed rate
 Weed control
 Taking plant population.
Crops dealt with include:-sunflower, rapeseeds and soybeans but the main focus is on soya beans. The soya
bean research is sponsored by GTTZ a non-governmental organization from Germany.
Soil concervation
Soil conservation refers to a set of management strategies for the prevention of soil being eroded from the
Earth’s surface or becoming chemically altered by overuse, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil
contamination. Soil conservation is therefore &a combination of all management and land use methods that
safeguard the soil against depletion or deterioration by natural or by human-induced factors”.

Importance of soil conservation

Food security is inextricably linked to the maintenance of productive and healthy agricultural soils. When
soils become degraded, and as crop yields decline, farmers get caught up in a vicious cycle of poverty and
food insecurity. It is possible to intensify agricultural production and therefore improve food security and
still maintain the productivity of soils indefinitely.

23
Soil conservation measures at KALRO Njoro
Minimum tillage
It is a system of soil tillage with minimum soil disturbance. The overall goals of minimum tillage or
conservation tillage are to reduce cost of crop production and soil erosion, and increase soil moisture
content.
Specific objectives are:
 To reduce mechanical/ chemical energy and labor requirements on the farm by reducing the number
of soil manipulations. This implies saving on variable cost for machinery use.
 To conserve soil moisture by reducing the number of soil turning. This implies less exposure of
soil moisture for evaporation.
 To leave as much of plant residue on the surface of the soil. This will reduce evaporation from the
soil and also reduce both rainwater and wind erosions.
 To perform only the necessary operations to put seeds or plant materials into the soil.
 To reduce soil erosion by increasing infiltration rate, covering the soil surface with plant residue.
Crop rotations
The rotation of crops is not only necessary to offer a diverse &diet& to the soil micro-organisms, but as
they root at different soil depths, they are capable of exploring different soil layers for nutrients.
Mulching
Mulch farming is a system of maintaining a protective cover of vegetative residues such as straw, maize
stalks, palm fronds and stubbles on the soil surface at all times. The beneficial effects of mulching include:
 Protection of the soil surface against raindrop impact,
 Decrease in runoff flow velocity by imparting roughness to the soil surface
 Improved soil infiltration capacity hence reduced runoff
 Enhanced burrowing activity of some species of earthworms which improves transmission of water
through the soil profile hence reducing surface crusting and runoff and improving soil moisture
storage in the root zone.

Direct seeding or planting

Direct seeding involves growing crops without mechanical seedbed preparation and with minimal soil
disturbance since the harvest of the previous crop. Ideally the seed slot is completely covered by mulch
again after seeding and no loose soil should be visible on the surface.
This strategy is used in conservation agriculture field (11) where Hand seeders are used to Plant Maize.
Diversion Ditches

These are structures constructed upslope of the area where protection is required for the purpose of
intercepting runoff and diverting it safely from the cultivated land.

24
Despite that most farms at KALRO Njoro have a gentle slope, soil erosion occurs up slopes hence some
diversion ditches are constructed.
Soil Chemistry
This subsection deals with analysing the soil. It has a laboratory equipped with equipment's for analysing
the soil (agronomy laboratory), Aspects tested include soil pH and soil fertility,
This section facilitates various research e. g. Soil in Uasin-Gishu are acidic, therefore cereal breeders have
started out a programme of breeding wheat for acidic soil. This will save the farmers the cost of timing the
soil before planting. Also, it has been found out that Nakuru, Nyandarua and Narok districts lack copper
(cu) in the soil hence they need copper when planting wheat.
Weed Control Section
A weed is any plant whose economic disadvantage overweighs its economic importance and grows in an
unwanted place. The control of weeds entails:-
 Preventing the introduction on the farm, field or location of weeds that are hitherto absent.
 Preventing the multiplication and spread of weeds from one field to another, farm or location
The suppression of weeds existing on a farm, field or location by a combination of other crop I. e.
intercropping, animal and land management.
Prevention can be done in the following ways:-
 Early seedbed preparation-this prevents weeds from setting seeds resulting in a steady and
progressive reduction in weed infestation level
 Use of good quality seed-seed free from weed seeds
 Observe cleanness-Use of clean machinery, ploughs, harrows, planters to prevent multiplication
and spread of weeds.
 Use of suitable rotation system
 Prevent animals from grazing in fields or locations infested with weeds
Safety precaution
The section looks at the phytotoxicity of the herbicide. Different crops are tested on to find how safe the
herbicide is on the crops. Most farmers are advised to avoid breathing dust and spilling any liquid material
on the skin or clothing and to wash thoroughly with water and soap after spraying.

25
HORTICULTURE
Horticulture has been defined as the culture of plants, mainly for food, materials, comfort and beauty.
According to an American horticulture scholar, “Horticulture is the growing of flowers, fruits and
vegetables, and of plants for ornament and fancy. A more precise definition can be given as the cultivation,
processing, and sale of fruits, nuts, vegetables, and ornamental plants as well as many additional services.
It also includes plant conservation, landscape restoration, soil management, landscape and garden design,
construction and maintenance, and arboriculture. In contrast to agriculture, horticulture does not include e-
scale crop production or animal husbandry

The attaches were introduced to the department, and various enterprises within the hot cultural farm.
Horticulturalist apply knowledge, skills and technologies to grow intensively produced plants for human
and non-food used for personal and social needs. At FCRC-Njoro the following enterprises were
established: - avocado, tomatoes, oranges, spinach, carrots, kales, cabbages, tomatoes and trees (eucalyptus,
greveria, pines and casuarina)
All crops were grown in the field except tomatoes which was established in a green house. The green house
was used to modify the conditions suitable for tomato production because of it reduces challenges faced
during production for instance: pests, diseases and other agronomic management.
Avocado
There were two commercial varieties which are grafted at the centre: hass and fuerte. These two are also
planted at KLRO- Njoro. The fruits are sold to local market but some are sold to exporters. The dominating
company in export is Kakuzi which sales the fruits to Europe as the major consumer and other countries.
Planning of avocado is done by digging a hole that measures 2 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet with a spacing of 8
meters by 7 meters.

Preparation of planting holes for hass and fuerete avocados.

When digging the holes top soil is separated from subsoil. Top soil is them mixed thoroughly with mavuno
fertilizer (high in nitrogen and phosphorus) and farm yard manure. Polythene sleeve containing avocado
seedlings is cut using a scalpel, carefully not to destroy the soil around the roots.
After planting the following nutritional program should be followed for good husbandry to attain best yield.

26
Tree age CAN(g/tree) TSP/MOP(g/tree) Manure kg/ tree

1-3 120 120 15

4-5 220 450 15

6-7 450 650 30

8-10 650 650 30

Over 10 1000 1000 45

The pests that attack avocado include: trips, coconut scales,

Mites, false codling moth and melly bugs while the diseases are: root rot and antracriorse.
Grafting
The centre grafts hass and fuerete varieties which are later distributed to farmers. To graft, obtain a suitable
rootstock that is compatible with your scion. Make a V-shape cut on your root stock and the scion should
be cut in a manner that it will fit the rootstock. Dip the scion in the rooting media and tie it tightly on to the
rootstock using a polythene paper. Finally, cover it with a polythene to increase temperature to increase
chances of success.

Pictures above are showing grafted seedlings and avocado tree at bearing stage.
The coast of one seedling is 200 shillings at KALRO Njoro, however they are at times not available due to
their high demand.

27
Cabbages
Establishment of cabbages in a nursery
Cabbages should be established in nursery bed before transplanting them after that is approximately one
month {when about 15 centimetres tall or pencil thickness} to the seedling bed
Transplanting
Transplanting was done after one month from nursery bed to seedbed. Lifting of seeds from nursery was
carried out when the soil is moist but if the soil is not moist watering of seedlings is done mostly 2-3 hours
before the practice. Transplanting is done early in mornings to avoid high evapotranspiration which could
have caused drying of seedlings.
Planting
A handful amount of well decomposed manure was applied to planting holes, mixed well with soil.
Seedlings were placed inside the holes {each hole for one seedling}. Soil was firmed around the seedlings
which were elect to a depth that the soil reached at the nursery. Care was done to ensure no leaves were
torching the soil to avoid diseases development {soil- borne diseases}.
Pests
Diamondback moth: this was common in all plots characterized by presence of windowing of the leaves. It
had affected a few crops in the farm hence no need to use chemicals. In this case organic methods like
frequent irrigation of the farm were used as a method to manage the pest.
Eggplant

The name “eggplant” is derived from the shape of the fruit of some varieties, which are white and shaped
similarly to chicken eggs. The eggplant is nutritious, low in calories, fat, sodium and is a non- starchy fruit
that is cooked as a vegetable.

It contains a large volume of water. It is also good in balancing diets that are heavy in protein and starches.
The egg- plant is also high in fibre and provides additional nutrients such as potassium, folic acid,
magnesium, vitamin B6 and vitamin A.

Planting:

Spacing: In-row spacing of egg- plant is 30cm - 60cm. crop can be grown using a row width depending on
the space needed by harvest workers. Although at KALRO Njoro a spacing of 55 cm was used between one
plant to the other within a single row.

Fertilizer application:

The nitro- gen (N) requirement for eggplant is approximately 168kg - 224kg/ ha. Organic fertilizers such
as tithonia teas can be prepared and sprayed regularly to meet the high nitrogen requirement of this crop.

Eggplant also requires adequate amounts of phosphorus (90-134kg/ha) and potassium (22kg-45kg/ha)
which can be obtained from organic sources such as tithonia or commercial organic fertilizers available in
agro-veterinary shops.

28
Organic fertilizers can be applied each week for the period of vegetative growth. At early flowering, 7kg -
11kg of nitrogen is applied each week. During fruit enlargement, 5kg - 7kg of nitrogen is applied each
week.

Wilt:

Affects the vascular system of a plant and results in stunted plant growth, yellow discolouration and
eventually defoliation of the lower foliage and plant death. This fungus is favoured in temperatures of
between 13°C and 30°C. Currently, there are no eggplant varieties available that are resistant to these soil-
borne fungi.

Harvesting

Harvesting of eggplant usually starts from 75 to 90 days after transplanting or 15 to 35 days after flowering
expansion. Fruit is harvested when it reaches market size, and the skin is glossy but, before seeds begin to
enlarge significantly and mature. Varieties with elongated fruit take more time to ripen. Over-mature egg-
plants become pithy and bitter. Fruit should be removed often to encourage continued fruit set. At market
maturity, the fruit stem hardens and a sharp knife is needed to cut fruit from plants.

29
SOCIAL ECONOMICS
Socio-economics cuts across all research programs at KALRO, It contributes to the propensity of adoption
of agricultural technologies and at the same time assesses the impact of the technologies on the welfare of
farming communities and Kenyan economy. To accomplish this, the section works with other sections at
KALRO Njoro, KALRO centres, and institutions or organizations that share common interest.
Objectives
 Determine the need for and conduct socio economic based research projects in reference to the
mandate areas and other areas as need may arise.
 Provide information for fine tuning biophysical research, making outputs from research more
applicable at farmers’ field.
 Provide socio economic input as an integral part to other research programs / projects within the
research centre.
Biometrics
This is support service on designs and analysis of experiments, the activities are to ensure that:-Statistically
sound research proposals are developed. Statistically sound reports are produced. Appropriate statistical
methods in design and data analysis and experiments for use in KALRO are improved. Appropriate data
collection, implementation methods are used.
Interpretation of statistical analysis is done.
In general the biometrics section offers consultation services for designing, analysis of experiments and
interpretation of data.
ATIRI programme
The objective is to catalyse the process of outreach, dissemination and adoption of agriculture technologies.
ATIRI activities are designed to contribute towards their objectives by improving the farmers ‘abilities to
make demands on agricultural services providers and enhancing the effectiveness of intermediary
organizations and [farmers groups in meeting their clients ‘knowledge needs. KALRO has made formal co-
operative arrangements

30
LIBRARY
Introduction
An effective information service has a great potential. The limits of agricultural information have largely
been due to prohibitive coast of obtaining published materials and accessing information. As a result,
scientists have not been able to keep abreast with the latest agricultural research findings and development.
However, in spite of the fact that information is expensive, it must be remembered that information is
power.
Services offered at library
The library at KALRO offers the following services:-
 Borrowing of reading materials
 Reference services
 CD-ROM Services.
 Local Database Services
Kenya Agricultural Research Database (KARD)
RARD was established in 1992 and has the following objectives:-
 Provide essential background information to researchers.
 Help eliminate the duplications of research that has already been done.
 Assist in the setting of research priorities by constant evaluation of the achievements and gaps in
completed research.
 Make research done by KARI staff more cost effective.
Scope of KARD
KARD is limited to the literature that relates to Kenya Materials on the database are drawn from the
following:-
 National and international journals.
 Research station reports and bulletins.
 Ministry of agriculture and rural development studies.
 University thesis and dissertations.
 University reports.
 Studies conducted by commercial organisation.
 East African community reports.
 International Agency reports.
 Survey studies.
Internet Database services
The internet is the world's largest computer network and information resource, also described as the
information highway. The information highway is a huge and dynamic encyclopaedia of information which
is updated constantly. The services are available are:-
 Electronic mail-E-mail
 Mailing distribution list
 Conference and news group
 File transfer
 Online access (Gopher, Mosaic etc.)

31
  Remote log in (Telnet)
Future plans
The library section plans to do the following to help the researchers and other users to progress.
 Update literature in the library with more recent publication
 Continue providing agricultural information services which will link KALRO to other KALRO
centres and to the rest of the world via Fido net and internet.
 Organise training courses/seminars to teach researchers how to carry out searches on the CD
 ROMS, surfing the WEB, and local database like KARD.
 Form a selected dissemination of information (SDI) services
 Create a National Plant Breeding Database.

32
ENTOMOLOGY SECTION
Introduction
Entomology is the study of insects which have both negative and positive effects to human life. The role of
beneficial insects are pollinators and those that provide medicine to treat human diseases. Those that have
harmful effects are mostly caused by insect pest that cause destruction to crops.
The section has the regional responsibility of providing services on storage and field pests of all crops
grown in the region. The section also covers the national mandate where wheat and barley are grown. In
the laboratory, trials on biological studies such as life cycles of insect are carried out.
Field pests.
Crops are attacked by a large number of insect pests some of which inflict severe damage while damage by
others is not noticeable. Others may not cause appreciable damage on the plant through direct feeding but
may be vectors of diseases which may become a bigger problem. Five species of wheat aphids are vectors
of the Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus disease (BYDV). The aphids are:-
1. Green bug-(Schizaphis graminum)
2. Rose grain aphid-(Mctopolophitum dirhodum)
3. Grain aphid-(Sitobion avenae)
4. Bird Cherry aphid-(Rhopalosiphum padi)
5. Cereal leaf aphid-(Rhopalosiphum maidis)
Aphids suck plant juice and deny the plant nutrients and produce moulds that reduce photosynthetic area.
The Russian wheat aphid (RWA) was first detected in 1995. Unlike other aphids it produces toxins that
cause the leaf to roll and hence feeds inside the rolled leaf. In this locality it cannot easily be affected by
contact insecticides and becomes difficult to control.
Current Research Control
1. Aspects of wheat resistance of the Russian wheat aphid (RWA).
2. Biology and Ecology of RWA.
3. Management of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus by screening of seed dress chemicals to protect the crop for
at least 6 weeks.
4. Resistance of Kale varieties to aphids.
Grain Storage Pests.
Stored produce is attacked by insects and rodents from harvesting time up to the time it's consumed. To
reduce the risks of heavy post-harvest crop losses, timely crop protection measures are necessary. To keep
store clean from pests as a safety precaution the following basic principles are recommended.
 Cleaning the store and surrounding areas several weeks before harvest.
 Ensuring proper W8 of the crop before storing.
 Carry out all necessary insecticidal treatments.

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Integrated Pest Management
Integrated pest management is an inter-institutional and multidisciplinary approach of pest control that is
developed to keep the population of potential pests below damage threshold or economic levels. It employs
several methods of control which are:-
 Cultural methods
 Physical control
 Chemical Control
 Biological control
 Legislative control
 Host plant resistance
The method is advocated for to reduce reliance on chemical control in which pests develop resistance and
is also not environmental friendly.
Monitoring and Forecasting
Sanction Trap: the sanction trap is an instrument that is used to collect insects that fly over the trap. The
insects that fly over it are sucked in and collect over water. The insects are collected on a daily basis and
taken to the laboratory for identification when an outbreak is expected.
Light trap: - the light trap is useful during the night. Insects are attracted by the bright light and collect in a
bowl with an insecticide that immobilises the trapped insects. The insects are collected every morning,
sorted and recorded.
At KALRO Njoro entomology section is mostly focused with fall armyworm which was reported in the
country in March 2017, on off-season and irrigated maize. Fall armyworm caused almost total loss in some
counties. It was first reported at Tranz zoia, Western Kenya and Bomet before spreading to other parts.
Fall armyworm (FAW) is an insect pests with moth as the adult stage and larvae (caterpillars) as its
destructive stage. To manage this pest is hard because it has four stages in its life cycle. This means that
integrated pest management approach is necessary by using of both organic and inorganic methods.
Inorganic method involves use of chemicals, however there is no chemical registered against this pest by
PCPB (Pest Control Products Board). At KALRO Njoro a chemical insecticide research is ongoing. The
research will take three years to test different chemicals, from 2018 to 2020.
To set up the trial for testing various chemicals claimed to manage this pest were randomised in three
replicates. To achieve the required farm ester tics, minimise land wastage and ensure that every block within
a single replicate is uniform a right angle is necessary. Right angle is drawn using a tape measure to ensure
that replicate’s length and width are straight. This also ensures that walking paths are straight.

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Randomization of chemicals in FAW 2019 trials.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
REP 1
Path
8 4 12 5 7 13 3 6 10 14 9 11 2 1
REP 2

11 9 2 10 14 8 1 7 5 4 12 3 13 6
REP 3
Entry no Treatment Application rate/ha Application rate in
SL of H2O

1 Belt 48SC 200ML 5 ML

2 Coragen 20SC 150ML 6.7

3 Ment 150EC 300ML 5ML

4 Volian targo 063SC 0.5L 6.5ML

5 Match 050 EC 250ML 2.5ML

6 Proven 10.8EC 400ML 6.5ML

7 Prov 1.9EC 0.46Lts 2.5ML

8 Radiant 250ML 5ML

9 Marshal 250EC 1.5Lts 4ML

10 Dudutrin 1.75EC 0.5Lts 1.5ML

11 Pyrinex quick 265C 2Lts 12.5ML

12 Beariria basiana 400 ML 10ML

13 Bacillus thurigensis 2 Lts 50 ML

14 Control ____________ ___________

The chemicals were randomised using their entry numbers in the three replicates.

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FARM SECTION
Objectives
Farm section is a support section to research activities through:-
 Facilitating land for research work.
 Providing plant and machinery.
 Provide transport.
 Land preparation.
 Maintain the grounds.
It has an eight-year rotational programme.
 1st year wheat
 2nd year oil crop
 3rd year Agronomy
 4th year commercial crops.
 5th_8" year grass.
Livestock programme
Introduction
KALRO Njoro over a period of time has been dwelling entirely with crop research, yet Njoro region is a
livestock area. The most important species in order of importance are dairy cattle, poultry, sheep and goats
and donkeys.
Farmers have been demanding livestock technologies from KALRO Njoro. Animal nutrition has been of
great concern in the region. On farm high yielding forages have been established to address feed
Objectives
 Develop high yielding forage varieties.
 Develop drought resistant forages.
 Demonstrate use of crop residues and Agro-industrial by-products as a dry season feed.
The section screens herbicides for their efficiency and carry and their effects on the crop
Management
The profitability of milk as of any other enterprise depends on good management. This involves the
identification of animals-a detailed up-to-date knowledge of what is happening in the business.
 Identification
 Grouping of Cows
 Records.
o Herd records.
o Health records.
o V Breeding records.
o Milk records.
o Calving records.
o

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Farm machinery
In farm section there are various machinery that helps in farm operations at KALRO Njoro especially in
wheat that is under observation trials. Tillage implements prepare the soil for planting by loosening the soil
and killing weeds or competing plants. These are used during primary, secondary tillage and tertiary tillage
to achieve the best required soil tilth by the crops. However in conservation agriculture they are not used
as soil conservation is crucial.
At planting time seeders are used to sow, the most common seeders are called planters. Planting implements
are classified according to the way they place the seeds into the soil namely; broadcasting, drilling or
precision planting.
They are calibrated to sow different seeds and spaces seeds out equally in long rows, which are usually two
to three feet apart. Some crops are planted by drills, which put out much more seed in rows less than a foot
apart, blanketing the field with crops.
Functions of a Planter
Whichever the planting method, planting involves the following process:
o Opening of a hole/furrow of proper depth
o Metering of seed deposited in a hole/furrow
o Covering of the seed with required layer of soil and
o Compacting of the soil around the seed
Seed drilling implements
Drills - are implements used to plant crops in closely spaced rows (typically four to ten inches) with no
control of seed to seeds spacing, i.e. grains are dropped continuously in small quantities from metering unit
to the furrow. Drills are commonly used to plant cereal crops such as wheat, soybeans, peas etc. they are
equipped with disks to open small trench in the soil, a metering system to deliver measured, amount of
seeds, drop tubes which guide the seed from metering device to the seed trench; and some means (wheels
or drag chains) for gently closing and pressing the trench to cover the seeds.
After planting, other implements can be used to carry out field management practices. Hay balers can be
used to tightly package grass or wheat for dairy cows at the center.
Modern agriculture relies on machinery and therefore KALRO Njoro is determined to adopt and adapt
modern farming machinery that are necessary for food crop production.
JAP hand seeder
It is a manual planting tool of advanced technology. It is used both in conventional and conservation
agriculture. In conservation agriculture, it will plant in field with trash and with
minimum soil disturbance. It is a single shot machine powered by hand.
It consists of handles which are about 85cm long, one side of the handle has a seed
hopper with a metering device while the other handle has fertilizer hopper with a
metering device.
It has a leverage system for operating the metering devices. It has the delivery tubes
below the metering devices for conveying seeds or fertilizer to the furrow bottom.
It has a beak for opening the soil and allow for deposition of the seeds and fertilizer
at the holes. When the beak is withdrawn from the soil, the soil fills back into the hole
and the person presses the soil by stepping on the hole as he/she walks.

Pests and diseases control

Back-pack (knapsack) sprayers
Hand operated sprayers are used small scale farms to apply small quantities of pesticides in outdoors. It
has an air pump which compresses air into the tanks and pressurizes the spray mixture. The pressure slowly

37
drops as the liquid is sprayed. When the pressure gets too low, the nozzle spray pattern is poor. You must
stop spraying and pump to rebuild the pressure or operate a lever continuously to maintain the pressure.
These sprayers operate at low pressures and have small tanks of between 10 to 20 liters.
Motorized sprayers Motor powered sprayers offer many advantages over hand operated sprayers. Powered
sprayers can provide high pressure sprays and keep the mixture well drive agitated, fans or air blast
spraying, and transporting large volumes of spray mix, provides uniform coverage on a wide variety of
targets. The sprayer are mounted on tractors during wheat spraying.

Harvesting implements
Harvesting is the climax of the crop calendar. Unfortunately, it is the most stressful period for the research
because any delay may be disastrous.
Combined harvester
Is a machine which combines four basic operations of crop harvesting namely: reaping, threshing,
separating the seeds and chaff from the straws and cleaning. A combined harvester can be animal or tractor
drawn or even self-propelled. The centre has one combined harvester that is self-propelled. It harvests all
wheat that is grown for seed increase as that below F8 is hand harvested.

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Management of fall armyworm
How Push-Pull technology works
In entomology fall armyworm is managed using chemicals (inorganic) while in farm section it is managed
organically using push pull technology. This is a conservation agricultural approach known as `Push-Pull'
technology has been developed for integrated management of stem borers, striga weed and soil fertility.
Push-pull was developed by scientists at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE),
in Kenya and Rothamsted Research, in the United Kingdom, in collaboration with other partners. The
technology is appropriate and economical to the resource poor farmers in the region as it is based on locally
available plants, not expensive external inputs, and fits well with traditional mixed cropping systems in
Africa. Maize yield increased The technology has been known to increase maize yields from about 1 t/ha
to 3.5 t/ha ( 5.5 -1.7 bags per acre) achieved by intercropping cereals like maize with a repellent plant, such
as desmodium, and planting an attractive trap plant, such as brachiaria grass, as a border crop around this
intercrop.

Above is the effect of fall armyworms in maize.

This technology is mostly used by farmers from Western Kenya to manage stem borers and sriga weed,
however at KALRO Njoro it is under trial to investigate whether it will succeed in managing fall amyworm.
This is an organic methods however chemical research of this pest is still ongoing.
Fall amyworm are repelled or deterred away from the target cereal crop (push) by the repellent plant such
as desmodium while they are simultaneously attracted (pull) to the trap crop brachiaria, leaving the target
crop protected.
Desmodium and brachiaria control pest Desmodium is a perennial cover crop (live mulch) and together
with brachiaria grass protect fragile soils from erosion. It also fixes nitrogen, conserves soil moisture,
enhances insect abundance and diversity and improves soil organic matter, thereby enabling cereal cropping
systems to be more resilient and adaptable to climate change while providing essential environmental
services, and making farming systems more robust and sustainable. When farmers adopt push-pull using
brachiaria, they not only achieve a dramatic and sustainable increase in cereal yields, but they also spend
less time weeding their crops, and obtain year round fodder for their animals.
A well demonstrated plot for push-pull technology.

39
In a controlled experiment maize was planted and intercropping was done using soya beans and maize was
also intercropped with common beans and Irish potatoes.

40
OTHER SECTIONS
Personnel section
The section deals with the general welfare of the members of the staff in the centre. The office handles and
sorts out problems affecting members of staff in areas like salaries, leaves, housing, sickness, retirements,
transfers, training, appraisals, promotion just to mention few. These cases are handled and or forwarded to
KALRO Headquarters for further action through the office of the Centre Director.
Accounts section
Financial management (accounts/accounting). This deals with the preparation of the accounts books and
financial statements. Management on financial in the Centre.
Purposes
 Preparation and maintenance accounts books. These books are:
 Cashbook-contains receipts and payments records made by the Centre.
 Debtor's ledger-the ledger keeps track of debtors in the Centre.
 Creditor ledger-for centre creditor's records.
 Vouchers-these are accountable documents of the day-to-day financial activities that include
imprest warrants, imprest surrender and merchant vouchers.
Centre Financial Maintenance.
Request and receive funds from KALRO Headquarters and various donors for the purpose of research.
Make reimbursement request after accounting for the amount received and spent. Preparation financial
statements at the end of each final year for audit purpose (I, e. The activities and the funds have achieved).
Challenges faced during attachment
 Lack of enough funds to cater for basic needs and purchase of appropriate gear.
 Unfavourable environmental conditions, especially on June.
 Lack of rental houses within Njoro town hence I had to travel for a long distance.

CONCLUSION
It was concluded that industrial attachment was successful and helped the student work in real life
environment and apply practical skills acquired at Karatina University. Oil crop sector is an important sector
to Kenyan economy but it has remained unexploited by farmers. Agricultural research is expensive as it
requires a lot of resources (time, funds and high technical skills). Finally, it was concluded that KALRO-
Njoro is a centre of excellence for both agricultural and laboratory students.

RECOMMENDATION.
It was recommended that:
 The government should allocate more funds to agricultural based research
 Oil crops should be promoted by the government to exploit this sector trough encouraging more
farmers to venture into this enterprise.
 Agricultural students aspiring to have best industrial attachment should give KALRO-Njoro first
priority.

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REFERENCES
1, KALRO, Strategic plan 2000-2015
2. Raymond Nazare and Sarah Nahmansi; processing vegetable oil-A reference manual on oil seed
production and processing using a ram press.
3. N. P. B. R. C; Annual report 1998.
4. N. p. B. R. c; crop production guide lines for wheat, oil crops and horticulture
5. wafula wasike and T.C Riungu; More money, Better health, Grow and eat Soya beans.
6. GOK National development plan 1997-2001
KALRO annual report, Njoro Research highlights.
KALRO strategic plan for cereals in Kenya (1993-2013)
Library computer (Internet)
Nakuru District development plan (2001)
British protectorate of Kenya, Annual Report (1906-1928)
KARI August 1996 Implementation Guidelines for Regional Research Programs. Njoro, Kenya
KARI and ISNAR. 1991, Agricultural Research policy in Kenya. Nairobi pp, 123-150,
H. shmidt and H. Joedtzel Farm Management Hand Book Vol ii Part B Central Kenya
National Development Plan (2003-2007)

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