seed time 2011 april june
TRANSCRIPT
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In this Issue
Volume 36 April - June 2011
Pg.2 Pata Negra F1, Word from
ManagementPg.3 Loitokitok Assila LaunchPg.4 Burundi Expose; Hybrid Seedlings
Pg.5 Seed Processing Unit Launch, Mbaazi Recipe
Pg.6 Controlling Melon FlyPg.7 Assila F1 Launch Pictorial
Pg.8 Green Acres Centre
atermelons, botanically called
Citrullus lanatus belong to the amily
o Cucurbitaceae, they originated in Arica.
Watermelons grow large -- but how do you
know when they are ready or picking? With
the many dierent types o watermelons and the many dierent
sizes, it can be conusing. There are some signs to watch or that can
indicate your watermelon is ully grown. Well show you how to grow
and harvest watermelons here.
Planting InstructionsWatermelons preer a hot, dry climate with mean daily temperatures
o 22 to 30C. Maximum and minimum temperatures or growth are
about 35 and 18C respectively. The optimum soil temperature or
root growth is in the range o 20 to 35C. Fruits grown under hot, dry
conditions have a higher sugar content compared to those grown
under cool, humid conditions. The crop is very sensitive to rost.
The length o the total growing period ranges rom 80 to 110 days,
depending on climate.
Spacing: Watermelon vines require considerable space. Youcan sow seeds in hills or rows. Seeds are placed on
hills spaced 1m x 1m. and planted 2cm deep.
One-two weeks ater the seedlings are
established, thin to the best
three plants per
hill.
Continued on pg. 3 ...
Soils: Plant watermelons in good, well-drained soil. The croppreers a sandy loam soil texture with pH o 5.8 to 7.2. Clay
soils do not raise a good crop. Cultivation in heavy textured
soils results in a slower crop development and cracked ruits.
I your soil is dicult, create raised beds by adding organicmatter to improve the drainage and aeration.
Fertilizer Requirements:Watermelons are heavy eeders.Add generous amounts o manure, compost and leaves to
your garden. Work the soil well. Make sure it drains well.
Fertilize with a phosphate ertilizer at planting, 3-4 weeks
later, top dress with CAN or lea development and 4 weeks
ater this, top dress again with NPK triple 17 or ruits and
owering. You may also apply recommeneded oliar eeds
or vegetative growth and owering.
Micronutrients: Apply as determined by soil test.Micronutrients that should be tested or are zinc,
manganese and boron.
Watering: Watermelons need adequate water orproductivity, though their requirements are slightly lower
than those o other vegetables. Plant stress rom limited water
availability will cause them to stop growing and reduce ruit
size and quality. All the same, be careul not to over water. Excessive
irrigation can reduce crop yields by leaching crop nutrients or
promoting disease, it can also cause ruiting plants to collapse rom lack
o oxygen. Watermelons have extensive root systems and can obtain
available ground moisture, thus reducing irrigation requirements.
Check the soil moisture regularly and water as necessary beore the
melons start to wilt or go into stress. Allow the top 1 to 2 o soil to dry
between watering.
Plant Development and Care: Maintaining a healthy plant is thefrst step in disease control. This includes weeding, pruning and proper
spacing to allow good air circulation, especially in wet and humid
weather.
Sunlight- Watermelons need ull sun and heat to grow healthy vines
and big ruit.
Weeding- Watermelons are not good competitors and do not
ourish i weeds shade them or compete with them or moisture
and ertilizer. Remove small weeds to avoid stunting or stressing the
melons. Avoid disturbing the root by cultivation as this weakens vines
and keeps them rom producing ruit.Rotate planting locations and use resistant varieties to avoid
By Daniel Musyoka
Growing A Vigorous Patch of Watermelons
W
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fromManagement
ElizabethMranda
2
By Jared Onduso
Pata Negra F1,
Oh So Sweet
SPOTLIGHTIn the
Benefts
Very high yielding
Long distance shipper, reduced loss
during transport
High market demand because o
medium size and excellent ruit fesh
qualities
Good returns
Attributes
Yield potential o 46 t/acre
Very sweet brilliant red, crisp fesh
Early maturing variety 100-120 days
Dark green round uniorm ruit 7-8 kg in weight
Very vigorous plant with good ruit cover
Excellent transportability due to thick ruit rind
Variety tolerant to Fusarium wilt
The much anticipated rains, though
late, are here with us at long last.
We hope that all our armers will betaking advantage o the rain to plant
our varieties and exercise the good
management practices outlined in this
edition.
As the rains continue to pound most
areas o the country, we at Monsanto (K)
ltd are ocused on ensuring our seed is
available in the Agrovet nearest to you.
In this edition, we have given coverage to
our new kids on the block Water Melon
Pata Negra F1 and Tomato Assila F1. We
cover the launching o Tomato Assila F1
in Mwea, Central Kenya and in Loitokitok
towards the South-Eastern part o the
country. The two events were very
successul. Our entire Monsanto team
was out o the oce interacting with the
armers and listening to the experiences
they go through as they try to better
their lives.
Worth mentioning, are the new hybrids
we have added to our product portolio.
We have the Watermelon Sentinel F1
(variegated oval) and Cucumber Darina
F1(Ashley type). We have also added to
our Hybrid Tomato Anna product line by
availing a new armer-riendly 500 seed-
pack.
We cannot wrap up this edition without
highlighting our partnerships, which
have been strategic in the growth o the
hybrid seed business.
So, this season, we once again encourage
our esteemed armers to grow our
cabbage Victoria F1 and Blue Dynasty
F1, these have proven themselves inthe highlands and warmer parts o the
country respectively. We assure you that
these varieties will be available to you at
the most competitive prices.
We wish you all the best.
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NewsMONSANTO
In Mid-March, Seminis ocially launched
hybrid Tomato Assila in Loitoktok. Farmers
rom Loitokitok and its environs came to
witness the birth o this new arming baby
in the region.
Tomato Assila has excellent eatures that
armers have long been yearning or. It is
a boon or tomato growers who have long
relied on the ordinary open pollinated
varieties (OPVs), normally low yielding and
with poor disease resistance.
Assila can yield up to 30 tonnes per acre,
twice as much as the OPVs and is tolerantto the deadly Tomato Yellow Lea Curl
Virus(TYLCV) popularly known in the area
as ngumi. The variety also has a longer shel
lie compared to OPVs.
At the event, Seminis technical sales sta
. . .continued rom pg 1
pest and disease accumulation.
Pruning - Remove deormed and melon y-stung ruits. Deormed
ruits result primarily rom water stress and/or insucient
pollination. These ruits are removed at an early stage in order to
obtain uniormly well-shaped ruits. In some instances growers
remove well-ormed ruits i there are more than two or three
melons already developing on the plant. Reducing the number
o melons per plant, concentrates the plants producing power in
a smaller number o ruits, thereby increasing size and perhaps
quality.
Insects and PestsEarly use o insecticides is important. While constant scoutingis crucial in controlling pests and diseases. Fungicides can be
eective i used early.
Major insect pests include aphids, melon y and mites. Powdery
and downy mildews, anthracnose, alternaria lea spot, gummy
stem blight and Fusarium wilt are some o the common diseases
aecting watermelon. However, some cultivars are resistant to
some diseases.
Harvest RecommendationsIt is dicult to tell i a watermelon is ripe by just looking; it must
be examined. Watermelons will not continue to ripen ater harvest.
For best quality, be sure to scout the crop daily so that melons can
be picked when they are at their best. Here are indications you can
look or:
Thump it. When thumped an immature melon will give
a metallic plank and a mature one a dull plunk, i the
harvester can determine the dierence. This method should
only be used when the melons are cool; an immature melon
will sound mature i it has become warm throughout.
Look at the color on the top. The ruit is ripe when there is
little contrast between the stripes. Another indication is when
the surace color o the ruit turns dull.
Look or the spot where the melon rested on the ground; a
yellow or a cream-yellow colored spot suggests ripeness and a
white or pale green spot indicates immaturity.
The curly tendril immediately opposite where the melon is
attached to the vine will be brown and withered when the
melon is ripe.
Storage and HandlingWatermelons are not adapted to long storage. At low temperatures
they are subject to various symptoms o chilling injury and loss
o quality, and at high temperatures they are subject to decay.
Between 10 and 150 C is a good compromise. Watermelons should
be consumed within 2 to 3 weeks ater harvest, primarily because
o the gradual loss o crispness. Quality hybrids are able to keep
longer.
Watermelons should not be dropped, thrown, or walked on, as
internal bruising and esh breakdown will occur.
Unveiling Hybrid TomatoAssila in Loitokitok
were able to show armers the advantages o planting hybrid tomato varieties over OPVs. Addressing armers, Kobus Burger Monsanto
Lead or the Vegetable Seed division, thanked them or their support retierating the companys commitment to helping armers meet
their objectives. SEE PAGE 6 FOR MORE EVENT PICTURES]
By Nathan Koskei
>>> Monsantos Kobus Burger unveils the Tomato Assila banner , looking on are Loitokitok farmers and the Monsanto team
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L
With this kind o income,
our childrens education
is guaranteed.
Burundi Farmers Marvel at Monsantos HybridsBy Wamae Mwangi
M
Raising Healthy Seedlings Begins with Good Seed
We use hybrid seeds rom certifed
seed companies. ... we fnd that
Monsanto Hybrid seeds have better
germination vigour and percentageresulting in higher usable transplants
thus reducing costs.
By Paul Dondi with David Ndungu
SpeakGROWERSThe
4
onsanto recently held a feld day in Burundi
to promote its hybrid varieties in the region.Among these were onions, tomatoes and
cabbages. The crops impressed local armers. Farmers in
the area usually grow Open Pollinated Varieties (OPVs),
which are oten low yielding with poor disease tolerance.
One armer attending the event had this to say:
The onions I usually grow give me less than 15tonnes
per acre. But today I have seen or mysel that with
Jambar F1 and Mercedes F1, one can get up to 23tonnes
per acre! It is impossible to achieve such a harvest with
open pollinated varieties. I have also seen tomato AnnaF1 in the feld; I was impressed that it continues to
produce ruits or close to a year. Having such a crop, will
ensure that we have continous income all year round.
With this kind o income, our childrens education is
guaranteed.
I thank Monsanto or fnally bringing to us products
which will reward our hard work. I also thank you or
your commitment in supporting us with the technical
inormation we need to realize ull yields
ongonot Farm is a plant propagaon nursery raising plug
seedlings for both horcultural and oricultural farmers.
We use hybrid seeds from cered seed companies. In parcular,
we nd that Monsanto Hybrid seeds have beer germinaon vigour
and percentage resulng in higher usable transplants thus reducing
costs. Our range of seeds from Monsanto include, Tomato Anna F1,Onion Jambar F1, Cabbage Victoria F1, Tomato Assila F1, Broccoli
Heritage F1 and Sweet pepper Redknight F1 amongst others. Our
farmers also prefer Monsanto variees because they are high
yielding and fetch them good returns.
Apart from just having quality seeds, Monsanto oers one of the
best customer-service.
They ensure that our
sta is well-equipped
with informaon
and see to it that any
product informaon
is disseminated to thefarmer through our
nursery. Working with
Monsanto has ensured
growth for our nursery
business as we are now able to reach farmers from various parts of
the country.
>>> Standing amid Monsantos Cabbage Victoria F1 seedlings are LongonotFarms Joseph Muthomi and Dorcas Ayuma with Monsantos David Ndungu (middle)
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5
Monsanto Maize Sales Team from East Africa recently joined their
South African counterparts for the ocial launch of the third and
nal phase of Monsantos technologically advanced maize seed
plant in Lichtenburg, South Africa. The facility was ocially opened
by Kobus Lindeque, area Director of Monsanto Africa.
The plant, known as Thobontle (Setswana for great harvest),
was enlarged to supply excellent quality maize seed to farmers. Itbegins operaons from May 1 2011.
Monsantos aim is to provide food to all people in a sustainable
manner and good quality seed is the origin of all food, says
Lindeque.
The new phase comprises a storing facility which accomodates
approximately 140 000 bags of maize seed each holding about 25
kg. A new cooling facility at the site keeps maize at temperatures
under 150C, this area holds up to 40,000 bags of maize seed. Bags
for local sales as well as for export can be kept under opmum
condions at this new facility which contains state-of-the-art grain
drying and laboratory research facilies.
The dryer secon can process some 320 tonnes of maize cobs daily. At the dryer the whole cobs are put in drying bins and dried to the required
temperature and moisture content. Thereaer, the kernels are shelled and samples taken to the laboratory for tesng. The seed is tested for
purity, emergence and where necessary, the presence of the Bt- or Roundup Ready genes.
High-tech Maize Facility Launched in South Africa
Ingredients kg pigeon peas (dried); or substitute black-eyed pea or cowpeas --cleaned, soaked, and rinsed
one or two cups each of thick and thin coconutoil
2 cloves garlic, minced1 inch ginger, grated cup corriander (dhania) finely choppedone or two onions, choppedone hot green chili pepper, cleaned and choppedone teaspoon curry powder -- or turmeric
salt, to taste
MethodIn a large pot or using a pressure cooker, boil pigeon peas till tender.1.Stir in the thin coconut milk, Continue to simmer over low heat. Add2.more water as necessary to prevent the peas from becoming dry. While
peas are simmering: Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a pan. Add thecurry powder to the oil and stir for a minute. Fry the onion and chilli
By Nashone Mukabane
RECIPE: Mbaazi wa Nazi(Pigeon Peas in Coconut Milk)
pepper until they are tender, add garlic, ginger and corriander.Add peas to the fried mixture. Continue to simmer until peas are tender3.enough to eat. Then, add the thick coconut milk and simmer on thelowest possible heat for five to ten minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serve with Chapati or Rice.
NOTE:Thick and thin coconut milk are made from the meat of the ripened coconut. They can be approximated by diluting canned coconut milk.Thick coconut milk is prepared by directly squeezing grated coconut meatthrough cheesecloth. The squeezed coconut meat is then soaked in warm water
and squeezed a second or third time for thin coconut milk.
When using canned coconut milk. Use unsweetened coconut milk; shakethe can well, before opening. Divide the contents of the can into two parts,
placing about two-thirds of the cans contents in one measuring cup and theremaining one-third in another. Add enough hot water to each cup to maketwo cups. The first is the thick, the second is the thin.
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LoitokitokTomatoAssilaLau
nch
Mwea Tomato Assila Launch
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QUESTIONSAnswered
Your
By Jared Onduso
What is a Melon Fly?The melon y (Bactrocera cucurbitae), is a ruit y o the amily
Tephritidae. Its a serious agricultural pest aecting various
horticultural crops including watermelon.
Lie CycleThe adult emale y lays eggs in ruit leaving punctures or stings in
the skin. Though eggs are generally laid in young ruit, they can also
be laid in the succulent stems o host plants. The emale may lay
as many as 1,000 eggs. The eggs are deposited in cavities created
by the emale using its sharp ovipositor.The eggs hatch into larvae
(maggots) which tunnel into the ruit causing rotting. Aected ruit
will oten all rom the plant prematurely.
When larvae have fnished eeding, they leave the ruit, burrow into
the soil, pupate then emerge as adult ruit ies. This lie cycle will
typically take 14-28 days or completion.There may be as many as 8
to 10 generations a year.
How can one Spot a Melon Fly?Melon ies are most oten ound on low, leay, succulent vegetation
near cultivated areas. In hot weather they rest on the undersides o
leaves and in shady areas. They are strong iers and usually y in
the mornings and aternoons. They eed on the juices o decaying
ruit, nectar, bird aeces, and plant sap.
Adult ruit ies in general are typically about the size o a house
y and are reddish-brown to dark brown in colour, with yellow
markings on the thorax (the middle body section).The distinctive
eatures o melon y include:
A yellow stripe in the middle o the thorax between the
wings
A black (oten incomplete) T-shaped marking on the
abdomen (the rear body section)
Additional dark patches towards the outer edge o the
wings
7
Is it possible to save mycrop from Melon Flydamage?
How do they Destroy the Crop?Melon y damages ruit in the same way as other ruit y
species. The melon y can attack both owers, stem and
root tissue, and ruit. The adult emale y typically lays
eggs in ruit leaving punctures or stings in the skin. The
eggs hatch into larvae (maggots) which tunnel into the
ruit causing rotting. Melon y larvae can also develop in
blossoms and some vegetative portions o plants. Among
vegetative plant material, newly emerged seedlings and
terminal shoots are preerred. Similarly, among ruits,
immature ruit is usually selected. Aected ruit will oten
all rom the plant prematurely.
Larval eeding damage in ruits is the most damaging.Mature attacked ruits develop a water soaked appearance.
Young ruits become distorted and usually drop. The larval
tunnels provide entry points or secondary invaders;
insects as well as bacteria and ungi that cause the ruit
to rot. Damage can also occur rom egg-laying even when
larvae do not survive because oviposition allows entry
o microorganisms or causes deormities in the growing
ruit.
Some dierences in damage among cucurbits exist. Seedling and
stem damage is more common in watermelon and cantaloupe than
in squash, cucumbers, and pumpkin. Blossom damage is serious
among all cucurbits except cucumber. Both male and emale
blossoms o squash and pumpkin are aected, but in watermelon
and cantaloupe the male blossom generally escapes attack.
How can I get Rid o Melon Fly?
A number o methods can be used to control melon y
menace. They include:
Wrapping developing ruit with a protective covering
and the use o baited traps.
Field sanitation: Destroy all unmarketable and inested
ruits and dispose crop residues immediately ater
harvest. Inested ruit should be buried 3 eet undersoil surace. Adding lime is helpul in killing emerging
larvae.
Use trap crops.
Chemical sprays: Using proteinaceous liquid attractants
in insecticide sprays is a recommended method o
controlling adult melon y populations in the vicinity o
crops. The bait insecticide sprays are applied to broad
lea plants that serve as reugia or melon y adults.
Baits serve to encourage the adults (especially emales)
to eed on the spray residue and can provide good rates
o kill. To be eective, bait-insecticide sprays must be
used in combination with good sanitation practices.These practices include destruction o unmarketable
ruit on every harvest date, and destruction o crop
residues immediately ater economic harvest has been
completed.
Image: Alton N. Sparks, Jr., University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
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CLIENTSMeetour
reen Acres Centre is located
about 250 kilometres north o
Nairobi in the heart o Nyahururu
town - host world renowned Thompsons
Falls.
The shop opened its doors in 1993. Its
vision, in Mr Warugongos own words,
is ... to eradicate poverty and to put
ood on the table or the ever increasing
world population. Seed supply has been
an integral part o the business over thepast 17 years. The busines has grown
and now caters or armers in Nyandarua
County and beyond.
MONSANTO KENYA LTD,
TUSKYS HEAD OFFICE COMPLEX
MOMBASA RD.
P.O. Box 47686, 00100, NAIROBI, KENYATel: 254 20 2060922/44, 3574301/4,
Fax: 254 20 823086, 3574300
Mobile: 254 722 205594, 722 205294,
722 205529, 254 733 600468, 733 629414www.monsantoarica. com
(L-R) Green Acres shop attendant, Linus Githinji; Proprietor ,Mrs. Warugongo and Monsantos David Ndungu
Over the years, they have resorted to van
selling in reaching out to customers who
live ar o rom the town; this approach
has allowed them to grow their market-
share.
The directors, Mr and Mrs Warugongo,
always make sure that their employees
are skilled and updated in their
knowledge o modern arming needs
through regular trainings. Having well-
trained personnel means that they can
handle the growing number o customers
and give dependable advice. This has
contributed towards achieving
the business objective o oering
customers high quality arming
inputs. With frst-rate inputs, armers
have been able to attain requiredproduction levels, translating to
enhanced ood production in the
area.
The relationship between
the Monsanto sales team and
Green Acres Centre cannot go
unmentioned. The Monsanto team
gives regular eedback regarding
the supply o seeds, which has been
o great help in planning and crucial
to the growth o the business.
With growth, the businesss has
seen need to invest in IT (Inormation
Technology), this has made ordering o
products and stock management more
ecient - shortages are now a thing o the
past.
Mr and Mrs Warugongo are grateul to
Monsanto or helping them win the trust
o the armers they serve by oering
consistent quality in seed and service.
Monsanto leads in innovation - helping
armers realize their dreams by oeringhigh yielding varieties.
Tomatoes being a key crop in growth
o their business, Green Acres Centre is
partnering with Monsanto in getting the
new tomato Assila F1 to armers in Ngarua,
Subukia, Rumuruti, Kiamariga and Pesi.
EVENTSAPRIL Kibwezi Field Day Kibwezi
Tomato Field Day Tanzania
Burundi Expose Burundi
MAY Field Day Uganda
Fintrac-Technoserve training Tanzania
JUNE Meru ASK Show Meru
Rwanda Expose Rwanda
Uganda Expose Uganda
G
Green Acres Centre