Growing Maize in zai pits in Kenya: New technology for arid and semi-arid areas

Maize is the most important staple and food security crop in Kenya. Zai pit technology is a water harvesting technology, suitable for areas with unpredictable rains and subsequent crop failure.

ZAI PITS DIMENSIONS AND LAY OUT: While growing Maize in Zai pits in Kenya, dig circular or square holes 30cm (1ft) deep. A square hole measuring 75 x 75 x 30 (cm) will accommodates nine maize plants. The top soil is mixed with farm yard manure at a ratio of 4:1 and returned. Manure ratio can be reduced while growing maize in zai pits in Kenya depending on soil quality, and use of artificial fertilizers.

ECONOMICS OF THE TECHNOLOGY: One acre will accommodate 1778 plant pits each measuring 75 x 75 x cm which gives plant population of 16000. One pit will yield a minimum of 1.5 kg giving 30 bags of maize from one acre.

TECHNOLOGY EFFICIENCY: The right maize variety must be planted early enough to benefit from the rainfall available. Plant using Phosphorus fertilizers for early crop root establishment.

INCOME FROM GROWING MAIZE IN ZAI PITS IN KENYA

Yield per acre is 30 bags @ KES 2000 = Gross income of KES 60,000
Cost of 10 kg seed	@140	1,400
Cost of 1778 Zai pits distributed into 6 seasons	@30	8,890
3 x 50 kg fertilizers	@2500	7,500
593 debes of FYM (each debe serves 3 pits)	@10	5,930
8 m/days of weeding	@200	1,600
Insecticides	Assorted	2,000
8 m/days of harvesting	@200	1,600
2 m/days dusting and spraying	@200	400
30 gunny bags	@50	1,500
10 m/days threshing and winnowing	@200	2,000
Total variable costs	32,820	60,000-32,820
Gross margin for growing maize in Zai pits in kenya	27,180

Growing Maize in Zai pits in Kenya is a worthwhile technology for achievement of Millenium Development goals and Kenya Vision 2030.

Upland arrow roots technology

This innovative farming methodcan contribute greatly to  food and income security, while helping in climate adaptation in Kenya, bearing in mind many river valleys have dried up due to global warming. Upland arrowroots technology involves planting the crop in trenches lined with polythene paper and filled with soil manure mixture at a ratio of 2:1. Planting trenches are spaced at 0.5m. One acre of upland arrowroots technology grown tubers will accomodate 29,333 plants which will yield 29,333 tubers sold @ Ksh 15= Ksh 439995 gross income. The tubers are in high demand in Kenya due to  increased health consciousness .Arrow root leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals. They are a good source of thiamin, riboflavin, iron, phosphorus, and zinc, and a very good source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, niacin, potassium, copper, and manganese. Corms are very high in starch, and are a good source of dietary fiber.  

Varieties

There are two main arrow root varieties namely

1. Eddoe type – with small tubers; scientifically called colossia esculental. This is best for upland technology due to its productivity in low water. 
2. Dasheen type- with large tubers scientifically called colocasia esculenta. 

Land preparation in upland arrowroots technology

Arrow roots are traditionally grown along the river valleys and in wet areas. With the  upland arrowroots technology they can now be grown away from river valleys.

Crop and Water management

Avoiding stepping on the trench while weeding to prevent compaction. Tubers grown using upland arrowroots technology requires ample moisture throughout the growing season and therefore, Irrigation is required once per week. Soil ph of 5.5 to 6.5 is favourable.

  

 Advantages of upland arrowroots technology

1.    Security: upland arrowroots technology crop can be grown near homestead

2.    Avoid damage from floods

3.    Production is throughout the year

4.    Easy to enrich the soils by adding manure and making the trenches

5.    Time to maturity is shorter

6.    With good management there is higher yield

7.    More suckers are produced by upland arrow root

8.    Upland arrowroots technology has low labour requirement 

Agronomic requirements for upland arrowroots technology

·         Altitude: 900 to 1800 meters above sea level

·         Temperature: Range of 21 to 30⁰C.

·         Soils, deep, well drained, loam, or silt

·         pH 5.5 to 6.5

·         It performs poorly in frost conditions

Planting materials in upland arrowroots technology /conventional method

 There are four types of planting material that are used in cocoyams production:

1.    Side suckers from lateral proliferation of the main plant in the previous crop

2.    Small corms (unmarketable) resulting from the main plant in the previous crop.

3.     Huli i.e. the apical 1-2 cm of the corm with the basal 15-20 cm of the petioles attached;

4. Corm pieces resulting when large corms are cut into smaller pieces.

Establishment of 1 meter by 10 meter bed, 60 centimeter deep for upland arrowroots technology

Requirements

1.    Polythene sheet (heavy gauge) 10mx 2m wide

2.    Planting comels 105 pieces

3.    Manure- 4 wheelbarrows of complete decomposed  manure

4.    Mulch ( during dry spell)

5.    Labour 7man days

6. Water 200 liters 

Planting and crop management in upland arrowroots technology 

1. Remove all weeds along the designated area and dig a straight trench 1 meter wide and 60 centimeters Deep 
2. Remove top soil (40cm) and subsoil(20cm) put them in separate side of the trench
3.  Put the polythene sheet  to line the trench
4. Mix the top soil with manure and return the mixture in the trench leaving a depression of about 10 cm then wet to saturation
5.   Plant the suckers in a spacing of 30cm by 30 cm inserting the plant up to 20 cm
6. Spacing between beds should be 0.5M
7. Mulch the area  when planting during the dry spell
8. Water once a week to maintain wetness 
9. Old and dry leaves should removed regularly 
10. Corms are ready to harvest between 6 to 8  month

Maturity and harvesting upland arrowroot technology crop
Harvest when most leaves are yellow within 6 to 8 months. Leaves also shrink towards maturity.