In Kenya, demand for uncontaminated and safe agricultural products has created a major shift from the use of conventional farming practices to organic based techniques.  This subject got me interested since despite this growing demand we still experience a challenge in the shortage of supply of quality organic produce.

My study aimed to enhance the quality and yield of kale, through use of organic inputs and integration of chickpea as an intercrop with kale. I chose to use kale as a test crop since it is the most consumed green vegetable in both urban and rural areas Kenya and the larger East Africa. In Kenya it is grown by 90% of small holder farmers thus providing employment, mostly, for women and youth who are involved in its production.

From my study through soil analysis and interviews with farmers, I found out that kale production is mainly hampered by low soil fertility. Improving the soil status in terms of quality and health was thus crucial and fundamental in determining productivity of kale. I did this through the implementation of site specific cropping systems such as rotation and  intercropping with legume (chickpea), with application of organic based fertilizer (Farm yard manure and Rock phosphate). These techniques improved soil fertility and soil health by improving water holding capacity, increasing the cation exchange capacity, lowering bulk density and by fostering beneficial microorganisms. This hence increased productivity and quality of kale crops.

To ensure/ascertain the sustainability of this system, I carried out a NUTMON analysis. NUTMON is a tool used to ascertain the nutrient balances (amount of nutrients that go in to the soil Vis a Vis the ones that go out).  This model is essential to farmers for them to establish when to intervene so as to ultimately take measures that improve soil nutrient balances and hence improve kale production. Once the objective of increased productivity is realized, supply to the markets is increased to meet the demand of organic vegetable for the consumer.

However, I found that production was also hampered by other challenges such as unreliable rainfall, pests and diseases and lack of sufficient credit facilities to finance the smallholder farmers. Credit should be extended to farmers who embrace organic based farming as a business venture. This would enable them access inputs such as irrigation equipment and organic based fertilizer. Also more organic based sources of potassium should be made available and affordable e.g. bone meal.