Maize Zea mays is Kenya’s principal staple food crop. Mainly grown under rain-fed conditions and its production is limited by several factors, including frequent drought and poor distribution of rainfall that lead to total or partial crop failures, declining soil fertility, pests, diseases and noxious/parasitic weeds.
Enhanced adoption and use of technologies, innovations and management practices (TIMPs) would improve the production and utilization of maize and maize-based products.
Agro Ecological Requirements
Production of maize should be done on deep, fertile and free-draining soils.
Maize can be grown at altitudes ranging from 0 - 2200 meters above sea level. Various agro-ecological zones within this range of altitude require different varieties that are adapted to the various temperature and moisture regimes.
Maize crop is best suited to medium conditions of temperature, altitude, and rainfall.
Maize Varieties
The varieties to be grown should be suitable for the selected areas.
Farmers should seek advice from agricultural extension officers in their areas before purchasing the seeds since several varieties are available and newer ones are being developed and released. The following are key varieties and their characteristics.
Coast Composite Maize (CCM)
Description
Region: Coastal Lowlands
WSQ104
Coastal Lowlands
KH 500
Coastal Lowlands
Pwani Hybrid 4 (PH4
Coastal Lowlands
Shukran-16 (CKH08069)
Coastal Lowlands
WE2111
Coastal Lowlands
MTPEH0701
Coastal Lowlands
MTPEH0702
Coastal Lowlands
MTPEH0703
Coastal Lowlands
MTPEH200804 (KH125 -02- MDR)
Coastal Lowlands
MTPEH200805 (KH125-03-SG)
Coastal Lowlands
Katumani Composite B (KCB)
Medium altitude – Dry
KDH6 SBR
Medium altitude – Dry
KH414-03 SBR
Medium altitude – Dry
KDH414-11 (Ukamez 6)
Medium altitude – Dry
KDH414-12 (Ukamez 7)
Medium altitude – Dry
WE2109
Medium altitude – Dry
Food Safety Management System
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for maize
Process of implementing a standardized production system globally designed to reassure consumers about how food is produced on the farm, pre-farm gate or on-farm standards.
Aflasafe KE01TM
Land preparation
Maize variety (seed) selection
Planting in rows and at recommended spacing
The recommended spacing and planting density for different areas is as shown in table below:
Region |
Spacing |
Density (plants per ha) |
Highland areas |
75x25cm 1 plant/hill (Maize alone) |
53,333 |
75 x 50 cm 2 plants/hill (intercrop) |
53,333 |
|
Medium altitude areas |
75 x 30 cm 1 plant/hill (Maize alone) |
44,444 |
75 x 60 cm 2 plants/hill (intercrop) |
44,444 |
|
Dry lands and coastal areas |
90 x 30 cm 1 plant/hill (Maize Alone) |
37,850 |
90x 60 cm 2 plants/hill (intercrop) |
Application of Fertilizers and Manures
WEED MANAGEMENT
Maize Integrated Weed Management
Weed Control
Herbicide (Chemical) Weed Control
Solarization Bed for Weed Control
Stale seed bed for Weed Control
Transplanting maize for weed control
Mechanical weeding
Timely weeding is most effective at 2-3 weeks after sowing. Monitor weeds weekly and do a second weeding weed 2 to 3 weeks later.
Intercropping
Crop Rotation
Soil Fertility Management
Integrated Manure Management (IMM)
Rapid Soil Testing Services
Low-Cost Composting technology
Biological decomposition of organic waste such as food or plant material by bacteria, fungi, worms and other organisms.
Integrated soil fertility management
Soil and Water management
Zai pits
Contour bunds
Bench Terraces
Fanya Juu Teraces
Grass strips
Stone Lines
Tied Ridges
Retention Ditches
Mulching
Intercropping
Irrigation and Drainage Management
Furrow Irrigation Systems
AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
Agroforestry for soil fertility
Integrated Management of Pests and Diseases
Pest/Disease
Fall armyworm
Management Measures
Note: The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) provides lists of pesticides that are registered for control of specific pests (www.pcpb.go.ke). Use products according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Bollworm (Heliothis armigera)
Management Measures
Note:The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) provides lists of pesticides that are registered for control of specific pests (www.pcpb.go.ke). Use products according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Stem Borer using Neem
Management Measures
Note: The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) provides lists of pesticides that are registered for control of specific pests (www.pcpb.go.ke). Use products according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Stem Borer using Push- Pull
Aphids (Rhopalosiphum maydis)
Management Measures
Note: The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) provides lists of pesticides that are registered for control of specific pests (www.pcpb.go.ke). Use products according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
African armyworm
Management Measures
Note: The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) provides lists of pesticides that are registered for control of specific pests (www.pcpb.go.ke). Use products according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Cut worms (Agrotis spp)
Note: The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) provides lists of pesticides that are registered for control of specific pests (www.pcpb.go.ke). Use products according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Yellow aphid traps
Management Measures
Thrips (Frankliniella spp.)
Management Measures
Note: The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) provides lists of pesticides that are registered for control of specific pests (www.pcpb.go.ke). Use products according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Maize lethal necrosis disease
Management Measures
Note: The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) provides lists of pesticides that are registered for control of specific pests (www.pcpb.go.ke). Use products according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Maize Common Rust (Puccinia sorghi)
Management Measures
Note: The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) provides lists of pesticides that are registered for control of specific pests (www.pcpb.go.ke). Use products according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Maize Common Smut (Ustilago maydis)
Management Measures
Downy mildew (Perenosclerospora sp)
Management Measures
Note: The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) provides lists of pesticides that are registered for control of specific pests (www.pcpb.go.ke). Use products according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Grey leaf spot (Cercospora spp.)
Management Measures
Note: The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) provides lists of pesticides that are registered for control of specific pests (www.pcpb.go.ke). Use products according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Maize Streak Virus disease
Management Measures
Note: The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) provides lists of pesticides that are registered for control of specific pests (www.pcpb.go.ke). Use products according to the manufacturer’s instructions
Aspergillus ear rot
Management Measures
Fusarium Ear Rot
Management Measures
Maturity Assessment and Harvesting
Stooking of Maize During Harvesting
Maize crib for drying maize cobs
Post-Harvest Handling
Tarpaulins for drying maize cobs
Shelling of maize using hand shellers and motor-driven shellers
Drying grain after shelling
Sun drying on tarpaulins
Solar wrap drying –
Greenhouse solar dryer
Electric dryers
DeHytray
Grain moisture meter
Hygrometer for maize moisture determination
Moisture content determination by biting the grain or pinching with fingers:
Moisture content determination using salt method:
Winnowing:
Storage
Hermetic Storage Bags - Purdue Improve Crop Storage (PICS), Agro-Z, GrainPro:
Metal silo
Maize store
Corn starch
Tortillas
Ogi
Popcorn
Corn oil
Maize beer
Maize candy
A molded candies resembling corn kernels in shape and having usually yellow bases, orange middle sections, and white tips. Usually consumed as snack.
Corn sauce or fermented corn sauce
Corn syrup
Maize crackies
Maize sausage
Maize kebab
Maize mandazi
Maize cake
Maize cookies
Nixtamalization
Note: The maize flour used in making maize cookies, sausages, mandazi, kebab cakes and other products is made through a process called nixtamalization.
Power tiller
Wheeled tractor
Mouldboard plough
a) Cutting the furrow slice
b) Lifting the furrow slice
c) Inverting the furrow slice
d) Pulverizing the furrow slice
Disc harrow
Planter
Motorized sprayer
Power weeder
Maize harvesting machine
Maize Sheller
Basic costs/Estimated Returns
Marketing
Collective Marketing
Business Planning
Mission Statement
Goals
Background Information
In this area of your business plan, take account of what you have right now. These might include;
Internet, online and mobile marketing
Contacts
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization
P.O. Box 57811-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
Call: 0111010100.