Different issues need to be implemented and calculated. Subsequently the fertilizer tanks are calculated
Crop analyses
Analyses of the crop gives information about the nutrients needed for growth. Analyses can be made by drying the complete plant. When all the water is out of the plant, the nutrients in the plant can be checked. Every crop has its own balance of nutrients. Plant analyses per crop are executed by the research station.
Root environment
To find out how to get the nutrients in the right composition into the plant, you need to know what to offer the plant direct in the root environment. This is determined by the characteristics of the roots absorbing nutrients. Since all crops have their own root system, the characteristics per crop are different. The research station has selected the right nutrient composition in the root environment for the different crops.
Substrate
The characteristics of the substrates determines how near and in what concentrations the nutrients are to the roots. Rockwool and peat have different qualities. The standard nutrient solution for tomatoes grown on rockwool differs from tomatoes grown on peat although the same nutrients in the same composition needed in the tomato.
Rust diseases are common fungal infections that affect a wide range of floricultural crops, including Carnation, Roses, Chrysanthemums, Hypericums, Fuchsia, Geraniums, Gladiolus, Lilium, Marigold, Poinsettia, Snapdragons, Statice and Viola (including pansy). Rusts have the potential to negatively impact floriculture production. Rust fungi are obligate parasites, dependent upon a live host for growth and development, and seldom kill plants. However, rust infection reduces plant health and vigor, flower production, and aesthetic value.
The global economy is increasingly at a risk of sliding into recession according to recent surveys. Consumers are faced with generation-high inflation rein in spending while central banks are tightening policy aggressively. Spiralling costs of farm inputs like fertiliser in the back drop of global disruptions have also seen flower exporters grapple with higher input costs.
This year’s National Farmers’ Awards gala dinner was held in Nairobi. The event, formerly known as Presidential Farmers competition Scheme, was first launched in 2013 as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the Ministry of Agriculture and Elgon Kenya Limited. It was presided over by the Principal Secretary, State Department of Crop Development, Phillip Kello Harsama, on behalf of the Chief Guest, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi. Mr. Harsama was assisted by his colleague in the state department of Livestock PS Harry Kimtai and Elgon’s Managing Director Dr. Bimal Kantaria. Individual farmers as well as companies were among the awardees of the day.
The National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) in collaboration with IDH project, flagged off the first reefer container shipment of avocados by sea. IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative, is an organisation (Foundation) that works with businesses, financiers, governments and civil society to realise sustainable trade in global value chains and facilitates private sector access to international markets. The shipment alternative, diverting from airfreight to sea freight seeks a long-term business partnership with international buyers.
Across the floriculture industry, retailers are facing a quality challenge, with exciting opportunities in its wake. With the flower market growing rapidly, flower sellers will flourish with stable supply chains and dependable quality levels; however, today’s retailers, from independent family stores to national supermarket chains, too often receive flowers of inconsistent quality: regularly, batches are unacceptable, with a short vase life, damaged stems, and flowers that are not worth selling due to poor quality on arrival. This leads to unhappy customers and loss of reputation and revenues. Alongside broader industry concerns, like reduced air freight capacity, this problem can significantly limit growth. So where’s the opportunity? It’s right here, and it centers on implementing data-driven quality standards throughout the flower supply chain.