Cabbage farming

Maua,

Wednesday, September 20, 2023,

KNA by Kamanja Maeria

In the heart of agricultural communities across the nation, cabbage farmers are facing a challenging landscape as they strive to meet consumer demand while battling unpredictable market conditions.

Farmers have seen a surge in consumer interest in fresh, locally sourced produce, with cabbage being a staple in many households. However, the journey to cabbage farming is not easy for the farmers.

Cabbage is full of nutritional goodness that could keep one feeling strong and healthy by boosting the immune system. This common leafy green vegetable could be used for soups, salads, sandwiches and more and it could be eaten raw or stir-fried to get the most benefit.

Speaking to KNA, a cabbage farmer in Iriene, Igembe South sub-county, Silas Murerwa said that they were facing several challenges like pests' attacks, expensive pesticides, water shortage and hostile climate variations among many other challenges.

He mentioned that there were several cabbage varieties such as Queen F1 which were the best seeds in the area, producing plants that have solid heads which are better for slicing, and weighing 4 to 5kgs. It has an attractive green colour and matures in 80 to 85 days.

Kiboko F1 which is a compact round head cabbage weighs between 6-8kgs, has bluish waxy leaves with good wrappers and it takes 80 to 90 days to mature while Tiperio F1, which has a bigger head size, guaranteeing freshness to the market weighs between 4-6 kgs, with a strong stem elevation above ground with very high uniformity in the field. It matures in 80 to 90 days.

Market prices for cabbage have also been subject to volatility as they vary dramatically due to factors such as supply and demand imbalances, transportation costs, and even consumer trends.

"During the hot seasons, cabbages sell for higher prices like Sh80 for the sizable ones since they are scarce due to the climatic conditions. During the rainy seasons, they go at Sh30 but still can be affected by too much water thus making them rot," he said. 

He stated that cabbage plants do well in a land rich in organic matter where this is done by adding compost or manure to the soil which could improve its fertility and provide essential nutrients for healthy cabbage growth. 

Murerwa explained that fertilizer is added to the soil during the first month for healthy cabbage plants and spraying begins after three weeks of planting and once the cabbage starts forming, it is essential for one to keep spraying weekly to avoid insects invading the crop.

He also said that watering the plant is so essential since it requires a lot of water. ''With proper maintenance of the crops, one is supposed to harvest in 3 months,'' he added.

In addition to environmental and market challenges, cabbage farmers are also facing labour shortages. Finding skilled agricultural workers willing to work long hours in the fields has become increasingly difficult. This leaves the farmer with no option but to work on his farm alone which could take him several days to complete the task. 

Despite these challenges, cabbage farmers remain committed to providing fresh, nutritious produce to consumers while adopting sustainable farming practices to reduce their environmental footprint and exploring new crop varieties that are more resilient to changing climate conditions.

Courtesy; KNA