Agriculo, an organic yield INCREASING INNOVATION by Kinangop Farmer
Nicholas Njoroge is a farmer in Kinangop, Nyandarua County. Attempting to make a difference, he ventured into organic fertilizer production to increase his yields, a goal at the heart of every farmer. His bid is to let go the costly chemical fertilizers, but the need to protect soil and the environment continue to emerge even as the farmer seek to improve on food production to meet rising demand and fill the shortages.
Tracing his farming journey to childhood where he could see the farther buy different chemicals to spray crops, Nicholas decided to venture into ‘clean farming’ through a unique formula. After working for so many years in the agricultural sector and inheriting what his great grandfather used to do to earn a living, Nicholas embraced farming.
“I started farming at a tender age of 15 years and literally paid for my up keep and education through farming which has been my passion and zeal since I lost my father due to throat cancer,” he begins his story.
Nicholas did a self-audit to find answers to questions pertaining to all the chemicals farmers spray on crops while putting on personal protective equipment’s (P.P.E), and the side effects. “In brief I witnessed how farmers would spray all these chemicals and would sometimes become sick. I then sought to find a solution to the problem, he continues to say.
He then embarked on an ambitious journey to sample out natural plants, tree roots and herbs that can be used for crops to grow and at the same time they are healthy for the farmers and the end consumers. After undergoing training on Agriculo, an organic yield INCREASING INNOVATION by Kinangop Farmer soil science and how to keep soil healthy he developed his own fertilizer known as Agiroculo from plant residue and animal waste. The name is a combination of the word agriculture and Culo, an Italian phrase that means food for plants.
“This took me eight good years of research on a trial and error basis and eventually i was able to come up with a product that is non-toxic and environmental friendly. I decided to come up with a product that caters for soil restoration and improvement using locally available components as I had learnt in the training,” he says.
He innovated Agriculo as a booster for crops and a soil remedy since it increases humus content while protecting crops against pests. Before arriving at the right composition that could give out good results, Njoroge had to prepare several plots and test the product on different crops; using rabbit urine and a host of locally available plants and molasses. “The result was amazing,” says Njoroge.
Agriculo is fed on the soil before planting and on the crops after planting to maximise on the benefits and the process can be repeated throughout the growing period. The product, he says has been received well by farmers who have been eager to grow food free of chemicals and much affordable.
Agriculo is rich in vitamins and organic acids that provide crops with essential minerals like; iron manganese, zinc, and copper. The product is also efficient in protecting plants from attacks by different pests. I sell a litre at Ksh 400,” he says. Speaking from experience, Nicholas is proud that he managed to raise potato yields from 40 to 60 bags from just an acre piece of land, using agriculo.
“The fertilizer should be sprayed in ratios of 300ml per 20 litres of water. The procedure should be done on the soil two weeks before planting then repeated once every fortnight. This should continue from two weeks after germination until maturity. An acre will take 20 litres of the Agriculo mix,” he explains.
According to Nicholas, the procedure might look expensive, but the benefits outweigh the cost. Its consistent use leaves the soil in good health for a long time. Alongside improving of the soil, the fertilizer also reduces the cost associated with preventing pest attacks. It also boosts the immunity of crops to withstand common diseases attacking crops like potato bright.
He has already taken samples to KEPHIS for testing and approval in order to get certification. Currently, the product is circulating in his locality with farmers who are using it reaping big. Agriculo Organic Food comprises of three essential elements targeting soil nourishment, an all-round robust growth for all crops and plants and for all pest and aphids repellant to benefit the farmers.
For oil nourishment, Agriculo Organic Food basically feeds the soil with positive micro-organisms which are essentials for sustaining healthy crop production. These organisms are: Archaea, bacteria, protozoa, algae, fungi and oouycetes which are present in Agriculo Organic Food, providing a rich ecosystem that nourishes the soil for maximum and healthy production for all crops.
“In addition, it increases the humus content in the soil by feeding it with essential vitamins, organic acids and anti-oxidants that plays a crucial role in soil nourishment, and thus is capable of sustaining a healthy environment and high quantity food production,” Nicholas explains.
By Malachi Motano
