Mt. Zion Consultancy Farm doing well despite limited space

In the hills of Limuru is Mt. Zion Agrotech Consultancy Farm that is doing quite well given that they are constricted in terms of space. The farm has 12 greenhouses in which they grow tomatoes, capsicum, cucumber, onions and courgettes. Their greenhouses are 8 metres by 20 metres.
The farm started on a good footing because they were able to get a return on their investment. They put up a single greenhouse in 2009 and planted tomatoes. Encouraged by this success, they increased the number to four greenhouses in 2010 and introduced capsicum. They also tried with garlic but have since moved away from them, now concentrating on onions.
The farm manager Mr. Patrick Wan’gunyi Ndirangu has divided the farm into four segments. He does capsicum in four greenhouses, cucumbers in one greenhouse, onions in one greenhouse and tomatoes in two greenhouses. He leaves 4 greenhouses free at any one time to let the soil stay farrow in readiness for rotation.
A single greenhouse is able to accommodate 1000 plants of capsicum which produce a tonne of produce per week for eight months. Capsicum belongs to the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Locally there is a huge market for capsicum. They are used as spices, vegetables, and medicines. Tomatoes do produce the same as capsicum and are harvested for 8 months.
When it comes to cucumbers, a single greenhouse takes up a thousand plants which will produce a tonne of harvest per week for two months. Cucumbers belong to the Cucurbitaceous family. They are high in water and low in calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium. They are can be eaten raw or used as salad, spices and in some cases as beauty products.
With onions, he is able to get 800-1000kgs per harvest which is uprooted one time. Onions belong to the allium family of vegetables and herbs. Alliums include leeks, chives, scallions and garlic. They have pungent flavors and have medicinal properties. Onions are high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
They have planted five hundred courgettes plants into an 8m by 20m greenhouse and produce 500kgs per day for a month. Courgettes are cucurtbits, the same family group as cucumber, Melons and squash. They are also called zucchini and have a deep green skin with firm pale flesh inside.
Mr. Wan’gunyi is also looking to introduce strawberries into his rotations. He expects to get 250gms per plant per week which will be harvested for four months. He is also looking into value addition for the tomatoes by turning them into tomato paste. They also supplement their income by constructing greenhouses for other farms.
He has a team of three people who help him with the farm chores, such as harvesting every week and spraying every two weeks. The most involving work is pre-planting preparation and planting. They are not troubled by weeds because they use a mulching paper which prevents weeds from sprouting as well as helping retain moisture in the soil.
Their main challenge is pests and diseases which they try to contain. They were also getting a challenge with getting quality seeds but they are now able to get certified seeds. They have also sorted their water issues by collecting run off water from the greenhouses into a dam that is 5 metres by 20 metres and is 5 metres deep.
They have the marketing sorted by forming a partnership with a company who are direct suppliers to major supermarkets and also supply local markets. Also in partnerships, they have been appointed as a demonstration farm by two Agricultural chemicals companies. The two companies offer extension services to them and even organize training sessions at the farm. This has been going on since 2016.
Greenhouse farming in Kenya has been on the rise due to reduced farm acreage, population growth and unpredictable weather conditions. This technology was introduced first by flower farms who were aiming to create optimal conditions to ensure maximum yields and lower costs like irrigation. Following the success of the floriculture industry, vegetable farmers sought to replicate the model with their crops and so far it has gained a lot of traction.
The vegetables that do well in greenhouses are tomatoes, kales, spinach, cucumbers, mushrooms, herbs, lettuce, pepper and strawberries. To achieve maximum yields, it is best to maintain the right temperatures inside the greenhouse. For example, during the day, temperatures should be around 16-30 degrees Celsius. When it comes to night time, temperatures should be between 13-18 degrees.
In a nutshell, the advantages of greenhouse farming include an increase in yields depending upon the type of greenhouse, type of crop, and climate management. There is also an increase in the reliability of crop. A greenhouse also extends the growing season as the plants are not dependent on external climatic conditions. This also contributes to an increased variety of crops that can be planted.