Amaranth Farming In Kenya: How to Make Ksh 360,000 on an acre monthly

Amaranth Farming: a herbaceous, annual upright and fast growing plant in the Amaranthuceae family. It consists of about 60-70 different species spread all over the world in temperate, sub-tropical and tropical climates. These species consist of grain, vegetable, ornamental and weedy types. Amaranth is slightly branched from the main stem.

The stem is fleshy, stalky and sometimes grooved, green or purple in colour or a mixture of the two shades. Leaves are alternate, simple and entire. Leaves of difference species of amaranth show a lot of variability in form, shape, size and colour. Generally leaves are green or red or a mixture of the two shades while some are purple.

Vegetable amaranth include A. dubius and A. tricolor among others and produce inflorescence along the stem. Their seeds are shiny, black and smaller in size compared to those of grain types. Amaranthus caudutus is grown for ornamental, grain production and dye extraction. It has showy inflorescence ranging in colour from pale green to red, pink and purple. The grain types include A.
hypochondrius and A. creuntus. Grain types produce a loose panicle borne on the plant apex. They have pale coloured seeds ranging from whitish cream, tan and golden to deep pink. All amaranths, however, produce very nutritious edible leaves.

The crop is relatively tolerant to drought and can withstand low rainfall conditions especially under conditions of climate change. Amaranth production in semi-arid eastern Kenya is however, at its infancy with limited information on production technologies for the low soil moisture and fertility  conditions in the region.

Amaranth leaves are high in vitamins A, K, B6, C, riboflavin and folate; and essential minerals including calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, and manganese. The vegetables are very rich in iron and therefore good for anaemic people. They are high in vitamin A and one hundred (100) grams of vegetables cooked without oil can contribute up to 45% of the daily vitamin A requirement.

Amaranth can grow in a wide range of environmental conditions between 0-2400 meters above sea level (a.s.l). It is a warm climate plant and thrives well between 22-350C under plenty of sunshine. Amaranth is relatively drought tolerant and can give reasonable yields. The crop’s ability to withstand moisture stress is not well understood but amaranth growth ceases in adverse weather
until conditions are favourable. It can however be grown all year round under irrigation. The crop thrives well in deep well drained soils with high organic matter content. Shallow, stony, crusty clay soils with waterlogging logging properties should be avoided.

Currently demand outstrips supply in the country with most of the processors importing the grain thus making it a competitive source of household income generation. Amaranth can grow in a wide range of environmental conditions between 0-2400 meters above sea level (a.s.l). Production of grain amaranth is steadily picking up in the ASALs of eastern Kenya due to awareness created by Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Katumani. Despite this increased interest recommended agronomic packages for its production in pure or mixed stands are lacking.

This article is meant to bridge the void of information in the cultivation of Amaranth in Kenya

Land Preparation and Seeding Amaranth

Amaranth farming requires thorough land preparation and a well-prepared bed for good growth. Prepare 20 cm high beds during the dry season and 30 cm during the wet season using a plough. The distance between centres of adjacent furrows should be about 150 cm with a 90-cm bed top. Amaranth is planted either by direct seeding or transplanting. The choice of planting method depends on availability of seed and labour and may also vary with the growing season.

Direct seeding is appropriate when plenty of seed is available, labour is limited, and during the dry season when frequency of flooding is less. Transplanting is preferred when there is limited amount of seed, plenty of labour, and during the wet season when heavy rains and flooding are most likely to wash out seeds. Raising seedlings in a nursery and transplanting them to the field shorten the crop duration in the field, and secure a better and more uniform stand especially during the wet season.

Planting Amaranth and Seed Rate

Amaranth farming should be done at the onset of the rains. Make shallow furrows spaced at 75-90 cm apart. Amaranth may also be planted under irrigation. Amaranth farming does well in fertile soils with high organic matter content. Apply well decomposed farm yard manure (FYM) at the rate of 10 tons per hectare. Thoroughly mix the FYM with soil using a stick. Alternatively DAP can be applied at a rate of 50 kg (1 bag) per hectare. Fertilizer application has been found to be useful during the short rains season (October-December) when the rainfall is evenly distributed or under irrigation. Compost manure can also be used at rate of 10-12 tons per hectare.

A seed rate of about 1 kg per acre is recommended. Mix grain amaranth seeds with dry sand or soil at the ratio of 1: 10-15 (1 part seed to 10-15 parts sand or soil) to avoid wastage and for even drilling of seeds

Drill the seed mixture evenly and thinly in the already prepared furrows at a depth of 5 cm. The seed-soil mixture can also be planted along the rows at a spacing of 30 cm apart.

Cover the seed lightly with soil using a stick. The seeds possess an aroma that attracts ants and therefore should be covered immediately after sowing to avoid being carried away by ants. Amaranth requires adequate moist conditions for establishment. When there is adequate moisture in the soil, seeds germinate 3-4 days after sowing. Once the crop is established it is relatively drought tolerant.

Amaranth is a cross pollinated crop and hybridization occurs between species. When planting amaranth for production of seeds an isolation distance of 400 meters should be maintained to avoid seed contamination. Off types should be uprooted regularly

Climatic, Soil and Water Requirements on Amaranth Farming

Amaranth grows rapidly under hot-wet and full sunlight conditions, with few pest and disease problems. The optimum temperature is 20- 30°C for germination and 25-35°C for growth. It adapts to different kinds of soil conditions and tolerates heat and drought, but not cool temperatures.

Husbandry

Amaranth is a low management crop and can grow in poor soils, but it will benefit from application of organic fertilizer resulting in higher yield. Although amaranth is relatively drought tolerant,
insufficient water will reduce yield. Water should be applied especially just after sowing or transplanting to ensure a good stand. As a rule, the plants should be irrigated if wilting occurs at noon.

Another way to estimate soil moisture content is to take a handful of soil from the bottom of
a 15-cm hole. Squeeze the soil. If it holds together when you release your grip, there is sufficient soil moisture; if the soil crumbles, it is time to irrigate. Irrigate thoroughly to maintain vigorous plant growth. Avoid over-irrigation, which may enhance disease development and nutrient leaching. Drip irrigation or micro-sprinkler irrigation is recommended in areas with limited water supply.

Weeding on amaranth farming

Initially amaranth grows very slowly making it susceptible to competition from weeds. Weeding is crucial at this initial stage until the crop is well established. Keep the crop free from weeds by  weeding with hoe, oxen or by uprooting. More than 90% of the crop can be lost due to weed competition in the early stages before proper plant establishment.

Weeding may be done 3-4 times during the growing season until the crop forms its own canopy and is able to smoother weeds. Keep the field free of weeds by weeding or uprooting weeds.

Water harvesting structures such as ridges can be constructed at weeding to aid in moisture conservation during seasons when rainfall is below average. When the plants are about 30cm high earth up soil around plants to avoid lodging. This also helps reduces competition from weeds. This also helps reduces competition from weeds.

Thinning

First thinning should be done after the crop has attained a height of about 10cm. Uproot weak and malformed plants and leave the strong and robust ones. The first thinning is done to reduce the plant population and lower completion, encourage aeration and light penetration. Subsequent thinning should be done until the onset of heading, leaving one plant at an intra-row spacing of 30 cm apart. The thinned leaves can be used as vegetables or fed to livestock

Common Pests & Diseases and their control

The most important task on amaranth farming is to prevent an occurrence of pests and diseases in the first place rather than having to react to them. In fact, once a pest or disease establishes itself on your crops there is often very little you can do to control it effectively. Protecting your plants from pests and diseases
begins long before the crops are sown or planted in your garden. Key to healthy vegetables is;

Organic Control

The following are key in organic control of pests and diseases; Soil fertility, Biodiversity, Hygiene, Good seeds, Healthy transplants, right plant at the right place, resistant varieties, proper timing of sowing, breaking the cycle, adjusting the spacing.

Organic management

• Mechanical control – netting, collars, traps, handpicking
• Biological control – this includes using creatures that feed on the pests e.g. Frogs – feed on slugs
• Chemical – ash and pepper sprays are effective organic disease management techniques.

How To Make Money on Amaranth – Terere – Farming In Kenya

The grain has two main popular varieties in Kenya , short and tall varieties. The short variety matures faster taking between 45-60 days while the tall variety takes between 70-120 days.

Once established, it can withstand acute drought conditions. With proper tilling and maintenance practices on amaranth farming, an acre can fetch up to 800 –1200 kilograms.

A kilo of amaranth is priced at around Ksh200-300. Most local companies buy the amaranth products directly from farmers.

A period of between 45-120 days of proper farming, a farmer can fetch up to Ksh360,000 on an acre.

Research done by Agricultural Productivity Project showed that the main challenge faced by farmers is lack of certified seed, inadequate information on production and management of the crop, and poor linkage to markets.

here is a need to empower amaranth farmers with grain amaranth farming skills and organise them into collective and marketing groups so that they can take full advantage of the existing market demand for the crop.

Diversification of the market through value-added products by the use of simple techniques and technologies can help in solving the marketing problem.

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