VEGETABLES PRODUCTION

Vegetable production plays a critical role in enhancing food and nutrition security, improving household incomes, and promoting sustainable agriculture among smallholder farmers. This program focuses on the introduction and promotion of African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs), namely cowpeas (Kunde), nightshade (managu), amaranth (terere), and slender leaf (mitoo).

These crops are well-suited to local agro-ecological conditions, require minimal inputs, and are rich in essential nutrients such as iron, calcium, vitamins A and C. Their short growth cycles allow for quick harvests, making them ideal for boosting food availability and diversifying diets throughout the year.

AMARANTH PRODUCTION

Background

It is also known as Pigweed/African Spinach
Amaranth is combined with other vegetables when being cooked
The leaves are rich in Calcium, Iron, Vitamins A, B and C
There is no distinct separation between the vegetable and grain type since the leaves of young grain type plants is also eaten as greens.
The grains are rich in proteins.

Common varieties

Amaranthus dubios”:

The plant grows up to 150 cm tall
Maturity Period: 3 – 4 weeks after sowing
It is often cooked with other leafy vegetables, such as Black Night Shades.

Ecological requirements

The crop does well in a wide range of altitude ranging between 0-2400 m above the sea level
Requires moderate rainfall.
Well drained fertile soils.
High organic matter content
pH range 4.5 – 8.0
Can do well in warm conditions

Raising of seedlings

Use certified seed from recognized dealer.
The seed rate is about 500 g per acre
Amaranth is first sowed in nurseries then transplanted.

Nursery Site Selection:

Avoid setting up the nursery in fields previously having an Amaranth crop or crops in Amaranthaceae family

Nursery Establishment:

Involves site preparation and layout of nursery bed.
Nursery soil should be loosened and enriched with well decomposed manure
Make drills at a spacing of 10 cm apart; thinly sow the seeds in the drills and cover lightly with soil
Cover with mulch and then water.

Management of Nursery:

Water the seedlings regularly in the morning and evening. However, avoid over-watering which can lead to “Damping-off” disease
Start hardening the seedlings 1 – 2 weeks before transplanting by reducing the frequency of watering and the shade over the nursery

Transplanting.

Seedlings are transplanted 3-4 weeks after sowing.
Transplanting must be done either early in the morning or late in the evening.
Water the nursery before transplanting

Recommended spacing

30 cm between rows and 15 cm between plants.

Manure application

Only thoroughly manure should be used to avoid possible introduction of pest in the field.
Place a handful of compost manure per hole

Irrigation

During dry seasons the farms must be watered.
Avoid over-irrigation since it may enhance disease development & nutrient leaching

Irrigation Methods:

Use watering cans or drip irrigation for advance farming.

Weeding

The farm should be kept weed free
Weeding should be done 2-3 weeks after transplanting and continuous weeding to be done after every 3 weeks.

Top dressing

Spray with organic foliar feed or compost manure.

Pest and disease management

Pests

Spider Mites
Weevils
Aphids
Leaf Caterpillars

Spider mites

Signs and symtoms.

Are tiny sap sucking plant pests
They attack the underside of leaves
Leaves may have yellow blotches and silvery look or streaks of bronze on leaf surface
Other signs include distortion, deformation, wilting, spotting, streaking or discoloration on leaf surface
Infestations are normally serious in drier months
Extreme infestation leads to leaf drop

Weevils

Signs and symptoms

Adult feeds on leaves & lays eggs in branch crotches
The larvae bore through stems to the root collar hollowing the stems & causing rotting
The stem boring weevil causes plants to wither & lodge
Feeding of larvae result in stems that are more susceptible to wind breakage increasing crop losses
The larvae pupate in the stem

Aphids

Signs and symptoms

Aphids are pale green and are usually covered with a light dust of mealy powder
They suck plant sap from the central part of the plant and near the base of leaves
Aphids cause leaves to curl and become unattractive to customers
Heavily infested plants usually have wrinkled leaves, stunted growth & deformed seeds
Young plants may dry out & die under heavy aphid attack
Heavy attack on older plants may cause crop loss by decreasing flower & seed production
Damage may also reduce seed viability

Leaf Caterpillar

Signs and symptoms.

Larva is greenish with white lines & black crescents on thorax
Adult is small, black colored, moth with slender body
Wings are dark brown in color with white wavy markings

They web the leaves with silken threads & feed within
Webbed leaves become devoid of chlorophyll & dry up

Diseases

Damping-off
Choanephora Rot

Damping off

Signs and symptoms.

Common at the nursery stage
More likely prevalent during rainy season
Too much moisture will dispose the crop to the disease
Seedlings rot at the base of the stem thus falling over to the ground

Choanephora Rot

Signs and symptoms

Infection is predisposed by injuries
The disease is spread by air currents and infected seeds
Warm, moist conditions favor disease development.
It causes wet rot of stems and leaves
Affected plant parts have hairy appearance (silklike threads).
During rainy season, it can cause heavy defoliation

General pest and disease Control

Scouting to be done daily on the farm
In least infestation uproot the affected plants
Practice crop rotation.
Maintain field hygiene
Use bio pesticide formulation to either prevent or kill the pest.
Use certified seeds from a recognized dealer.
Avoid overwatering of seedlings in the nursery
Use sticky traps to attract and trap various pest e.g., yellow and blue
Plant repellant crops like Mexican marigold and onions
Timely planting and harvesting.

Harvest

Pinching to be done 3-4 weeks after transplanting.

Harvesting Methods:

Plants leaves & tender shoots harvested several times
With multiple harvests, young leaves & tender shoots are picked at 2-to-3-week interval
Frequent harvest prolongs the harvest period and delays onset of flowering
Harvest during cooler time of the day

Post-Harvest Handling

Containers & Packaging Materials

Packed in clean well-ventilated containers

Value Addition Techniques:

Sorting: Amaranthus are sorted to remove insects & yellow or damaged leaves
Airing of the harvested leaves is done to remove field heat
Cleaning: leaves should be thoroughly washed with water
Grading: leaves are graded by size, bunched in the same size then tied in small bundle for marketing.
Preservation: dry some leaves for future use.

CROTOLARIA/SLENDER LEAF

Background

Young leaves and shoots are consumed to meet dietary requirement for vitamin A, B and C, iron, calcium and proteins.

Common varieties

Crotalaria brevidens”

It has long narrow leaves and pods
Taste bitter
Small seeds.

Ecological requirements

Altitude: 0 – 2,400 m.a.s.l.
Temperature: favored by warm conditions.
Require well drained fertile soils.

Manure application

Compost manure should be applied 1 – 2 weeks before direct sowing and incorporated into the soil.

Propagation.

Propagation is by seed and is sown in rows.
The crop is sown directly at a spacing of 30 cm between the rows and uniformly drilled in shallow furrows.
Slender leaf has high germination percentage that occurs within 5 days.
About one month after sowing, seedlings are thinned within the rows.

Water requirement

The crop responds well to irrigation when rainfall is inadequate, especially at early stages of growth.

Top dressing

Spray with organic foliar feed or compost manure.

Common Pest and diseases

Pest

Thrips
Whiteflies
Pod Borers
Aphid

Thrips

Signs and symptoms

Adult thrips are shiny black minute insects which are found feeding on flower buds and flowers
Nymphs and adults feed on terminal buds and flowers.
Attacked flower buds turn brown and fall off

Whiteflies

Signs and symptoms

Nymphs and adults suck sap from leaves.
Their feeding, in addition to removing plant nutrients, produces chlorotic spots on infested leaves.

Pod bores

Signs and symptoms

During fruit development, pod borers may enter and interfere with seed development.
The holes in the pods will allow rain to enter and destroy the seeds further through rot.

Major disease

Fire Blight

Signs and symptoms

Attacks Crotalalia between 0-2-month-old.
This happens during wet and cold weather conditions
Wilting, browning and blackening of shoots and leaves.
Sunken, dark cankers with reddish brown streaks may develop on branches stems and the trunk

General pest and disease Control

Scouting to be done daily on the farm
In least infestation uproot the affected plants
Practice crop rotation.
Maintain field hygiene
Use bio pesticide formulation to either prevent or kill the pest.
Use certified seeds from a recognized dealer.
Avoid overwatering of seedlings in the nursery
Use sticky traps to attract and trap various pest e.g., yellow and blue
Plant repellant crops like Mexican marigold and onions
Timely planting and harvesting.

Harvest

Maturity Period: The first harvest takes place about 6-8 weeks after sowing.

Harvesting:

Pinching is done at 6-8 weeks to encourage branching.
The first harvest can be started by thinning 4-5 weeks.
The crop can stay in production up to 6 months.
Remove the flower buds to prolong the harvesting period

Post-harvest handling

Sorting is done to get the best quality leaves
Cleaning, the leaves are washed with water to remove soil and dirt’s.
Grading done to classify the leaves according to quality and use.
Shoots are tied in bundles for market.
Preservation, dry leaves for future use.

BLACK NIGHT SHADE PRODUCTION

Background

It is rich in proteins, calcium, iron, phosphorus and magnesium, Beta Carotene, Vitamin E, Folic acid and Ascorbic acid

Varieties

Giant Nightshade (Solanum scabrum)

Broad, dark green leaves
Grows up to 1.5–2 meters tall
High-yielding leafy vegetable
Tolerant to pests and diseases
Rich in iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C
Bears small, dark purple berries(seeds)

Ecological requirements

Are grown in both lowlands and highlands
Requires moderate rainfall.
Does well even in warm temperature.
Well-drained fertile soil with high organic matter content

Manure application.

Compost manure should be applied 1 – 2 weeks before transplanting and incorporated into the soil.

Raising Seedling

Use of clean certified seed from a recognized dealer.

Nursery Site Selection:

The nursery should be located in a plot that has not been planted with crops in the Solanaceae family for at least three (3) years.
Trays can also be used for raising seedlings

Nursery Establishment:

Involves site preparation and layout of nursery bed.
Nursery soil should be loosened and enriched with well decomposed manure
Make drills at a spacing of 10 cm apart; thinly sow the seeds in the drills and cover lightly with soil
Cover with mulch and then water.

Management of Nursery:

Water the nursery in the morning and evening.
The nursery should be mulched to conserve moisture

Transplanting

Seedlings are transplanted 3-4 weeks after sowing or when having 5 – 6 true leaves.

Recommended Spacing

Seedlings are planted at a spacing of 30 cm between the rows and 15 cm between plants

Manure Application.

Only thoroughly manure should be used to avoid possible introduction of pest in the field.
Place a handful of compost manure per hole

Irrigation

Irrigation is needed to avoid water stress and have optimum growth and yield.
Use watering can or drip irrigation system for advance farming.

Top dressing

Spray with organic foliar feed or compost manure.

Pests and diseases control

Pests

Root-Knot Nematode
Cutworm
Flea Beetle
Aphids

Root-Knot Nematode.

Signs and symptoms.

Root-Knot Nematodes induce characteristic swellings of the roots which are commonly referred to as galls.
This deformation of the root system inhibits the translocation of water and mineral salts thus resulting in stunted plant growth

Cutworm

Signs and symptoms

Cutworms are often found hiding in soil near the cut seedling
Grey to black caterpillars feed at night, either bite out the side of the stem at ground level causing the plant to fall over or may cut it completely

Flea Beetle Damage:

Feed on leaves where they create big holes on the foliage
The damage is serious in young plants

Major Diseases

Bacterial Blight
Early Blight

Bacterial Blight

Signs and symptoms

The disease is characterized by small, round, water-soaked spots, which eventually turn dark brown to black and become hard and dry.
Then wilting is the end result.

Early Blight

Signs and symptoms

Thrives best under warm wet conditions
Leaf spots of early blight are circular, up to 1 cm in diameter, brown, and often show a circular pattern which distinguishes this disease from other leaf spots
Leaf spots first appear on the oldest leaves and progress upwards on the plant
Entire plant could be defoliated and killed.

General pest and disease Control

Scouting to be done daily on the farm
In least infestation uproot the affected plants
Practice crop rotation.
Maintain field hygiene
Use bio pesticide formulation to either prevent or kill the pest.
Use certified seeds from a recognized dealer.
Avoid overwatering of seedlings in the nursery
Use sticky traps to attract and trap various pest e.g., yellow and blue
Plant repellant crops like Mexican marigold and onions
Timely planting and harvesting.

Harvest

Maturity Period: 3-4 weeks after transplanting

Harvesting Method:

The most common way of harvesting is regular plucking of leaves (multiple harvesting), twice per week – 14 days after transplanting, cut the growing point of the plant to encourage branching; and 2 weeks later start plucking the young shoots and continue harvesting every 1 to 2 weeks for 3 to 4 months
Harvest the fruit when it turns into a black/purple color for seed production
Regular removal of flowers ensures longer harvesting period

Post-Harvest Handling

Containers & Packaging Materials

The crop can be harvested and placed on plastic sheets or banana leaves
Blanched leaves can be dried and stored in plastic containers or sacks

Value Addition Techniques:

Sorting: – Black Nightshade should be sorted to remove insects and yellow or damaged leaves before packing – Airing of the harvested leaves is done to remove field heat
Cleaning: Leaves should be thoroughly washed with water
Grading: Grade the leaves by size, bunching those of the same size and tying in small bundles before packing in well-ventilated container for transportation to home.

Storage

Fresh leaves should be stored in cool dry place.

COWPEAS PRODUCTION

Background

Grown both as a leafy vegetable and for its grain
It is grown as pure stand or intercropped with Maize and Sorghum
Rich in calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin B complex

Varieties

Ken Kunde 1

High yielding variety
Early maturing (ready in about (55–60 days)
Drought tolerant
Broad, dark green leaves
Resistant to common cowpea pests and diseases
Suitable for both leaf and grain production
Good regrowth after harvesting leaves
Adapted to various agro-ecological zones.
High protein content

Ecological requirements

Grows in lowlands and highlands
Require moderate rainfall
Require warm temperature
Well drained fertile soils with organic matter content

Manure application

Compost manure should be applied 1 – 2 weeks before planting and incorporated into the soil.
Use a handful of manure per hole.

Propagation.

Cowpea is directly grown from seed
Early planting after the onset of rains
Seed should be planted at 4 – 5 cm deep
3-4 seeds are planted per hill.

Recommended Spacing

The seeds are planted at a spacing of 45 cm between rows and 20 cm between plants for both vegetable and grain production for pure stand.
Spacing for intercropping is 60 cm between rows and 30 cm between plants.
Drilling should be done 30 cm between rows and thinning to be done after 2-3 weeks.

Water Requirement

It reacts to serious moisture stress by limiting growth (especially leaf growth) and reducing leaf area by changing leaf orientation and closing stomata
Cowpeas are usually grown under dry land rather than irrigated conditions (For continuous production, irrigation is required which is by watering can or drip irrigation

Managing of Weeds

First weeding is done at 2-3 weeks after germination.
Weeding should be continuously done and stopped at flowering stage.
Hand weeding is encouraged.

Pests and diseases control

Pests

Aphid
Blister Beetle
Thrips
Pod Borer
Root-knot Nematodes

Blister Beetle

Signs and symptoms

Adults are medium to large sized beetles, usually black and yellow or black and red in color
The adults feed on flowers and cause reduced pod set
Adult beetles are attracted to maize pollen

Diseases

Fusarium Wilt
Powdery Mildew
Cowpea Mosaic Virus
Damping-off
Cercospora Leaf Spot

Fusarium Wilt

Signs and symptoms

It attacks water and nutrient conducting tissues of the plants
Wilting of lower leaves, or whole plant
Browning of stem tissues
Stunted growth

Powdery Mildew

Signs and symptoms

A light grayish and powdery growth on the leaves and pods
It causes yellowing and defoliation of infected plants
Heavy application of nitrogen-based fertilizer tends to increase disease severity

Cowpea Mosaic Virus

Signs and symptoms

The disease is caused by a virus which is transmitted by aphids
Curling of leaves
Infected leaves are smaller than healthy ones
Infected plants may be dwarf and become bushy with reduced yields

Leaf Spot

Signs and symptoms

Leaf spots vary in size and are often yellowish, brown or purple in color
The disease is most serious during periods of prolonged moist weather and on late plantings

The spots normally first develop on the lower leaves
Cercospora leaf spot appears as dark moldy growth and develops on the lower surface of the leaf corresponding to the spot
Severe leaf spotting results in defoliation with subsequent yield reduction

General pest and disease Control

Scouting to be done daily on the farm
In least infestation uproot the affected plants
Practice crop rotation.
Maintain field hygiene
Use bio pesticide formulation to either prevent or kill the pest.
Use certified seeds from a recognized dealer.
Avoid overwatering of seedlings in the nursery
Use sticky traps to attract and trap various pest e.g., yellow and blue
Plant repellant crops like Mexican marigold and onions
Timely planting and harvesting.

Harvest

Maturity period for leaf harvesting is 3 – 4 weeks after planting

Harvesting Methods:

Leaf harvesting – Leaves are picked when they are young and tender.
Leaf and grain harvesting – The leaf vegetable yields are significantly affected by leaf harvesting frequency – When harvesting frequency is shorter, higher grain yields are realized but when harvesting frequency is longer, yield of grains decreases.

Post-harvest handling