This archive report was first published on 19 June 2020.
On a sunny day in June 2020, Margaret Nyambura Njuguna, a determined farmer from Nakuru County, was inspecting her mature tomato fruits inside her six-by-eight-metre greenhouse at Turi Farm, two kilometres from Elburgon town.
With an initial investment of Sh40,000 in 2018, Nyambura started her greenhouse project, using 450 seedlings certified by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) at a cost of Sh3,000.
She spaced her seedlings at 45cm by 60cm for the Anna F-1 seeds she planted, allowing the tomatoes enough space to grow.
Speaking to Nyambura, she revealed that growing tomatoes inside a greenhouse is more economical and protects the crop from direct sunlight and heavy rainfall.
“Using water drips increases the yield because the crop gets optimal amount of water and temperature,’’ she said, adding that very little amount of rainfall and sunlight is needed.
However, Nyambura also noted that whiteflies, which damage the leaves, are a major challenge in her tomato farming business.
She recalled how, in 2018, production declined drastically when she failed to spray her tomatoes at the right time, incurring a loss of more than Sh20,000.
Despite the challenges, Nyambura's tomato farming business has been thriving, with the farmer currently pocketing between Sh5,000 and Sh6,000 per week from the venture.
For the three years she has been growing tomatoes, Nyambura said the highest amount of money she has earned from the crop is Sh70,000 per month.
Alfred Waithaka, the Molo Sub-County Agricultural Officer, advised farmers to follow instructions while spraying their crops, noting that the insect Tuta absoluta, also known as the tomato leafminer, affects the leaves and stems and needs to be sprayed several times with Coragen insecticide.
