TOMATO PRODUCTION IN KENYA

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 Introduction 



Tomatoes are grown for their fruits which are beneficial to human beings as they are rich in vitamins A,B and C. The ripe fruits are cooked,eaten when they are raw in salads or processed to make tomato sauce and juice.
Farming of Tomatoes  nowadays has become popular in some countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and other East and Central African countries. Most of the farmers in kenya grow Tomatoes for export and home consumption within the urban areas. In this way, they generate income and improve their standards of living. 

Ecological requirements of tomato production

Tomatoes grow well in warm climate with an altitude range of 0- 2100 metres above sea level. That is why in kenya growing of Tomatoes is done mostly in central and southern part of kenya I.e in Kirinyaga  ( mwea) ,Kajiado and Taita Taveta.
Tomatoes do well in places with  annual rainfall of between 760 and1300mm.The rain should be distributed evenly over the growing period.However, irrigation may be done when rainfall fails.
Tomatoes require soils that are deep, fertile and well drained

Nursery Establishment and management 

Most of the farmers nowadays have embraced the new technology for nursery management. They have abandoned the old system where the nursery beds were dug on grounds and raised to about 15 cm. After the nursery beds were made fine and level, drills were made using a finger or a stick across the beds 10 cm to 15 cm apart. Seeds were dropped singly in the drills and then covered lightly. This method of nursery establishment was disadvantageous in that Seedlings were attacked by soil borne diseases such as fussarium,nematodes and damping off.

The new technology of nursery establishment entails the use of plastic trays of different sizes with sizeable holes or plugs where seeds are placed singly. The trays represent the ground. Artificial and treated soil called coco peat is used instead of the normal soil. This soil is free from diseases and is very rich in nutrients that are required during the growth the Seedlings. The Seedlings obtained through this technology are very healthy compared to the ones raised through the old system. They do not die back or wither when transplanted under normal conditions.
An Empty tomato seedlings tray.

Varieties 

The use of tomato certified seeds widely used. Hybrid varieties are common as they are tolerant to soil diseases  such as fussarium, damping off and Pests such as nematodes. These varieties have higher production capacity compared to the normal ones.

Land preparation 

The land should be dug deep using an appropriate farm implements such as ox-plough or tractors . All types of weeds should  be removed. Holes that are 15 cm deep should be dug at a spacing of 90 × 60 cm or 100 by 50 cm depending on varieties. A handful  of well rotten  manure and a teaspoonful of phosphatic fertilisers should be added  in each hole and thoroughly mixed with top soil.
Ridges are also made to allow easy flow of water when irrigation is being done.

Importance of land preparation 

  • Land preparation helps to break soil clods
  • Helps to aerate the soil i.e. to increase amount of air in the soil.
  • Helps to kill weeds
  • Helps to control pest and diseases 
  • Organic matters are burried or incorporated in the soil to increase nutrients. 

Why phosphatic fertilisers are recommended 

  • Phosphatic fertilisers do not get leached easily. Leaching is a process where soil nutrients penetrates through the soil before they are  used by the plants. 
  • They have a slightly scorching effects and have to be mixed with the soil thoroughly .
  • Phosphatic fertilisers help in roots developments.
  • Help to strengthen plant stems thus preventing  lodging of plants.
  • Enhance flowering and ripening of fruits. 

Transplanting

This is where the Seedlings in the trays are transferred to the field. They are carefully removed from the holes/ plugs of the trays together with their artificial soil or seed planting mix and placed in the holes dug on the seed bed. Each hole should accommodate  one Seedling and this should be done late in the evening, early in the morning  or during a cloudy day.

Field management practices 

Gapping

Gapping involves replacing the Seedlings that have dried up after transplanting. This is done to maintain the correct plant population. Plant population is the ideal number of plants that can be accommodated in a given piece of land without waste of space.

Top dressing 

Nitrogenous fertilisers such as CAN or SA are applied when the plants have grown to a height of 45 to 60 cm. However, care must be taken when applying nitrogenous fertilisers. Too much nitrogenous fertilisers should be avoided as they cause; 
  • Prolonged maturity 
  • Cracking of fruits before they are mature 
  • Blossom end rot  disease 
  • Too much vegetative growth preventing fruits formation.

Advantages of nitrogenous fertilisers 

  • Nitrogen form part of chlorophyl  which is a requirement for photosynthesis to take place. 
  • Encourage proper vegetative growth 
  • Regulate the availability of phosphorous and potassium in plants.
It should be noted that , potassic fertilisers can also be top dressed as they;
  • Potassium helps to neutralise organic acids in plants
  • Assists in the uptake of nitrates from the soil and provide a balancing effect on phosphorous and nitrogen uptake. 
  • It is a component of chlorophyl molecule.
  • Potassium strengthen the stalk of the plants and give resistance to fungal and bacterial attacks.

Weeding 

In tomato field ,Weeding is done through hand cultivation. The field should be free from weeds always to reduce competition for nutrients between the weeds and the crops. Also Weeding helps to reduce chances of Pests and diseases to spread to the crops. Care must be taken not to injure tomato plants roots,stems and shaking  as it may cause immature falling of fruits.

Staking

Due to high growing vigour or habit of hybrid varieties, tomato plants should be supported  by use of sticks and strings. This is called staking. Each stick is firmly fixed to the ground next to a tomato plant.  Staking helps to protect the fruits from rotting as well as keeping clean. It also allows air to circulate effectively. 

Staked tomato plants.

Tomato Pests and control

Tomato Pests include American bollworm ,cutworms,  red spider mites,nematodes and the most common pest called Tuta Absoluta. Others include aphids ,thrips ,leaf minors etc.
Cutworms attack the plant immediately when they are transplanted. They cut the base or the bottom of the stem leaving an empty space.
Nematodes affects the roots of the plants hindering roots development 
American bollworm and Tuta Absoluta attack the fruits. They bore holes leaving the fruits with defects. 
The red spider mites attacks the leaves leaving them yellow and finally lowering the production. 

Control 

Tomato Pests are mainly controlled by use of appropriate  pesticides. 
Nematodes are controlled by practicing crop rotation.

Tomato Diseases and their control

  1. Bacteria wilt 
This disease is caused by a bacterium known as pseudominas solanacearum. The attacked plant wither and then dry up even when the weather condition is wet. When an attacked plant is noted ,it should  be uprooted  and burnt. This process  is called rogueing.

This disease Is controlled by use of certified seeds and practicing crop rotation .

2. Blight

It is a fungal disease caused by a fungus known as phytophthora infesting. The disease cause brown lessons on stems,leaves and fruits. The affected fruits rot and fall prematurely. 

The disease is controlled by use of appropriate fungicides. However, once the disease has set in ,there is no cure.
 

3. Blossom end rot 

This is a physiological disease caused by:
  • Too much nitrogen in early stages of growth.
  • Irregular watering.
  • Calcium deficiency in young fruits 
The disease is controlled by watering regularly,  top dressing the crop with the right amount of nitrogen and application of calcium compounds in the soil.

4. Powdery mildew, down mildew and anthracnose.

These  are other diseases that attack Tomatoes. They are also controlled by use of appropriate fungicides .

Harvesting and marketing

Harvesting of Tomatoes is done when a reddish colour starts to appear to give the farmer enough time to get his/her produce to the market at the right stage of ripeness. Tomatoes are transplanted using wooden crates. The fruits should be flattened at the level of the crates to allow Pilling of crates on top of each other without squashing the fruits.






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