Why people are staring at you

You are not imagining it, but you may be misunderstanding it.

Jinsi ya kulima maparachichi ya masoko ya ng'ambo  

KILIMO cha maparachichi kimekuwa miongoni mwa biashara zenye faida kubwa nchini Kenya kutokana na kuongezeka kwa mahitaji ya matunda hayo katika masoko ya ndani na nje ya nchi. Masoko ya kimataifa, yaani ng'ambo, yamekuwa yenye mvuto mkubwa kwa maparachichi, maarufu kama avokado. Bara Uropa, nchi za Milki ya Kiarabu (UAE) na Asia ndio wanunuzi wakuu wa avokado za Kenya. Ili kupata mavuno bora, mkulima anapaswa kuanza kwa kuchagua miche bora iliyothibitishwa kutoka kwa vitalu vinavyoaminika, anashauri Daniel Mwenda, mtaalamu. "Aina maarufu zinazopendekezwa ni Hass na Fuerte kutokana na ubora wa matunda na soko lake," Mwenda anasema. Maparachichi hustawi katika maeneo yenye mvua ya wastani hadi nyingi, udongo wenye rutuba na usiotuamisha maji. Kabla ya kupanda, Mwenda anasema hatua ya kwanza ni kuandaa shimo lenye ukubwa wa karibu sentimita 60 kwa 60 na kuchanganya udongo wa juu na samadi 'iliyooza' vizuri. "Miche ipandwe kwa nafasi ya mita saba hadi nane kati ya mti na mti ili kutoa nafasi ya ukuaji," anashauri mtaalamu huyo. [caption id="attachment_189894" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Maparachichi ya John Mburu, mkulima kutoka Gatundu Kusini, Kaunti ya Kiambu yakipimwa uzani. Picha|Sammy Waweru[/caption] Miaka ya mwanzo, ni muhimu kumwagilia miche maji hasa wakati wa kiangazi, kuweka nyasi za matandazo (mulching) ili kuhifadhi unyevuunyevu na kupunguza magugu, pamoja na kuondoa matawi yaliyokauka au kuathirika na magonjwa. John Mburu ni mkulima wa avokado Gatundu Kusini, Kaunti ya Kiambu na anasema amekumbatia matumizi ya mbolea asili na fatalaiza. "Mahitaji ya mbolea kwenye udongo, mkulima anapaswa kushirikisha mtaalamu ili upimwe kwenye maabara kujua virutubisho vinavyohitajika," mkulima huyo anasema. Wakulima wanapaswa pia kufuatilia wadudu na magonjwa, na kukabiliana na athari hizo kwa mujibu wa vigezo na dawa zilizoidhinishwa kwa minajili ya mazao yanayouzwa nje ya nchi. "Matumizi ya mbinu bora za usimamizi wa mazao, ikiwemo usafi wa shamba na ushauri wa maafisa wa nyanjani, husaidia kupunguza hasara," mtaalamu Mwenda anahimiza. [caption id="attachment_189895" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Mfanyakazi katika kampuni ya Soko Fresh, Thika akikagua avokado zinazooshwa ili kuuzwa nje ya Kenya. Picha|Sammy Waweru[/caption] Mparachichi huanza kuzaa baada ya miaka miwili hadi mine – hilo likitegemea aina ya mche na usimamizi wa shamba. Matunda yanapaswa kuvunwa kwa uangalifu kwa kutumia vifaa vinavyofaa ili kuepuka majeraha yanayoweza kupunguza ubora wake. Kwa wakulima wanaolenga soko la nje, ni muhimu kufuata viwango vya ubora kama GlobalG.A.P., kuhakikisha matunda yanachambuliwa vizuri na kuhifadhiwa katika mazingira yanayodumisha ubora wake.

Girls urged to enroll in TVET and blue economy courses to bridge gender gap

Girls in Mombasa County have been encouraged to enroll in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and pursue traditionally male-dominated courses, particularly those related to the blue economy, as part of efforts to empower the girl child and bridge the gender gap in technical careers. Speaking during a career symposium held at Tononoka...

Activists demand police accountability, justice during Saba Saba commemoration in Mombasa

Hundreds of residents in Mombasa marked the Saba Saba commemoration with a peaceful procession and petitioned the government to address concerns over alleged police brutality, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, unlawful killings and excessive use of force during public demonstrations. The activists presented their petition to the government, calling for stronger accountability mechanisms and urging state...

Kedogo applauds transformation at Vihiga Teaching and Referral Hospital

Former National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) Deputy Chairperson and former Vihiga County Woman Representative Dorcas Kedogo has commended the ongoing transformation at Vihiga Teaching and Referral Hospital (VTRH), describing the changes as a major step towards improving healthcare delivery in the region. Kedogo made the remarks during a courtesy visit to the facility on...

Ministry kick-starts preparations for the Presidential National Health Summit 2026

The Ministry of Health has officially commenced preparations for the Presidential National Health Summit 2026 following the inaugural meeting of the National Planning Committee chaired by Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Health Aden Duale. The Summit will serve as a landmark national platform bringing together leaders and stakeholders from across the health sector to review Kenya's...

CS Kagwe Warns of Growing Threat to Kenya's Meat

Kenya is targeting billions from meat exports, but a growing challenge could derail those plans, CS Mutahi Kagwe says the country must act now.

UDA Responds to Claims It Disowned MP Over Alleged Gachagua Links

The claims arose after an unverified post alleged that the former Deputy President had welcomed the legislator into his faction.

How Safaricom Is Preparing for the Next 25 Years

When investors think about growth, they usually picture new products, bigger markets or stronger financial results. Rarely do they think about governance documents. Yet some of the most consequential investments a company can make are written not into its balance sheet but into its constitution. That is the significance of the governance changes Safaricom shareholders [...] The post How Safaricom Is Preparing for the Next 25 Years appeared first on Kahawatungu.

Sacco regulations and investments: What you need to know

Trump says deal with Iran is over

'To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them. They're scum. They're sick people.

How Mombasa activists, police make peaceful protests work

Police purposefully avoided blocking major roads or provoking crowds.

Anti-FGM Board under fire over Sh100 million spending, campaign details

MPs grill the Board over Sh100m spending, demand detailed accounts of campaigns and county...

The World Cup's hidden runners: Referees keep pace with players and pressure

Why FIFA now treats referees much like players.

Saba Saba protests: How bullet in leg ruined my family

Peterson Munyi, 44, was shot by police during the Saba Saba protests in 2025.

Imenti Forest: Court stops 'sham' public participation on Meru State lodge plans

Public participation forum, however, proceeds despite court order.

No Will, no spending: Court restricts daughters' control of father's estate

Of succession law and its strict limits.

Wakulima wahimizwa kukumbatia nafaka zinazostahimili ukame

MABADILIKO ya tabianchi yameendelea kuathiri uzalishaji wa chakula nchini Kenya kutokana na mvua isiyotabirika, ukame wa mara kwa mara na ongezeko la joto. Hali hii imepunguza mavuno ya mazao ya kawaida kama vile mahindi, hivyo wataalamu wanashauri wakulima kuanza kulima nafaka na mbegu zinazostahimili ukame ili kujenga mfumo wa kilimo unaoweza kuhimili mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. "Kuna nafaka ndogo ambazo zinahimili athari za tabianchi kama vile ukame na joto, na baadhi yanaweza kuwa kutumika badala ya mahindi," anasema Dkt Ndungu Kabare, mtaalamu wa kilimo na mkulima kutoka Ruiru. Kulingana na Dkt Kabare, mazao kama vile mtama, wimbi, teff, amaranth na chia yanahitaji maji kidogo, hukomaa haraka na yana misimu miwili ya mavuno kwa mwaka. [caption id="attachment_189887" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Mbegu za chia zilizovunwa. Picha|Sammy Waweru[/caption] "Tofauti na mahindi, mazao haya yana uwezo mkubwa kustahimili vipindi virefu vya ukame bila kupungua sana kiuzalishaji," anaelezea mtaalamu huyo. Mbali na kustahimili mabadiliko ya tabianchi, nafaka hizi zina thamani kubwa ya lishe. Zina madini faafu kwa binadamu, vitamini, na antioxidants kwa kiwango cha juu zaidi kuliko baadhi ya nafakaa. Hali kadhalika, nafaka hizo zina kiwango cha chini cha sukari kinachoingia haraka mwilini (glycemic index), hivyo zinafaa kwa watu wenye maradhi ya kisukari na unene kupita kiasi. "Kwa upande wa biashara, soko la mazao haya linaendelea kukua kutokana na ongezeko la watumiaji wanaotafuta vyakula bora kiafya," Dkt Kabare anasema. [caption id="attachment_189888" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Mtama mweupe ambao pia hutumika kupika ugali. Picha|Sammy Waweru[/caption] Viwanda vya kusaga nafaka, watengenezaji wa vyakula vyenye mseto wa virutubisho, mikate na chakula cha mifugo, pia, vinahitaji malighafi hii, huku teff ikipata ikivutia masoko ya kimataifa. Kulingana na Dkt Kabare, kupanua kilimo cha nafaka na mbegu zinazostahimili ukame kutasaidia Kenya kupunguza utegemezi wa mahindi, kuimarisha usalama wa chakula na kuongeza kipato cha wakulima. Aidha, anasisitiza kuwa mafunzo, mbegu bora na uhamasishaji wa wakulima ni muhimu ili mazao haya yakubalike na kulimwa kwa kiwango cha juu nchini.

Rift Valley regional secondary schools term two games kick off

Stakes are high for teams participating in Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) regional tournament games as reigning champions seek to defend their regional titles and march to the national championship. The event that kicked off on Tuesday running through July 11, 2026, is being hosted in Narok County at the William Ole Ntimama Stadium...

Migori VTC's instructors demand action following overdue promotions

Migori County Instructors Welfare has renewed calls for the county government to implement long overdue promotions, arguing that years of stalled career progression have affected staff morale and violated their employment rights. The Migori Training Instructors, drawn from Vocational Training Centres across the county, converged at the County Department of Education offices to demand immediate...