Agriculture sector is the backbone of Kenya’s economy, employing 70 percent of the rural population and accounting for 65 per cent of export earnings. However, agriculture’s share of national income is declining because of climate change. Nearly 98 percent of crop production is rainfed, and almost 50 per cent of …
Read More »Water cycle: It connects earth’s oceans, land, and atmosphere
Water is one of the key ingredients to life on earth. About 75 percent of our planet is covered by water or ice. The oceans hold about 97 percent of the water on earth. About 1.7 percent of earth’s water is stored in polar ice caps and glaciers. Rivers, lakes, …
Read More »Nitrogen: Too little leads to low crop yields; too much is toxic to plants
Nitrogen is the most abundant element in our atmosphere. It’s crucial to life. Nitrogen is found in soils and plants, in the water we drink, and in the air we breathe. It is also a key building block of DNA, which determines our genetics. It’s essential to plant growth, therefore …
Read More »Black soldier flies: A cheap source protein for animal feed, fertiliser
Black soldier flies could cut cost of feeds to farmers because it is a cheaper alternative source of protein. The fly feeds on waste and lays eggs, which when they become larvae, they could be crushed to make fish and livestock feed. Also, their droppings are organic fertiliser. Black soldier …
Read More »Basics: Global warming or climate change?
Listening to news coverage regarding climate change can leave one confused and disinterested. This is because the discussions are filled with lots of technical language. Plants, birds, animals, and humans have all felt the impacts of climate change. This calls on us to educate ourselves to understand how each of …
Read More »UNEP: Government must tax chemical fertilisers and pesticides
United Nations Environment Programme has told the government to help farmers use organic fertilisers and biological pest control instead of synthetic fertiliser and chemical pesticides. The government charges no tax on imported chemical fertilisers and chemical pesticides. Also, these agricultural inputs are sold without 16 percent valued added tax (VAT). …
Read More »Firms show their technologies at global event in Nairobi
Over 150 machines used in plastics making, printing, and processing were displayed at Propak East Africa 2022 exhibition. The three-day show ran from 10-12 May at Sarit Centre, Nairobi. Among countries, it was Italy which came to the show with the greatest force with over a dozen firms. The Italian …
Read More »Guide: How solar energy works
Kenyans use the Internet to know what solar energy is. Questions people are typing show a lot is unknown about solar energy. Where does solar energy come from? How does solar energy work? Is solar energy reliable? Can solar energy be used for cooking? Can solar energy run a refrigerator? …
Read More »Kenya Association of Manufacturers: Chief executive officer leaves after 9 years
The association appointed Ms Phyllis Wakiaga as the chief executive officer in 2015. She joined the association in 2013 as the head of policy, research, and advocacy. Board of directors praised her for giving the association “tremendous energy and enthusiasm.” Chairman Mucai Kunyiha said that Ms Wakiaga led the …
Read More »Wanted: Water treatment operator
Kenya Pipeline Company is looking for a water treatment operator to employ. The worker will run the firm’s water treatment plants to safeguard quality of the water for domestic and industrial use. The hired candidate will check and repair defects in water treatment plants daily. In addition, the employee will …
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