Inside plant clinics that are changing the lives of Nakuru farmers
Leah Kahura at the Njoro Ward plant clinic.
Last year, Steven Kamau, a fruit and bean farmer from Rongai, was on the brink of a disaster.
His fruit trees were failing prematurely and his cabbage crop was being attacked by aphids and bean flies. Worried and unsure of what to do, Kamau heard about a nearby plant clinic organised by the County government agricultural officer and decided to give it a try.
At the clinic, farmers were asked to bring samples of their affected crops for diagnosis. Kamau brought a bean plant and a kale branch.
It was the first time he had attended such a session - and he described the experience as similar to a human health clinic, except that farmers were queuing with their 'sick' crops instead of people.
Kamau quickly learned the cause of his plant problems. The fruit drop, he was told, was due to excess water on his farm. He also received expert advice on the right pesticides to use on his cabbage and beans, as well as alternative, environmentally friendly pest control methods.
Plant clinic set up during the pyrethrum field day in Turi Ward.
"In addition to chemical treatments, I was advised on other ways to manage pests and diseases," says Kamau. He has since referred at least seven other farmers to the crop clinic.
Leah Kahura, a farmer from Njoro, had a similar experience. Her cabbage and maize were being destroyed by worms, and despite using several pesticides, nothing seemed to work - until she attended a plant clinic for the first time.
"Before the clinic, I was experiencing heavy losses because nothing I sprayed was working," she said. "But after getting the right advice, my crops started to thrive."
Leah says the clinic didn't just save her crops, it also saved her money by eliminating the need for costly trial-and-error treatments. With timely and accurate advice, she was able to harvest successfully.
Today, Nakuru County has 46 operational plant clinics and more than 100 trained 'plant doctors' serving every ward. These clinics help local farmers respond more effectively to pest and disease outbreaks using sustainable methods.