Question

1. Name two counties in Kenya where wheat is grown in large scale.    
2. State five physical conditions that favor wheat growing in the Kenya.  
3.  
   1. Describe coffee growing in Kenya from planting to harvesting.     
   2. State four problems facing coffee farming in Kenya. 
4. Explain four measures taken by the government of Kenya to improve beef cattle farming.

Answer 1

1.  
   1. Uasin Gishu County
   2. Transzoia County
   3. Narok county
   4. Laikipia County
   5. Nakuru County
2.  
   1. Moderate rainfall/500 mm to 1270mm to enhance the growth 
   2. Warm conditions/15°C to 20°C to facilitate growth /maturity of wheat.
   3. Gentle sloping /undulating landscape for mechanized cultivation.
   4. A warm/dry/sunny spell for ripening and harvesting
   5. Volcanic soils to sustain high production 
   6. Well drained soils
   7. Frost free conditions.
   8. High altitude
3.  
   1.  
      • Coffee seeds are planted in a nursery where they germinate and left to stay for 6 months.
      • The seeds are watered regularly.
      • Shade is erected above the nursery bed.
      • Holes are dug in the field 3m apart.
      • Seedlings are transplanted for about 6 months to 1 year.
      • Manure is applied.
      • Mulching is also done by laying dry leaves around the stem.
      • The seedlings are pruned annually.
      • Regular weeding/herbicides are applied.
      • Spraying of pesticides to control pests is done regularly.
      • From the 5th year, the trees attain maturity and the coffee beans are ready for harvesting.
      • Harvesting involves manual plucking of red/ ripe berries leaving the green ones to ripen.
   2.  
      • The crops is attacked by pests e.g ladybird.
      • Diseases e.g leaf rust/ coffee berry disease/leaf rot.
      • Fluctuation of coffee prices in the world market.
      • Poor road network causing delays in transporting of yields.
      • Mismanagement of coffee cooperatives.
      • Inadequate rainfall in some seasons hence low yield.
      • Inaccessibility to credit/inadequate capital.
      • Expensive prices of farm inputs/fertilizers/pesticides.
      • Delayed payments hence demoralizing the farmers.
      • Poor marketing strategies.
      • Low payment hence discouraging the farmers.
4.  
   1. The government encourages the cross breeding of traditional cattle breeds with exotic ones thus improve the quality of the beef cattle.
   2. It has constructed and improved roads to make services accessible to farmers/ make transportation of beef cattle to markets easier.
   3. It strengthens community education to teach beef cattle farmers better livestock management.
   4. It has sunk boreholes/ dug wells/ constructed dams to provide water for the beef cattle.
   5. Kenya Meat Commission has been revived. This helps to buy beef cattle from farmers for slaughter.
   6. It encourages the replacement of the course grass with nutritious pasture to improve the quality of the beef cattle.