Welcome to the vibrant, aromatic world of garlic farming in Kenya, where every bulb is a treasure and pests are the cunning bandits plotting to derail your harvest! At Onion Doctor we are thrilled to champion the bold farmers revolutionizing garlic farming in Kenya, from the lush highlands of Nyeri to the fertile fields of Nakuru. Pests may think they can outsmart Kenyan growers but we are here to arm you with a thrilling, science-backed amor to protect your crop. Whether you are a commercial farmer scaling up garlic farming in Kenya or a smallholder perfecting your backyard patch, this guide is your ticket to outwitting pests with style or precision. Garlic farming in Kenya is booming, and with Onion Doctor expert strategies, you will keep those pesky invaders at bay while boosting yields and quality. Let us dive into this pungent adventure and make garlic farming in Kenya a pest-free triumph!
COMMON GARLIC PESTS IN KENYA
1.BULB MITES
- Appearance: Small microscopic creamy-white often found in clusters under the bulb scales or at the base of roots.
- Damage: Chew bulb tissue, causing soft rotten spots and stunted growth.
- Implication: Severe infestations can significantly decrease both the quantity and quality of the garlic harvest
2.ONION MAGGOT
- Appearance: Adult onion maggots are slender, gray flies resembling houseflies but smaller, about 1/4 inch long; their larvae are creamy-white, legless, tapered maggots approximately 0.3 inches in length .
- Damage: Larvae feed on onion roots and bulbs, causing wilting, plant death, and creating entry points for pathogens, leading to bulb rot and reduced storability
- Implication: Infestations can lead to significant crop losses, particularly in fields with consecutive wet springs, and may necessitate crop rotation and other integrated pest management strategies to mitigate damage .
3LEAF MINERS
- Appearance: Larvae of tiny flies, creating white, winding tunnels inside leaves; adults are small, black-and-yellow flies.
- Damage: Burrow into leaves, forming trails that reduce photosynthesis and weaken plants.
- Implications: Invites fungal infections, reduces onion vigor and impacts quality a concern for Kenyan farmers in humid areas like Narok.
4.ONION THRIPS
- Appearance: Tiny, slender, yellow to brown insects with fringed wings and seven-segmented antennae.
- Damage: They pierce and suck plant cells, leading to silvery-white streaks, leaf curling, and reduced photosynthesis.
- Implication: They reduce crop yield and quality, and can transmit viruses like Iris yellow spot virus and Tomato spotted wilt virus.
5. NEMATODES
- Appearance: Microscopic, worm-like nematodes that cluster between bulb scales, sometimes forming visible “wool” masses.
- Damage: Causes yellowing, stunted growth, bulb softening, root loss, and cracked basal plates, often leading to secondary rot.
- Implication: Leads to significant yield loss, poor storage quality, and long-term soil contamination.
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR GARLIC PESTS
To combat these pests effectively in onion farming in Kenya, Onion Doctor recommends the following:
- Crop Rotation: Avoid planting garlic or crops from the Allium family in the same location each year to reduce soil-borne pests and diseases
- Use Certified Seed: Plant disease-free garlic cloves to prevent introducing pests. Contact Onion Doctor for the best quality Garlic seedlings and germinated cloves.
- Sanitation: Remove and destroy infected plant material to prevent pest spread.
- Hot Water Treatment: Soak garlic cloves in hot water (120°F) for 20 minutes before planting to kill nematodes.
- Regular Monitoring: Inspect plants frequently for early signs of pest infestation.
- Spraying and Feeding program: Onion Doctor Limited offers a spraying and feeding program for an affordable price of Kes 5000 or $ 38.64 dollars. Below is a summary of the Spray and Feeding program for more info Message Onion Doctor Ltd on WhatsApp. https://wa.me/254706252490
| WEEK | PESTICIDE | FUNGICIDE | FERTILIZER | FOLIAR |
| Land Preparation | Decomposed Manure. | |||
| 1 | Active Ingredient | Active Ingredient | First Top Dressing | |
| 2 | Mancozeb | |||
| 3 | Profenofos | |||
| 4 | Acephale | Cabendazim |
Onion Doctor Limited: advises Kenyan farmers to tailor these strategies to local conditions and consult our experts for customized plans, including soil testing and pest identification and management services. Contact us for: Onion seedlings, Garlic seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack and Farm management. For free consultation, placing orders or booking a visit with an agronomist, please contact us via Call or what’s app +254703982228, Email: Info@oniondoctor.co.ke.