Joseph Mwangi has been growing cabbages in Kenya since 1990. His dedication to his land and crops is evident in every corner of his 5-acre farm. In addition to his own land, he also rents an additional 10 to 15 acres, bringing his total cabbage production to between 15 and 20 acres.
To sustain and enhance his productivity, he has experimented with various cabbage varieties to boost yield and profitability.
“
The sowing of this cabbage in nursery gave me 99% in nursery production
Joseph Mwangi,
Farmer, Kinangop, Kenya
”
The challenges of a seasoned farmer
Despite his experience and dedication, Joseph faced significant challenges in his farming journey.
The most pressing issue was the percentage of saleable produce. On average, he could only sell between 50% and 65% of his harvest. The quality of the cabbage heads and their ability to withstand field conditions until the buyer arrived were critical factors affecting his yield.
In Joseph’s region, Xanthomonas, a bacterial disease, wreaked havoc on cabbage fields, making it even harder to produce marketable crops. This disease often compromised the quality of the heads, reducing their market value and Joseph’s income.
Furthermore, the unpredictability of when his buyer would arrive added another layer of uncertainty. His cabbages needed to have excellent field-holding ability to ensure they remained fresh and marketable during this waiting period.
This variety offers a solution to almost all the challenges he faces. With the Conquistador F1, Joseph achieves an impressive 85% yield, a significant increase from his previous 50-65%. The quality of the harvested heads has improved remarkably, offering better texture, weight, and overall appearance.
One of the most significant advantages of the Conquistador F1 hybrid is its field tolerance to the prevalent Xanthomonas disease. With this disease-resistant variety, Joseph’s crops have become healthier and more robust, significantly reducing the persistent losses his farm has experienced for years. Additionally, the Conquistador cabbages boast superior field holding ability. This means that even when his buyer is delayed, the cabbages retain their freshness and quality, ready for market whenever the buyer arrives.
Thanks to increased disease tolerance, the quality of Joseph’s harvests has improved.
The Conquistador F1 is a hybrid cabbage with increased disease tolerance, specifically to the Xanthomonas disease in Joseph’s area.
The positive impacts of the Conquistador F1 hybrid don’t stop at Joseph’s increased yield and better quality produce. His buyer is equally impressed with the results. The cabbages are not only easier to sell but also meet the customers’ preferences. This mutual satisfaction between farmer and buyer leads to better business relationships and increased profitability for both parties.
Joseph is thrilled with the brilliant germination rates of the Conquistador variety. From sowing to harvest, the plants demonstrate exceptional growth, culminating in clean, solid, and high-quality cabbage heads. These heads often weigh between 5 to 6 kilograms, making them highly desirable in the market.
Improved field-holding ability allows Joseph to maintain the quality of his cabbages until buyers arrive, reducing harvest losses and boosting profits.
Joseph Mwangi’s story is one of resilience, adaptation, and ultimate success.
Through his partnership with Sakata and the adoption of the Conquistador F1 hybrid cabbage, he is transforming his farming operations, achieving higher yields and better quality produce.
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Sakata Vegetables Europe, a subsidiary of Sakata Seed Corporation (Japan), breeds, produces and markets high quality vegetable seeds for Europe, Middle East and Africa. It offers around 900 varieties of broccoli, tomato, squash, watermelon and cabbage to name a few.
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