Sisal in arid regions

By Simon Munyeki

Inhibitors of Arid and semiarid regions for centuries have been struggling with hostile climatic conditions without knowing which is the right crop to cultivate in their farms due to unpredictable weather patterns which have forced many of them to turn to pastoralism and nomadic lifestyle moving from one place to another in search of pastures and water for their livestock.

sisal planted to mark a boundary

Although sisal has been cultivated in different parts of the world, many of the residents of kenya`s remote regions have not realized the potential and huge benefits they can yield in sisal production in their farms in which they only plant sisal on the boundaries to demarcate their land which also attracts wild animals such as elephants in places such as laikipia where elephants population is high due to many conservancies within the county.

Sisal farming in kenya is mainly done in TAITA TAVETA county where its produced in large scale by different companies such as Rea Vipingo.  sisal is mainly cultivated for its fibre which is delived from its fleshy leaves which varies in size depending on which variety that was preferred by the farmer, the fibre is used to make different products such as  marts, baskets, ropes and dart boards which are sold both locally and internationally.Sisal fibre is also used in textile industry to strengthen the wool in textile production in order to produce high quality and tough textile which is used to produce canvas.

Basket made of sisal fibre

The lower-grade fibre is processed by the paper industry because of its high content of cellulose and hemicelluloses. The medium-grade fibre is used in the cordage industry for making ropes, baler and binder twine. Ropes and twines are widely employed for marine, agricultural, and general industrial use. The higher-grade fibre after treatment is converted into yarns and used by the carpet industry.

Although sisal has not been planted In  large scale  laikipia, farmers have been selling their sisal to middle men who have been buying the little sisal that is found within the county motivating residence of laikipia to make use of the land that has been lying idle for many years.   

Orange Farming Under Attack

By Simon Munyeki

 For many years orange farming has been a source of income for many farmers in tropical regions across the globe due to the favorable climatic conditions that support agriculture  e specially fruits farming. Orange is one of the many varieties of fruits under the citrus family which enjoys the greatest popularity in all parts of the world due to their sweet taste as well as their nutrition value.

oranges growing in a farm

Eating foods rich in Vitamin A can contribute to maintaining healthy eyes. Oranges are a decent source of Vitamin A, which along with other bioflavonoid compounds help to protect the eyes from macular degeneration, cataracts and even blindness due to deterioration of vision. When oranges are added to the diet, they can offer adequate protection to the membranes lining the eyes and may be useful in promoting vision and maintaining eye health for years.

 Oranges have a stimulatory action on collagen production, making it an ideal food for your beauty needs. Oranges can also help minimize acne scars, as new skin cells help to reduce the appearance of old scars and blemishes. Coupled with Vitamin A, which has a UV reflecting action, your skin health can be maintained for many more years by just consuming an orange a day.

Oranges help improve the functions of the digestive system by stimulating the secretion of the digestive juices and lowering the acidity of the stomach so that digestion is promoted, and gastritis is avoided. This is the main reason why orange consumption helps someone in boosting his/her appetite by eating an orange minutes before having any meal.

Regular consumption of oranges may provide protection for the heart by assisting the body to lower the level of cholesterol. They are able to regulate cholesterol levels in our blood stream because they have a high level of soluble fiber, which promotes fat removal from blood. When blood flow is prevented due to the presence of excessive cholesterol and fatty acids, nutrients and oxygen-rich blood do not reach vital organs and tissues and this could give rise to serious health complications.

Loss of hair can be prevented by eating oranges. It contains constituents that help promote free flow of blood to the scalp and is effective in maintaining hair volume so common hair problems like hair thinning and hair loss are prevented. The peel of the Orange fruit may also be effective in controlling dandruff as well, and thanks to its collagen promoting properties the result in lustrous well-kept hair.

an infected orange fruit

Oranges are a great fruit for helping to regulate blood pressure, as they contain the mineral potassium which dilates blood vessels, along with the bio-flavonoids which improve flexibility of the vessels. Potassium has a regulatory effect on water balance, helping to offset water retention caused by sodium. Oranges help to enhance kidney function as well, a potassium ions ensure that residue does not remain in the kidneys, and cause kidney stones.

Orange help promote healthy gums by strengthening the blood vessels and tissues that hold the gums and teeth, and also uses Vitamin C to reduce gum inflammation. The disease scurvy, characterized by bleeding gums and poor healing of wounds, is aggravated by diminished collagen production, caused by vitamin c deficiency.

Although oranges are such amazing  and vital fruits in our diet, their production levels have greatly lowered due to an outbreak of a fungal infection that is affecting both the orange tree and the fruits resulting to trees drying up.