Abstract:
The diverse climatic, soil and water conditions in the region favour the
production of arrays of indigenous and exotic vegetable crops. Vegetable
production is becoming a popular farming business in the region. It
is produced in home gardeners and commercially under irrigated and
rain fed conditions both for local use, processing and export market.
They are cheap source of family nutrition, (vitamin and minerals).They
are also good source of income for small farmers for their high
market values or profitable compared to cereal crops. They give high
yield per unit area, and they can easily be produced under different
growing conditions in the region. For its various economic benefits, the
production is increasing at a higher rate both in the farmer's field and
horticultural enterprises.
The Rift Valley region is climatically and physically fit for production of
economically important vegetables: tomatoes (fresh and processing) onion,
cabbages and Capsicum (Hot pepper). Provided that proper management
high marketable yield and quality fruit is obtained in average
growing temperature of 20-27/12-16°C day and night, respectively. Cab-
bage however is adapted well in the cooler season in the region. The
Crops perform well on well-drained sandy loam soil with pH of 6.5-7.5.
The training focused on tomatoes, onion and cabbages, which are
videly grown and important cash crops in the project area.
