Ecofriendly Net2 - Chapters of the film

Kiambu County (chapter 1)

Experienced plastic greenhouse farmers with preference for organic farming from Kiambu County of warm and temperate climate compare costs and benefits under plastic greenhouses with emphasis on efficiency in crop protection and maintenance of the structures. The farmers also state their preference for net houses based on yield and quality of high value horticultural produce such as tomatoes and French bean.

Migori County (chapter 2)

Migori County of Kenya experiences drought, occasional heavy rains characterized by hailstones and wind. The County is among those with the highest population growth rates in the country. Consequently, land fragmentation, pests and diseases are rampant. Greenhouses are not common in the area due to high temperatures. Vegetables in the area come from other counties and are therefore costly since the area does not favor to open field vegetable production. Netting technology motivates smallholder farmers using permaculture in the area as rotation of vegetables in a nethouse naturally controls pests, ensures food security and increased incomes. The farmers share their perception on the adaptability of the technology, yield and quality.

Machakos County (chapter 3)

Machakos County is semi-arid and apart from the water shortage, birds are a menace. Due to the high temperatures, plastic green houses are avoided. The farmers in the pilot project show how investing in drip irrigation and the net house conserve water. They also compare crop performance inside and outside the net house with respect to growth rates, costs such as irrigation and pest control. The farmers emphasize the presence of good market and price for vegetables and the role of netting technology in tapping this market, poverty alleviation and in improving standards of living. The farmers underscore the interest the technology has generated among Ministry of Agriculture officials and the administration who visit frequently.

Kajiado County (chapter 4)

Kajiado County is a peri-urban area around Nairobi with farmers practicing small scale farming. The farmer group leader in the area is an organic farmer with experience in use of plastic greenhouses and was the first farmer in Kenya to adapt the net house technology having read about it on the internet. He compares performance of crop in the plastic greenhouses, net houses and on open fields with respect to pest and disease control, yield and quality. Farmers gain insights on management of the crop in the net house to avoid invasive pests like the leaf miner Tuta absoluta. Other farmers farming in real farming conditions including use of plastic troughs share their experiences.

Kirinyaga County (chapter 5)

Kirinyaga County is among the leading areas in tomato production under irrigation due to water scarcity. The farmer group leader in this region mentions that pests and diseases are rampant in the area and farmers heavily rely on chemical pesticides with some exiting farming on the realization that the costs of pest control outweigh the benefits. Farmers compare nethouse and open field crop performance in terms of yield, quality, water and labour requirement for irrigation, weeding etc. They underscore the role of indeterminate tomato seed varieties under net house and the associated high rate of return. The conclusion is that netting technology is sustainable and encourages self-reliance among farmers.

Discussion on economics of net houses (chapter 6)

This video presents an interactive meeting focusing on the economics of the net house with several stakeholders in attendance including farmer group leaders, socio-economist, financial analyst, supplier of net and scientists in crop protection. The socio-economist presents the methodology and preliminary results on profitability and return on investment. Farmers highlight factors driving the profitability occasioned by cost reductions and price differentials. Farmers share their views on their expected return on investment, quality of produce from the net house and whether they would be willing to invest in other net houses. The financial analyst seeks to identify the willingness to pay amount and the financing options for smallholder growers to purchase AgroNets and associated support structures -- including banks, microfinance institutions, semiformal financing, and individual and group savings plans. The supplier of net seeks to know farmer preferences in terms of size, package and whether to including training and soil testing within the cost.