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In this lesson we are going to discuss about crop farming

Answer Text:
Crop Farming
Cash crops are grown mainly in southern part of Kenya due to the following factors:
a) Suitable climatic conditions for a variety of crops such as temperature ranging from cool to cold, rainfall ranging between 800-2000mm
annually and dry sunny periods between rainy seasons.
b) Fertile volcanic soils in highlands or alluvial soils in the lake basin of Kenya suitable for crop growing.
c) Adequate labour supply due to high population.
d) Long tradition of cash crops growing emanating from cash crops introduction by European settlers.
e) Govt policy to support small scale farmers

Some of the major cash crops grown in Kenya
a) Pyrethrum - Nakuru, Kisii, Limuru, Nyandarua.
b) Sisal -Thika, Taita-Taveta, Baringo, Kilifi.
c) Wattle - Uasin Gishu, Thika, Kiambu.
d) Cashew nuts - Kilifi.
e) Cotton-Rachuonyo, Busia, Meru, Kitui, Makueni.
f) Rice - Busia, Kirinyaga.

Tea Farming In Kenya
- Tea is a tropical plant with a botanical name Camellia Sinesis.
- First introduced in Limuru in 1903
Tea types
a) Aswan variety¬ common in India and Srilanka.
b) Chinese variety.
- Kenya is the largest producer in Africa, among top 6 world producers and has the best tea in the world market.
Major Growing Areas
W. Highlands – Kericho, Nandi, Kakamega, Cherangani hills.
E. Highlands – Nyeri, Murang`a, Kiambu, Thika, etc.

Conditions Necessary for Tea Growing
Physical Requirements
a)Cool to warm temperature throughout the year (15◦C- 23◦C).
b) Heavy and well distributed rainfall (1000-2000mm annually).
c) Deep and slightly acidic soils.
d) High altitude of about 1000-3000m above sea level.
e) The area to be free from frost.
f) Gently sloping land which is well drained.
g) Area to be shielded from strong sunlight and violent winds.

Human Requirements
a) Adequate labour for cultivation and processing which are labour intensive.
b) Good transport routes for quick transport of tea leaves to factory before they start withering.
c) Location of tea factories near farms for quick processing of tea as soon as possible.
d) Availability of capital to pay for the labour required in land preparation, planting, regular picking etc.