We buy paddy from farmers across the Mwea scheme, so we see what separates a strong acre from an average one. Most of it comes down to discipline at four points in the season.
Transplanting and spacing
Transplant young seedlings and keep spacing consistent. Crowded stands compete for light and nitrogen, and they trap humidity that invites disease.
Water management
Continuous deep flooding is not always better. Alternate wetting and drying during vegetative growth encourages stronger roots and uses less water, provided the field is levelled.
Fertiliser timing
- Split nitrogen applications instead of applying everything at once.
- Time the second application to the tillering stage for the best return.
- Test soils where possible rather than repeating last season's programme by default.
Post-harvest handling decides your price
Dry paddy evenly to safe moisture before storage, and keep it off bare ground. Uneven drying causes grain breakage during milling, and broken grain earns less at the mill.
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