By Kenya News Agency
Despite the unpredictable weather patterns in the arid Ichagaki Maragua, a group of farmers are thriving in horticulture farming.
The farmers have craftily introduced the growing of French beans, cucumbers, kale, and other traditional vegetables to their subsistence farming of beans and maize to not only supplement their incomes but also contribute to the country’s food basket.
By using canal-like methods, the residents have leveraged the presence of a water resource, the river Githambara, to water their farms and grow vegetables in all seasons.
The farms are subdivided into portions, and KNA caught up with two of the farmers tending to their cucumbers (Cucumis sativus).
The study aimed to determine the necessary steps for growing an antioxidant-rich vegetable in well-drained soils with a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5.
“Cucumber is a fast-growing vegetable, as it takes only 45 days to mature, and I have grown it for more than three years now, relying on it for my family’s daily needs,” says Mercy Muthoni as she waters the plants in her half-acre piece of land.
Martin Irungu notes that for optimum harvest and considerable return on investment, a farmer must be able to control weeds and pests, whereby hand weeding and use of mulches and cover crops are used to manage weeds.
“Aphids, cucumber beetles, white flies, and thrips are the most common pests that affect the cucumber plant, and thus constant application of pesticides is required,” he says, adding that “Managing pests is the most expensive part of this farming because the cost of pesticides is high.”
Another challenge that the farmers have to grapple with is the lack of a clear-cut marketing strategy for their produce, as the vegetable is not popular in the county and its surrounding areas and is sold to consumers in Thika, Nairobi, and beyond.
“Our only avenue for market is through the middlemen who, in return, exploit us, but we have no choice since we cannot access the far-off markets on our own,” observes Irungu. Meanwhile, they intercrop cucumbers with French beans, beans, and fast-growing maize crops.
The cucumber, which is mostly eaten in its raw form, is low in calories and is known to contain numerous health benefits like promoting weight loss, keeping the body hydrated, and improving intestinal functions.
Cucumis sativus also improves blood pressure and is recommended for the management of atherosclerosis, diabetes, and hypertension.
After harvesting, the leaves are fed to animals, which the farmers say significantly boosts milk production.
Similar Posts by Mt Kenya Times:
- Mt Kenya Times ePAPER May 20, 2026
- A Review Of The Last White Man In Contemporary Paradigm
- Adan Mohammed named new KRA Commissioner General
- Kenya grinds to a halt as opposition rallies behind fuel protests
- Choromai urges farmers to embrace planting season as he ramps up development message in Kieni constituency
Suleiman Mbatiah 
Felix Njenga