Quarterly Report Report (March to June 1998): Floriculture Project Crop Protection Programs

Abstract

The floriculture research unit in KARI funded by US AID is in its sixth year of existence with various research outputs. The introduction and evaluation of flower varieties imported to Kenya are among the outputs. The recommended new varieties not covered by breeders' rights are also multiplied and then supplied to the growers. Crop protection issues on flowers gained prominence in 1995, necessitating the incorporation of crop protection programs in the research unit. Research input into the program is based at KARI-NARL. Funding for the crop protection input has been provided by both the DFID and USAID. A number of research programs both on station (Tigoni/Thika/NARL) and on-farm (Limuru, Thika, Naivasha, and Athi River) have been conducted under the following broad objectives: