New tomato grafting technology offers hope to Kiambu farmers

Friday, October 30, 2026 Bizna Club Directory SME Awards YEA Awards FacebookTwitterTelegramInstagramLinkedinYoutube NEWS SME AUTO AGRIBUSINESS SAVINGS & INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE EDUCATION IMMIGRATION HEALTH Search PAID CONTENT DIRECTORY JOIN BIZNA CLUB BIZNA @ 10 BIZNA JOBS New tomato grafting technology offers hope to Kiambu farmers AGRIBUSINESSCrops 30th October 2026 By Jane Muia Tomato produce Share FacebookXPinterestWhatsApp Kiambu County, one of Kenya’s leading tomato-producing regions, is seeking to boost crop productivity and farmers’ earnings through modern agricultural technologies as growers continue to grapple with persistent pests, diseases and limited access to quality planting materials.

Tomato farmers have been facing production losses caused by soil-borne diseases, pests and changing environmental conditions, challenges that have affected yields and the profitability of the crop.

More than 100 farmers from Juja Farm in Juja Sub-County have undergone practical training on modern tomato grafting technology, an intervention expected to help address some of these challenges and improve production.

The training was conducted by agricultural experts from the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) in partnership with the Kiambu County Government as part of efforts to equip farmers with improved vegetable production skills.

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Tomato grafting involves joining the fruit-producing upper section of one plant, known as the scion, to the root system of another, referred to as the rootstock.

The rootstock is selected for its strength and ability to withstand soil-borne diseases, while the scion produces the tomatoes.

Speaking during the training, KOPIA Kenya Director Dr. Ji Gang Kim said the technology would help farmers reduce losses associated with conventional production methods by improving the resistance and productivity of tomato plants.

“Most farmers have been incurring losses because of over-reliance on conventional farming methods. We are training them on the latest technologies that will maximize their yields and generate better returns while playing a crucial role in enhancing food security in the region and across the country,” said Dr. Kim.

He explained that grafted tomato plants have stronger root systems, enabling them to absorb water and nutrients more efficiently while improving their resistance to soil-borne pathogens and pests.

These include Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, corky root rot, bacterial wilt and root-knot nematodes, which are among the major threats to tomato production.

Dr. Kim said research indicates that grafted tomatoes can increase marketable yields by between 30 and 50 per cent compared to conventional ungrafted plants, depending on growing conditions and crop management practices.

He added that the technology could also improve crop resilience against environmental stresses such as drought, excessive moisture, high soil salinity and extreme temperatures.

Agricultural research scientist Joseph Munyua urged farmers to adopt modern farming technologies, noting that recurring pest and disease attacks continued to undermine tomato production.

Munyua identified limited access to quality hybrid vegetable seedlings as another major challenge facing growers, urging farmers to invest in quality planting materials, including grafted seedlings suited to their production needs.

Kiambu County Chief Officer for Agriculture Benson Njoroge said the partnership with KOPIA would support the adoption of improved agricultural practices and contribute to increased productivity across the county.

He said access to appropriate farming skills, quality planting materials, fertilizers and extension services would be essential in improving harvests and raising household incomes.

Njoroge added that the county government had continued distributing quality seeds to farmers as part of broader efforts to strengthen agricultural production, improve livelihoods and enhance food security.

The training follows a memorandum of understanding signed between the Kiambu County Government and KOPIA in November 2025 to promote agricultural innovation and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

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