Research Areas

1. Fruits

Avocado, Mangoes, Guava, Passion fruit, Tissue culture bananas, Oranges, lemons, Tree tomato, Strawberry, Apples and Pawpaw, Gooseberry among others

2. Vegetables

Cabbage, Kales, spinach, tomatoes, Capsicum, Amaranthus (terere), Solanum scarbrum (managu), spider plant, Onions among others

3. Beans

Nyota, Faida, Anagaza, Yellow beans (KATB1),Metameta, Gituru(KATX56), Nyayo(GLP2), Mwezi Moja (GLP1004), Mwetemania (GLP X92),  Wairimu (GLP 585),  New Mwezi Moja (GLPX 1127 A), Gacuma (KAT B9)

4. Medicinal and Aromatic Herbs

Chocolate mint, Rosemary, Vanilla, Centella, Aloe Vera, Garlic, chives, sage, leek Tarragon, Turmeric, Ginger, Curry leaves, Basil, Lemon grass, lemon balm, Geranium, Dandelion, Oregano, Tea tree, Cornfrey, Bay leaves, Rue, English Lavender, French lavender, Marjoram, Pepper mint, Orange mint, apple mint, Cardamom, tropical mint, garlic chives,

4. Flowers

Poinsettia, Rhoea plant,Snake plant, Aglaonema, Waxbegonia, Purple heart, Duranta Erecta, Western Sword Fern, Syngonium, Dieffen Bachia, Kalanchoe Senguin, Rose plant, Ruscus, Mobidic among others

5. Crop improvement and health

We carry out disease diagnosis and develop technologies to safeguard crops from pest and diseases through integrated pest management

6. Post-harvest

We develop post-harvest technologies and innovations which help to extend the shelf life, maintain the quality and reduce losses of horticultural produce. These include; appropriate handling and storage facilities, value addition technologies like solar dryer for drying fruits and vegetables. We also offer training on post-harvest aspects.

Core Functions

1. Research and Development:

We conduct research in all aspects of production, management, postharvest and value addition of horticultural crops. The outputs from research activities when implemented, support and  address the challenges in the national horticulture industry, and contribute to enhancing food security in the country.

2. Capacity Building:

We invest in capacity building through student attachment programs, farmers’ group trainings, workshops and seminars and exhibitions

3. Policy Support:

Our policy support is garnered towards facilitating a strategic structured approach in regulatory compliance, resource allocation, collaboration and partnerships, innovation and technology.

1. ADVISORY SERVICES / PRODUCT

We offer advisory services to farmers on  horticultural issues including production, postharvest, value addition and marketing

2. PEST AND DISEASE DIAGNOSTICS

We help farmers identify, manage and prevent pests and diseases that affect plant health and yield. The researcher will study the plants and identify the pests/disease affecting a plant and offer diagnosis and management practices to the farmer.

3. TRAINING

We offer individual and group trainings to visiting student groups, farmer groups and community groups to equip them with practical knowledge that enhance their knowledge and effectiveness in farming. The trainings focus on fields such as  nursery establishment and management, , fruit production, beans and vegetable cultivation, medicinal and aromatic plants, floriculture, farm machinery and tissue culture

4. STUDENT INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT

We offer industrial training to students from different tertiary institutions. The students are supervised and trained by our team of professionals in the various fields of agriculture, bio-chemistry, bio-technology, statistics, accounting, business management, supply management and human resource.

5. CONTRACT RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES

We offer consultancy services and contracts to public and private companies that seek to work in partnership with the institute

6. HOSPITALITY FACILITIES

We offer quality and reliable hospitality services to both internal and external clients. Our services include;

• Conferencing facilities for seminars, trainings and workshops.
• Cafeteria services for meals and snacks.
• Event grounds for hire for; Exhibitions, weddings, birthday parties, graduation parties and team building.

7. SALE OF SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS

We sell high quality planting material (seedlings and seeds) at our Mkulima shop located at the institute, these include; grafted mangoes, grafted apples, grafted avocado, sweet yellow passion, grafted purple passion, grated macadamia, grafted strawberry, goose berry, tissue culture bananas, guavas, tree tomato, grapes, pawpaw, citrus fruits (pixies) and scions for avocados and mango as well as beans and maize seeds.

8. ANIMAL FEED ANALYSIS

We analyse animal feeds and raw materials for feed manufacturers for nutritional quality including: crude oil, crude fibre, crude ash, crude protein and dry matter and also test for aflatoxin contamination in animal feeds.

9. LAND AND TRACTOR HIRE

We hire out our tractor for mowing and land preparation as well as land for efficacy trial

10. SALE OF FARM PRODUCE

The farm produce sold include: Sweet potato, cassava, vegetables (kales, spinach and cabbage), sweet potato vines and cassava cuttings and grass for baling on availability basis.

1. Development/Introduction and commercialization of superior fruits, vegetables, beans and herbs and spices. Of great significance are three apple varieties developed and commercialised by the institute namely Breaburn, Fuji and Gala. Three sweet yellow passion fruit namely KPF4, KPF11 and KPF12, Bean variety Angaza, Superior tomato lines etc
2. Validation and recommendation of nine biopesticides for inclusion in integrated pest management of vegetable pests and diseases
3. Release of several superior potato varieties tolerant to diseases and popular for making chips and potato crisps
4. Production of over 30,000 tons of certified potato seed in collaboration with private investors
5. Supplying of thousands of assorted seedlings (avocado, mangoes, passion fruits, tissue culture bananas, pawpaws, citrus, grapes, apples, strawberries, macadamia) to farmers
6. Delivery of technologies for profitable greenhouse vegetable production to growers
7. Training of over 500,000 farmers and over 120,000 trainers on production, post-harvest handling and integrated pest management in horticultural crops
8. Publishing of 71 papers in refereed journals and 75 papers in conference proceedings
9. Inventory of Technologies, innovations and management Practices (TIMPS) for Avocado, onion, tomato, Kale, cabbage, mango done and uploaded on the KALRO website
10. Profiling of the above for their climate smartness

The Institute collaborates with various national and international organizations, including:

• State department of Agriculture, livestock and Fisheries Development
• County governments of Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Taita-Taveta, Tana-River and Lamu
• Donor funded projects e.g. NARIGP in Kwale, Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme (ASDSP II) in Mombasa and Kwale counties
• Regulators e.g. AFA Nuts and Oil Crops, Horticultural Crops Directorates, KEPHIS(Kenya Plant Health Inspectory Services)
• International Research Organizations e.g. ICIPE, GIZ, ICRAF,ICRISAT
• Private Sector e.g. Grace Initiatives, Graceland orchard Limited, and Base Titanium (BTL), MESPT, FiPs Africa Limited.
• NAVCDP (National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project)
• JKUAT (Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology), UoN, Karatina University

Contacts

Physical Address: Gatanga, Muranga
Postal Address: P.O BOX 220-01000, Thika    
Website: http://www.kalro.org/
Email: director.hri@kalro.org / kalro.kandara@kalro.org

Official Phone: 0202055038