Yara is committed to bridging this gap.

A major contributor to the yield and quality of coffee is nutrition. Balanced nutrition is a must for achieving optimal yields and maximising profits. Balanced nutrition is the supply of all the key nutrients required for optimal growth and productivity.

Balanced nutrition in coffee will:

1. Increase yields and farmer’s income through improved flowering and berry retention
2. Maintain productivity of the trees for longer
3. Reduce the yield fluctuations, commonly referred to as alternate bearing
4. Enhance and maintain soil health and fertility
5. Enhance the quality of the beans
6. Improve disease resistance, hence reduce the cost of pesticides
7. Protect the environment and ensure sustainability. The main nutrition challenges in coffee production are:
8. Low organic matter content: Organic matter ensures proper soil structure and improves water and nutrients holding capacity of the soil and acts as nutrients reserves.
9. Low soil pH: Nutrients availability and root development are limited under acidic conditions. Soil testing and liming is recommended to remedy the low soil pH.
10. Low nitrogen levels in the soil, which lowers the crop vigour and limits the potential yield of the crop.
11. Low levels of secondary and micro-nutrients. Calcium, boron, and zinc are deficient in most of our coffee growing areas. This inhibits growth of new shoots, flowering and fruiting of the coffee trees, weak trees susceptible to breakages and diseases.

Nitrogen deficiency

Boron deficiency

Zinc deficiency

Yara’s approach to coffee balanced nutrition is built on global experience and a strong understanding of local growing conditions. Using our deep understanding of coffee physiology and nutritional requirements, Yara has designed a program to cater to all the coffee nutritional requirements to meet all the 7 points above.

Post-harvest and before new flush: Apply YaraVita POWER BOOS T at a rate of 1L per acre. YaraVita POWER BOOST is a high-quality foliar fertilizer with high levels of boron and zinc as well as magnesium and nitrogen. This will result in improved tree recovery, budding, branching, and formation of broader dark green leaves.

At the onset of flowering: Apply YaraLiva Nitrabor to supply the crop with fully available calcium and boron. This will reduce flower abortion (more berries), enhance uniformity in ripening (reduces harvesting costs), strengthen the plant and improve resistance to diseases. Apply 150g per tree.

Good berry set and uniformity in ripening

At berry formation and expansion: Apply YaraMila JAVA, a compound NPK fertilizer with added secondary and micronutrients to meet the high nutrient demand during the berry development period. This will result in greater yield, better screen size, density, and quality. Apply 250g per tree, split twice during the berry growing period, for better efficiency.

F or more interaction with Yara team of agronomists;

Contact us on our Toll-Free Number 0 80 0 720 517 |

email – saleskenya@yara.com

Website – www.yara.co.ke