More greenhouses showing up near Kenyan urban centers

An increasing number of vegetable greenhouses are being constructed by growers in Kenya seeking to cash in on the sale of locally-grown produce. The Daily Nation reports that the country’s Horticultural Crops Development Authority has launched a campaign to introduce greenhouse technology in western Kenya. The biggest obstacle for interested growers is the high initial set-up cost. The wood and polyethylene greenhouses that are equipped with drip irrigation and insect screening provide growers with better growing conditions and pest and disease control than field production. Growers are producing a variety of vegetable crops, including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and carrots. The newspaper reports that the rapid spread of greenhouses has raised the concern of some Maasai pastoralists who worry the greenhouses are covering vital grazing land, blocking traditional herding routes and reducing the amount of water available for people and livestock.