Chapter 2: Produce perennial crops

Producing perennial crops is a critical aspect of agripreneurship in Kenya, providing long-term income and sustainability for farming enterprises. These crops, which live for several years and yield produce repeatedly, require specialized knowledge in management practices, including proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and appropriate land preparation tools. Agripreneurs must master these elements to optimize productivity while maintaining safety and environmental stewardship. This chapter focuses on the essential protective gear and equipment necessary for effective perennial crop production in Kenya’s diverse agricultural settings.

2.1 Personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the gear that keeps hazards away from the body of a person working in a perennial crop farm. Tea, coffee, banana, macadamia, avocado and pineapple farms keep the same plants in the field for many years, so workers return to them again and again for pruning, spraying, picking and cutting. Repeated exposure to thorns and spines, sap, pesticide mist, sun and falling branches adds up over the years, and a worker who is protected every day stays healthy and productive for the life of the crop. PPE does not remove a hazard, so it is used together with safe work methods, training and well-kept tools.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) (Source: 5f700936fcc590f8)

2.1.1 Types

Perennial crop work needs a set of items that together cover the head, eyes, hands, body and feet. The table gives the basic kit, and the sections after it explain how each item is chosen and used.

Overall

An overall covers the arms, legs and body so that thorns, spiny leaves and insects meet cloth instead of skin. In a pineapple field the sharp leaf edges scratch bare arms, and in a banana plantation the sap from cut stems leaves stains that do not wash out of ordinary clothing. A strong, full-length overall solves both problems. For spraying, a chemical-resistant overall or an apron worn over the overall is used so that spray mist does not reach the skin.

• Choose long sleeves and full legs: bare arms and legs are exposed to scratches and chemical contact.
• Keep it clean: wash a spraying overall at the end of every spraying day, apart from household clothes, and never wear it into the house.
• Check it before use: holes, worn elbows and loose buttons are repaired before they let chemicals or thorns through.
• Match it to the task: a lighter overall is enough for picking, while spraying and mist blowing need a chemical-resistant layer.
• Do not reuse disposable suits: a disposable coverall is single-use and is thrown away after the task.

Headgear

Headgear protects the head from three hazards in perennial crops. A wide-brimmed hat shields workers from the sun during long days of picking tea leaf or coffee cherries on open slopes. A washable hood or cap keeps spray droplets out of the hair during spraying of tall coffee or avocado trees. A safety helmet is worn when pruning or harvesting under tall trees such as macadamia and mango, where dead branches, nuts and fruit can fall from above. A helmet is the only one of the three that protects against a blow, so a hat is never used in its place under overhead work.

Gloves

The type of glove is chosen to match the hazard. Nitrile or neoprene gloves, unlined and with a long cuff, are worn for mixing and spraying fungicides and insecticides, while thick leather or fabric gloves are worn for pruning, for handling the hard shells of macadamia nuts and for working with thorny citrus and spiny pineapple or sisal leaves. Leather gloves are never used with chemicals, because they soak up the liquid and hold it against the skin.

Reusable chemical gloves are rinsed and washed with soap and water on the outside before they are taken off, and checked for leaks before the next use. Disposable gloves are used once and thrown away.

Gumboots

Gumboots are waterproof boots made of rubber or PVC that protect the feet and lower legs from mud, water, sharp objects and chemical spills. On a steep, wet slope, where the ground stays muddy, they keep the feet dry, which lowers the risk of fungal infections of the feet, and their tread helps the grip. Their smooth surface is easy to wash, which is why they are chosen over leather boots for wet field work. A steel toe cap is added where heavy tools, crates or loaded wheelbarrows are handled.

When spraying, trouser legs go outside the boot tops so that liquid does not run inside. Wash the boots with clean water after use and store them upside down so that they drain.

Goggles

Goggles protect the eyes from dust, chemical splashes and flying chips. When a worker prunes with a saw or secateurs, wood chips and twigs can strike the eyes, and when a worker sprays a tall tree, the mist drifts upwards and falls back onto the face. Splash-proof goggles that seal around the eyes are used for spraying and mixing concentrate, and clear safety glasses with side shields are used for dusty and pruning work. A face shield may be worn over the goggles when pouring concentrated chemical.

Properly fitted goggles also reduce the chance of an accident that occurs because a worker cannot see clearly. Clean the lenses with clean water and a soft cloth, and replace scratched or cracked goggles.

Respiratory protection

Respiratory protection is an addition to the five items above and is needed when spraying or when dust is thick. A respirator with the filter cartridges named on the chemical label is worn for spraying coffee, banana or avocado with fungicides and insecticides. A dust mask is enough for sweeping dry soil and handling dusty materials, but it does not stop chemical vapour. A mask or respirator must seal against the face to work.

2.1.2 Uses

PPE is used to prevent harm, and the set that a worker puts on is chosen from the hazards of the task. In perennial crops those hazards come from a handful of sources, described below.

Protection from chemical hazards

Fungicides, insecticides, herbicides and fertiliser can poison through the skin, the eyes and the lungs. A coffee farmer who sprays against leaf rust or berry pests, or a banana grower who treats for weevils, wears an overall, gloves, boots, goggles and a respirator so that each route into the body is blocked. The pesticide label states what protection is required, and the label is read before every spraying.

Prevention of physical injuries

Pruning saws, secateurs, pangas and long-handled tools cut, and thorny and spiny plants scratch. Gloves and gumboots reduce hand and foot injuries on coffee, citrus and pineapple farms, and a helmet protects against falling branches and fruit in tall tree crops. An injury that is prevented saves the cost of treatment and the lost days of work.

Protection from sun, insects and weather

Perennial crops are worked in the open. A wide-brimmed hat and a long-sleeved overall reduce sunburn and heat stress during long picking days on open slopes, and they also reduce insect bites that can carry disease. Gumboots keep the feet dry during the rains.

Comfort, productivity and a safety culture

PPE that is light, fits well and breathes lets workers move freely and keep their grip, for example when picking macadamia nuts, so it improves output instead of slowing it. When workers see that the farm provides PPE and uses it every day, they take safety seriously, which lowers accidents and absence from work.

Meeting legal duties

The Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007 expects an employer to provide a safe workplace and expects workers to follow safety instructions and use the protective equipment provided. An agripreneur who supplies correct, clean PPE and keeps a record of what was issued meets this duty and protects both the workers and the business.

Chapter Summary

This chapter covered the essential aspects of producing perennial crops, beginning with the importance of personal protective equipment such as gumboots and goggles, which safeguard workers during various farming activities. It then explored the different tools and equipment used in land preparation, emphasizing their role in ensuring efficient soil cultivation. The chapter detailed key land preparation practices including land clearing, primary, secondary, and tertiary cultivation, each contributing to creating optimal conditions for planting. Various types of planting materials were described, such as splits, suckers, corms, slips, setts, cuttings, and other vegetative materials, highlighting their significance in successful crop establishment. Different planting methods were discussed to ensure proper crop spacing and growth. Routine crop management practices were explained comprehensively, covering pruning, irrigation, pest and disease control, weeding, propping, de-suckering, fertilizer application, trellising, mulching, gapping, and thinning, all crucial for maintaining crop health and productivity. Finally, the chapter examined crop harvesting techniques including picking, cutting, plucking, and digging, which are fundamental to obtaining quality produce from perennial crops.