Chapter 3: Produce horticulture crops

Produce horticulture crops is a crucial chapter for agripreneurs focusing on crop production in Kenya. It addresses the practical aspects of growing horticultural crops safely and efficiently, emphasizing the use of protective gear and proper land preparation. Mastery of personal protective equipment and land preparation tools not only improves crop yield but also safeguards the health of workers and ensures sustainable farming practices. This knowledge is vital for agripreneurs who must balance productivity with safety and environmental stewardship.

3.1 Personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the gear worn to keep hazards off the body, and in horticulture the need for it is high because the work is intensive. Vegetable plots, flower houses, fruit orchards and plant nurseries are sprayed often, handled by hand daily, irrigated and fertilised throughout the season, and worked in sun, wet soil and enclosed spaces. These conditions expose workers to chemicals, cuts, thorns, heat and dust all within the same day. PPE does not remove a hazard. It is worn together with safe methods, training and maintained tools, and it works only when it fits and is in good condition. A horticulture enterprise that supplies it and requires its use protects its workers, its production schedule and its reputation with buyers.

3.1.1 Types

The kit for horticulture matches the five items below. Each one covers a part of the body, and a task such as spraying a tomato crop needs all of them together.

Overall

A coverall that covers the body from the neck to the ankles is the base layer of horticultural PPE. In a rose house, it protects the arms from thorns and from contact with leaves that have just been sprayed. In a vegetable plot, it keeps soil, plant sap and fertiliser off the skin and clothing. For mixing and spraying, a chemical-resistant coverall, or an apron worn over the coverall, is added. The coverall is washed after every spraying day, apart from household laundry, and a disposable coverall is single-use and is thrown away after the task.

Headgear

• Safety helmets: protect against head injuries from falling objects or low-hanging branches during pruning or harvesting among fruit trees.

Man wearing a safety helmet (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

• Sun hats: shield workers from prolonged sun exposure, reducing heat stress and sunburn risks in open fields. A hat with a wide brim and a neck flap covers the face, ears and neck.
• Hoods and caps for spraying: a washable hood or cap stops spray droplets settling in the hair and on the scalp, and it is washed with the coverall after spraying.

A hat gives no protection against a blow, so a helmet is the right choice wherever something can fall from above.

Gloves

• Chemical-resistant gloves: protect the hands from pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers that can cause skin irritation or be absorbed through the skin. Nitrile or neoprene gloves should be unlined, because a cotton lining holds chemical against the skin, and they should have a long cuff.
• Cut-resistant gloves: used when handling knives and other sharp tools to prevent cuts and abrasions, for example when pruning or budding fruit trees with a knife. The metal mesh glove shown below is made for knife work; for thorny stems such as roses, thick leather gloves with a long cuff are used.

Metal mesh cut-resistant glove (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Leather gloves are never used with chemicals, because leather absorbs them. A reusable chemical glove is checked for leaks, washed on the outside with soap and water before it is removed and left to dry. Disposable gloves are used once and thrown away.

Gumboots

• Rubber boots: waterproof boots that protect the feet from mud, water and chemical spills, which suit irrigated vegetable beds and wet floors.
• Steel-toed boots: guard against heavy objects and machinery injuries during land preparation and when crates, pots and sacks are carried.

During spraying, the legs of the trousers or coverall go outside the boot tops so that liquid does not run in. Leather and canvas shoes are not used for spraying, because they absorb chemicals. After use the boots are washed with clean water and stored upside down to drain.

Goggles

• Safety goggles: prevent chemical splashes from pesticides and fertilisers from entering the eyes. Splash-proof goggles with indirect vents seal around the eyes.

Clear safety goggles for eye protection (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

• Face shields: provide full-face protection during spraying or when pouring and mixing hazardous substances. A face shield is worn over goggles, not instead of them.

Person wearing a yellow face shield (Source: Wikipedia (Face shield))

Goggles are cleaned with clean water and a soft cloth, and scratched or cracked ones are replaced.

Respiratory protection

Respiratory protection is added to the five items above when the air holds dust or spray mist, which can build up inside a closed greenhouse after spraying.

• Dust masks: filter dust particles during soil preparation, reducing respiratory irritation. A dust mask does not stop chemical vapour.

Person wearing a dust mask (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

• Respirators: offer protection when applying pesticides or fumigants that release harmful vapours. The filter cartridges must be the type named on the chemical label, and the respirator must seal against the face.

3.1.2 Uses

PPE is used to stop harm before it happens. The set a worker puts on is chosen from the hazards of the task, and the table shows how it changes across common horticultural jobs.

Protection from chemical exposure

Pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers used in horticulture enter the body through the skin, the eyes and the lungs. A worker who sprays a vegetable crop wears gloves, a respirator and goggles to prevent toxic exposure, and a chemical-resistant coverall to prevent absorption through the skin. Each item blocks one route into the body, so leaving one out leaves that route open.

Prevention of physical injuries

During pruning and land preparation in a plant nursery, helmets and gloves reduce the risk of cuts, bruises and head injuries. Footwear such as steel-toed boots protects against injuries from heavy objects and sharp tools on the farm.

Reducing heat, dust and sun stress

Sun hats and breathable clothing reduce heat exhaustion and sunburn for workers in open-field vegetable production. Masks and respirators protect the lungs against dust during dry-season soil tilling and against mist in closed houses.

Meeting health and safety 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. A horticulture enterprise that issues PPE, records who received it and replaces it when it wears out meets this duty.

Enhancing worker confidence and productivity

Proper PPE use promotes a culture of safety, reducing absenteeism due to work-related illnesses. Availability and use of PPE help worker morale because safety concerns are addressed, so workers can keep their attention on the task. PPE also reduces downtime caused by accidents, contributing to consistent crop production schedules.

Chapter Summary

This chapter covered the essential practices involved in producing horticultural crops, beginning with the various types of personal protective equipment and their uses to ensure safety during farm operations. It then explored the tools and equipment necessary for land preparation, distinguishing between those used for land clearing and those for tillage. The discussion proceeded to detailed land preparation practices, including land clearing, primary, secondary, and tertiary cultivation, which collectively prepare the soil for planting. Various planting materials were examined, such as seeds, splits, suckers, corms, slips, setts, and cuttings, highlighting their roles in propagation. The chapter also described different planting methods appropriate for horticultural crops. Routine crop management practices were comprehensively addressed, covering pruning, irrigation, pest and disease control, weeding, staking, propping, de-suckering, fertilizer application, trellising, mulching, gapping, and thinning to maintain healthy crop growth. Finally, the chapter concluded with crop harvesting techniques, including picking, cutting, plucking, and digging, essential for effective yield collection.