How I Transformed My Potato Yields with CalciGrow – My Story as a Farmer

How I transformed my potato yields with CalciGrow: My 5-acre success story in Kenya overcoming bacterial wilt and poor soils using CalciGrow and Fanisi potato fertilizer. Many farmers struggle with poor soils, low yields, and serious diseases like bacterial wilt. I know this because I went through it myself. My name is Ben Chiserek, and this is how I turned my potato farming story around using CalciGrow and Fanisi Potato Fertilizer.

My Struggles with Potato Farming

I own a 5-acre farm, and when I first decided to plough and plant potatoes, things didn’t go well. The soils on my farm were not good they were weak. Since it was my first time ploughing, I didn’t have much experience, and after planting, I faced something I had never seen before: bacterial wilt.

This disease attacked my potatoes, made them wilt, and destroyed my yields. Honestly, I didn’t even know what it was at the time. Seeing my crop collapse was frustrating, and my harvest was poor. After that season, I was hesitant to plant potatoes again.

Discovering CalciGrow

CalciGrow soil health — *CalciGrow bag 50 kgs*

This year, I was still unsure about trying potatoes, but then I was introduced to CalciGrow. I was told it helps to improve soils and increases pest resistance when used together with fertilizer. I decided to take the risk and plant again this time using CalciGrow mixed with Fanisi Potato planting Fertilizer.

How I Transformed My Potato Yields with CalciGrow – Results That Surprised Me

Farmer testimonial for potato farming — *Farmer Ben Chiserek standing proudly in his potato farm healthy, vibrant potatoes grown with CalciGrow and Fanisi Potato Fertilizer*

The results amazed me. For the first time, I saw what healthy potatoes should look like:

No bacterial wilt appeared on my farm.
100% germination every seed sprouted, and germination was faster than before.
The stems were stronger and the crop grew with vigor.
The potatoes stayed healthy throughout the season, and my yields were excellent.

I realized that the problem had not been my land it was simply that I needed the right approach.

How I Used CalciGrow and Fanisi potato fertilizer

CalciGrow bag mixed with fanisi potato fertilizer — *50kg CalciGrow bag mixed with Fanisi Potato Planting Fertilizer in a 1:1 ratio for healthier soils and higher potato yields*

At planting, I mixed 3 bags of Fanisi Potato Fertilizer with 3 bags of CalciGrow per acre.
I also continued with the same ratio during topdressing.

This combination worked wonders for my potatoes. The Fanisi Potato Fertilizer gave the crop balanced nutrition NPK plus important nutrients like calcium, magnesium, sulphur, zinc, copper, boron, and manganese while CalciGrow improved the soil, controlled acidity, and strengthened the plants.

Why I Recommend It

I strongly advise other farmers to try this method. If you are struggling with bacterial wilt in potatoes or your soils are poor, don’t give up. Go to your nearest Agrovet and ask for Fanisi Potato Fertilizer and CalciGrow. Apply them in a 1:1 ratio 3 bags each per acre and you will see the difference.

From my own experience, the yield will be very good, the crop will be healthier, and bacterial wilt will not trouble your farm again.

My Final Advice to Farmers

Potato farming can be profitable if we use the right practices, ensure you test your soils before planting. I almost gave up after my first attempt, but CalciGrow and Fanisi changed everything for me.

As the Swahili proverb says: “Shida si shamba, shida ni mbinu” the problem is not the land, it’s the approach. Once I changed my approach, my farm told a new story.

I hope my journey encourages other farmers who may be going through the same struggles. With the right fertilizers and practices, you too can transform your potato yields.

High-Yield Potatoes Start with Healthy Soils

Congratulations to NPCK, ASARECA, KALRO, Egerton University, FIPS-Africa, and partners for the successful field day in Murungaru, Nyandarua County! Training 216 farmers on high-yielding potato varieties is a big win for food security and farmer well-being.

For best results, healthy soils matter. Calcium plays a vital role in nutrient uptake, tuber development, and disease resistance. CalciGrow, a mineral-organic calcium fertilizer, corrects soil acidity and boosts yield and tuber quality.

Let’s grow smarter. Let’s grow with CalciGrow!

Blog Title: Fertilizer Alone Isn’t Enough CalciGrow Unlocks Its Power

With rising demand and shrinking farmland, farmers must grow more on less land. This means intensive farming and that requires fertilizer to replenish nutrients crops remove from the soil.

But here’s the challenge: in acidic soils, much of your NPK fertilizer goes to waste. The nutrients get locked up and never reach the plant.

That’s where CalciGrow comes in.

CalciGrow is a mineral-organic fertilizer designed to unlock NPK fertilizer in acidic soils, making nutrient uptake more efficient and yields more predictable.

Here’s why CalciGrow is critical:

✅ Neutralizes soil acidity
✅ Unlocks phosphorus and potassium in NPK
✅ Adds calcium, magnesium, sulphur, and vital trace elements
✅ Promotes strong roots and healthier crops
✅ Reduces fertilizer loss and boosts yields economically

Fertilizer is necessary but fertilizer + CalciGrow is smarter, more sustainable, and more profitable.

Galana Kulalu – A Bold Step for Kenya’s Food Security

We congratulate @WilliamsRuto for championing the Galana Kulalu partnership with @AlDahraAgri, opening 180,000 acres for large-scale food production. This visionary move will help transform the region into a reliable source of maize and other crops, strengthening national food security and reducing dependence on imports.

We now call on both local and international investors to seize this opportunity invest in modern irrigation, mechanisation, and high-yield seed varieties to maximise productivity.

Equally important is optimising soil health. The use of CalciGrow granulated calcium is a proven, cost-effective way to neutralise acidity, unlock nutrients, and ensure fertiliser is used efficiently. Healthy soils mean stronger crops, higher yields, and better returns.

Galana Kulalu is more than a project it’s a milestone in feeding Kenya’s future. Let’s grow together!

Africa’s Silent Crisis: Farmers Are Mining Nutrients — But Acidic Soils Make It Worse

For decades, farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa have been extracting nutrients from their soils faster than they can be replenished — degrading both soil health and fertility.

In Kenya’s farming systems, we often talk about soil fertility but do we truly understand soil health?

Soil fertility is about the soil’s ability to supply nutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) to crops. But this is just one part of the puzzle.

Soil health, on the other hand, is broader. It includes the chemical, physical, and biological qualities of the soil that sustain crop productivity and promote long-term ecosystem function.

At the center of soil health is soil organic matter which boosts nutrient cycling, water retention, microbial activity, and soil structure.

But here’s the catch Many Kenyan soils are too acidic which locks away nutrients, even when fertilizers are applied. The result? Wasted inputs, poor crop response, and declining yields.

Tested your soil yet?

The Proven Solution: CalciGrow

CalciGrow is not just a calcium fertilizer it’s a soil correction tool that:

Neutralizes excess soil acidity (H⁺ ions)
Releases locked-up phosphorus and micronutrients
Improves root growth, water use, and nutrient uptake
Enhances microbial activity for better soil biology

Whether you’re growing coffee, maize, avocados, or vegetables, CalciGrow creates the ideal pH environment for both fertilizer efficiency and soil regeneration.

Soil Health vs. Soil Fertility: Why CalciGrow is the Key to Unlocking yields

Whether you’re growing coffee, maize, avocados, or vegetables, CalciGrow creates the ideal pH environment for both fertilizer efficiency and soil regeneration.

nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) than they replace.

According to long-term studies:

Over 660 kg of nitrogen, 75 kg of phosphorus, and 450 kg of potassium per hectare have been lost across 200 million hectares in 30 years.

Cereal yields have crashed from 2–4 tons/ha to less than 1.4 tons/ha.

But here’s the deeper truth

❌ You Can’t Absorb What the Soil Won’t Release

Even when farmers replace nutrients with fertilizer, it doesn’t work in acidic soils.
Why?
Acidic pH locks nutrients in the soil — making them unavailable to crops.
Roots can’t absorb N, P, K, or even secondary nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.
Fertilizer becomes a wasted investment.

CalciGrow is the proven solution to this crisis:

Neutralizes soil acidity by removing hydrogen ions (H⁺)
Unlocks nutrients trapped in acidic soils
Improves fertilizer efficiency and crop nutrient uptake
Increases yield, root development, and soil biology

Without correcting soil pH, fertilizer is just expensive dust.

Shift the Narrative: From Nutrient Mining to Soil Restoration

It’s time for a new approach.
Let’s stop blaming fertilizers and start fixing the root cause acidic, depleted soils.

With CalciGrow , farmers can restore balance, improve yields, and build long-term soil health.

Trans Nzoia Leads the Way in Climate Action — Now Let’s Tackle Soil Acidity Too

We congratulate the Governor of Trans Nzoia County for this bold and forward-thinking initiative to draft new laws addressing climate change-related challenges. By aligning waste management, sustainable forest management, climate change, and quarry management under a strong legal framework, the county is setting a national example for coordinated, community-driven environmental action.

However, as we celebrate this milestone, it is important to highlight one often-overlooked factor that directly contributes to climate vulnerability: soil acidity. Acidic soils lead to massive wastage of NPK fertilizer, lower crop yields, and reduced crop health. This not only hurts farmers’ incomes but also limits the soil’s ability to capture and store carbon a critical tool in the fight against climate change.

Healthy soils are the foundation of food security, economic stability, and climate resilience. It’s imperative to test your soils and Correct soil acidity with solutions like CalciGrow mineral-organic fertilizer can unlock the full potential of NPK fertilizers, restore soil biology, and boost both yields and carbon capture.

Trans Nzoia is already showing leadership. By integrating soil health improvement into these climate laws, the county can achieve even greater impact for its farmers, environment, and future generations.

How I Transformed My Maize Farm with CalciGrow: Higher Yields, Lower Costs, and Healthy Soils

This is how i transformed my maize farm with CalciGrow. My name is Wilson Lagat from Kwanza, and I’ve been a maize farmer in Trans Nzoia for many years. Like most farmers around here, I struggled with declining yields, rising costs, and soils that just wouldn’t respond to fertilizers anymore.

For a long time, I didn’t know what was wrong. I kept adding more fertilizer, but the maize still turned yellow and weak. It wasn’t until I discovered CalciGrow that everything changed. Today, I want to share how CalciGrow has transformed my farm, reduced my costs, and given me the best yields I’ve ever seen.

How I Transformed My Maize Farm with CalciGrow

Before, I was using wrong fertilizers season after season. I didn’t realize they were making my soils acidic. The land became tired, nutrients were locked up, and my maize struggled to grow. Even when I applied more fertilizer, the results were disappointing yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and poor harvests.

A Game Changer for My Farm

Everything started to turn around when I learned about CalciGrow from Chiromo Fertilizer Ltd. I was told it neutralizes soil acidity, unlocks nutrients, and helps crops absorb fertilizers better.

When I began using CalciGrow mixed with NPK, I saw the difference almost immediately. My maize stayed greener, healthier, and the leaves didn’t yellow like before. The best part? I realized I was using less fertilizer and still getting maximum yields.

Saving Money and Restoring My Soils

What surprised me most was how much money I started saving. Healthy soils meant I didn’t need to keep increasing the amount of fertilizer. My cost of production dropped significantly.

After I got trained on how to use CalciGrow, I saw how affordable it really is. CalciGrow is not only cheap it’s effective. It came just at the right time to restore my soils and give me back my confidence in farming.

How I Use CalciGrow on My Farm

*Mix CalciGrow with NPK in a 1:1 ratio and apply during planting and topdressing*

This is now my third year using CalciGrow, and I’ve perfected the way I apply it. I mix one bag of 50kg CalciGrow with one bag of 50kg NPK fertilizer. Then I apply the mixture in the planting holes and again during topdressing.

For my 15 acres, I used 15 bags of CalciGrow and 15 bags of fertilizer. But honestly, I would advise other farmers to even use more CalciGrow than fertilizer because it works so well and keeps the soils healthy.

Better Yields, Faster Results

When I use CalciGrow for topdressing, I notice that fertilizers and micronutrients work much faster. My maize no longer turns yellow like before. Even at the tasseling stage, it stays healthy, strong, and green.

Thanks to CalciGrow, I now enjoy higher yields with lower input costs. I save a lot of money because of the reduced cost of production.

My Advice to Farmers

To my fellow farmers, I say this: if you’re tired of spending so much on fertilizers and getting poor harvests, try CalciGrow. It has changed my farm, and it can do the same for you. Healthy soils mean healthy crops and higher profits.

I hope this article has given you insights on how I transformed my maize farm with CalciGrow

For those who want to directly contact me for advise, please reach out through 0726 064 113

Key Takeaways from My Experience

CalciGrow neutralizes acidic soils and unlocks nutrients
✅ I use less fertilizer and save on costs
✅ My maize is healthier and yields are higher
✅ It’s affordable and easy to apply

Frequently asked questions

What is CalciGrow?

CalciGrow is a dust free ultrafine granulated calcium mineral fertilizer responsible for healthy soils and higher yields

Where can i get CalciGrow?

CalciGrow is available in NCPB depots and major agrovets throughout the country

How much is a bag of CalciGrow?

A bag of CalciGrow costs 1,500 Ksh at NCPB depots, prices may vary slightly in agrovets

Which crops can i use CalciGrow in?

CalciGrow is to be used in all crops.

When should i apply CalciGrow?

CalciGrow should be applied at time of planting and topdressing. Simply mix with fertilizer of your choice in a 1:1 ratio and apply

Can i test my soil then ask for recommendation based on pH

Yes, you can share your soil pH report after testing for appropriate nutrition by our agronomists

For more details abour CalciGrow please contact our customer care lines through 0735 800 500 or 0733 800 006

Read more farmer stories like how i transformed my maize farm with CalciGrow here

Healthy Soil, Healthy Beans, Healthy Children

The journey to ending malnutrition starts not in the kitchen—but in the soil.

Before a child can enjoy a nutritious bowl of beans, the land they’re grown on must be rich in life. Decades of overuse, soil acidity, and erosion have left many of Kenya’s farms depleted. When soil is unhealthy, crops struggle to grow and even biofortified beans like Nyota fail to deliver their full nutritional promise.

That’s where #CalciGrow by @ChiromoFertilizerLtd makes all the difference.

CalciGrow restores soil health by neutralizing acidity, unlocking essential nutrients, and improving moisture retention. Beans like the iron- and zinc-rich Nyota, developed by @KALROKenya, @HarvestPlus, and backed by @WorldBank and @AGRAAlliance, thrive in such soils delivering real nutrition to Kenya’s children.

As highlighted in a recent article by @SikiKigongo for @BusinessDailyAfrica, tackling malnutrition isn’t just about food it’s about leadership, investment, and soil regeneration.

Because when we feed the soil, we feed the nation.

Agroecology is the Future and CalciGrow is Leading the Way

Agroecology is the Future and CalciGrow is Leading the Way. Here’s how this game-changing approach is restoring Kenya’s soils and securing our food systems.

At the just-concluded 2nd National Agroecology Symposium (10–11 July 2025) at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies, one message rang loud and clear: agroecology is not just a solution. It is the solution for Kenya’s broken food systems.

Organized by a coalition of changemakers, including farmers, researchers, civil society, private sector leaders, and government policymakers. The symposium highlighted the urgent need to restore soil health, build climate resilience, and ensure food security.

One of the keynote voices, Dr. Susan Chomba, Director of Food, Land and Water at the World Resources Institute (WRI), emphasized that Kenya’s soils are in crisis. Fertiliser use has increased by 36% since 1990, yet maize yields have declined. Why? Because degraded soils can no longer respond.

Enter agroecology a science-backed, culturally rooted, and farmer-empowering system. As Eric Kasina writes in his article in the Daily Nation, agroecology offers Kenya a way to move beyond overdependence on costly chemical inputs.

🔁 This is where CalciGrow stands out.

Made from high-purity calcium carbonate derived from white marble, CalciGrow restores soil vitality by neutralizing excess soil acidity the silent killer of yields and nutrient uptake. Unlike conventional fertilisers that mask the problem, CalciGrow treats it at the root.

✅ Improves root health
✅ Releases locked-up nutrients
✅ Boosts microbial activity
✅ Reduces dependency on synthetic inputs
✅ Enhances crop yield and quality

CalciGrow supports the agroecological revolution that Kenya urgently needs by building living soils, not just feeding crops.

We echo the call by World Resources Institute (WRI), Eric Kasina, and Dr. Susan Chomba: Kenya must boldly back agroecology, not just with policies but with practical tools that deliver results on the ground. CalciGrow is one such tool.

As the WRI model proves agroecology is not a quick fix. It’s the right fix. Let’s restore our soils, revive our farms, and reclaim farmer dignity with CalciGrow at the heart of the solution.

Low Sugarcane Yields? CalciGrow Has the Root Fix

The Business Daily on July 11th is right—shutting down sugar mills won’t fix Kenya’s cane crisis. The real problem lies in the soil. Across Western Kenya, sugarcane farmers are struggling with acidic, nutrient-poor soils that slow down growth, reduce yields, and delay maturity.

CalciGrow is the solution. It rapidly neutralises soil acidity, improves calcium levels, and restores soil balance. unlocking better root development and faster nutrient uptake. Healthier roots mean stronger cane, higher sucrose levels, and improved yields.

With CalciGrow, farmers can grow mature cane in 12–14 months helping reduce early harvesting and restore supply to struggling mills. Instead of shutdowns, we need soil-smart strategies that empower farmers.

Rapid results start with better soil. CalciGrow delivers.