Why Dragon Fruit Is Set To Be The Next Big Thing In Kenya’s Farming Business

Dragon fruits are one of the most expensive fruits on the Kenya shelves today, mainly because dragon fruit farming in Kenya has not been taken up by many. It is a sweet, fleshy and highly nutritious fruit that is eating fresh. Too bad it is still so expensive that most people can't afford it, but we are working so hard to bring the price a little lower to make sure that everyone gets to enjoy the sweetness and health benefits of this great fruit. 

Dragon fruits: Highly nutritious but expensive fruit in Kenya

The first time I saw dragon fruits in Kenya, I couldn’t help but remember the cactus fruits we were enjoying while playing in the semi arid fields of Narok. Back then, I couldn’t imagine that miles away, in the Asian countries, dragon fruit farming was a major business. Back home in Kenya, cactus fruits were only considered as wild fruits, most people oblivious of the health benefits that these fruits had: maybe it’s the reason why I seldom have to see the doctor…

Now, dragon fruit farming in Kenya has picked up pace, thanks to the hawk-eyed Kenyan agri-preneurs who never miss an opportunity.

Dragon fruits for sale in Kenya

Price of dragon fruit in Kenya

Currently, dragon fruits sell at Ksh890 per kg at Zucchini supermarket, making it the highest priced fruit in Kenya. Can you even compare that with the price of hass avocado which is at Ksh100 per Kg?

So this begs the question; why is dragon fruit so expensive in Kenya? Of course the law of demand and supply plays the biggest role in determining the price. A huge amount of the dragon fruits consumed in Kenya are imported from Vietnam, the largest producer in the world so far. So take into consideration the transport cost, the fact that the fruit is rare and that the demand is higher than supply and you understand why the fruit sells for close to 1k.

Also read:

3 Reasons Why You Should Invest In Dragon Fruit Farming In Kenya

Nutritional benefits of dragon fruits

Dragon fruits are also super nutritious; actually, they are considered as a super-food: those foods that are packed with nutrients.

Let me shed some light on this…

Dragon fruit is rich in essential vitamins and minerals but low in calories. It also contains dietary fiber in generous amounts. If you take a one-cup serving (approximately 230 grams of dragon fruit – typically the average size of one dragon fruit) you will be giving your body:

• 3 grams of protein
• 29 grams of carbohydrates
• 7 grams of dietary fiber
• 8% of the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) of Iron
• 18% of the RDI of Magnesium
• 9% of the RDI of Vitamin C
• 4% of the RDI of Vitamin E
• 136 Calories and zero fats!

Where is dragon fruit farming in Kenya done?

Quite a number of people have called me asking, "Can dragon fruits grow in Kenya?". Well, yes, dragon fruits can grow in Kenya. However, very few Kenyans have taken up dragon fruit farming. Mugambi and Kinoti, from Meru are the pioneers of dragon fruits farming in Kenya. The other major dragon fruit farms are in Naivasha, Makueni and Laikipia.

Dragon fruit farm in Laikipia, Kenya

Dragon fruits would thrive in semi arid areas without much problem. Being of the cactus family, this fruit does not require a lot of water. Its propagation is also very easy since new plants are obtained from cuttings of existing ones. However, obtaining the parent material is what is an impediment to most aspiring farmers.

Taking advantage of the fact that dragon fruit seedlings and not easy to come by in Kenya, the pioneer farmers are charging as high as Ksh2,000 per seedling. This is what has slowed down dragon fruit farming in Kenya. However, Richfarm Kenya is trying to close the gap by offering affordable dragon fruit cuttings at their Embu nursery. 

Affordable rooted dragon fruit cuttings at Richfarm Kenya

The future of dragon fruit farming in Kenya

At this point, I would say that dragon fruit farming is the most profitable fruit farming venture in Kenya. One stool of 2 plants can give you about 20 fruits each season. On average, each fruit weighs about 500g. That means each stool will give you approximately 10 kgs every year. If you sell at a wholesale price of 500 per kg, you will be earning Ksh5,000 per stool. One acre accommodates 2,000 stools at a spacing of 1m between the stools and 2m between the lines. That translates to Ksh10 milllion per year from one acre. 

It is obvious that the price of these fruit will come down as more farmers get into its production. However, that is going to take a while considering that the price of the seedlings is still above what most farmers can afford and the fact that the cuttings take a whole year to get to fruiting stage. Kenyans love quick money and most investors are less likely to wait that long.

Most parts of Kenya are tropical semi arid zones, ideal for dragon fruit farming. The market for these fruits, especially in the Asian countries is very high. Locally, the demand continues to grow as more people become aware of the health benefits of the fruit.

As such, dragon fruit farming in Kenya is set to be the next big thing after hass avocado farming.

We, Richfarm Kenya would love to help you be one of the pioneer farmers of dragon fruits in Kenya. If you would like to be helped in this regard, please get in touch with us on 0724698357.

Affordable Dragon fruit seedlings

We are glad to announce that we have now in stock affordable dragon fruit seedlings at our Embu nursery. Please visit to get yours or call 0723213602 / 0724698357 to order for them. 

Dragon fruit seedlings for sale at Richfarm Kenya

Tangerine Farming: How To Grow The Best Tangerine For The Market In Kenya

Tangerine farming in Kenya is a business that has been thought of as a preserve for the farmers in Makueni, Embu and Meru. However, a lot of other farmers are taking it up in different places since they have discovered that it can grow in other parts of Kenya such as Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Narok, Kisumu and Kajiado.

Tangerine farming in Makueni, Kenya

So, are you a tangerine farmer or an inspiring tangerine farmer rummaging through the internet trying to find a way to be the best? Wander no more! You are here! A tangerine (Citrus tangerina) in case you are wondering, is an orange-like fruit which is smaller, easier to peel, juicier and commonly known as ‘thandara’ in the locals. Now that you know, let the lesson begin!

Ecological Requirements

Tangerines have a higher adaptability to high and low temperatures compared to other citrus fruits making them manageable. They require well drained soils with a neutral pH. It is therefore wise to always have a soil test to check the fertility and pH levels of your soil.

Seedling Selection

How do you select the correct seedling? Some farmers will generate the seedlings themselves from selected fruits that they had purchased from the market. A wise farmer will however buy a certified seedling from a reputable nursery. This will help you to ensure you get consistent quality fruits. Normally, a tree will take 3-4 years to start bearing fruits if planted from the seeds. On the other side, quality grafted seedlings would mature faster and start giving you fruits in the second year. You can get such high quality seedlings from Richfarm Kenya – 0724698357.

Tangerine farming in Kenya

Nutritional Requirements

By now, I’m assuming that you have done the soil test and you have your results ready. This will be your Nutritional guide on what fertilizer to use. However, roughly just to mention, 1 week before planting, you will be required to mix your soil with well dried manure in a ratio of 1:2 to ensure the nutrients are well leached in the soil. Manure also helps in water retention due to the organic matter. The tangerine tree requires the following nutrients in order to achieve the best fruits over the period. Please note that the rates of application will greatly be based on the soil test results.

✔      Phosphorous: Aids in root development in the early stages. It also helps the tree to mature at the right time while inducing flower and fruit development. One other beautiful thing about having the correct amount of phosphorous in your tree is its ability to offer the plant disease resistance. Lack of this nutrient showcases in form of purple lines on the leaf veins.

✔      Nitrogen: If you want your tangerine trees to have the nice lush and form a nice green canopy, this is something to look out for. Nitrogen aids in foliar establishment, chlorophyll formation and development of amino acids. Though might I just mention that generally, tangerines are known to have low levels of amino acids? Lack of this nutrient emerges as a yellow or very light green color on the top of the leaves.

✔      Potassium: Do you want your tangerines to be the juiciest, sweetest and have everyone coming back for more? Potassium is your answer. It is a nutrient that activates enzymes responsible for ripening of fruits and synthesis of protein and starch hence giving them that sweet taste. It is done applied both in the ground as a filed grade fertilizer and as a foliar fertilizer. This former should be sprayed weekly or fortnightly on the onset of flowers. Lack of this nutrient showcases with bitter, uneven ripening and dry fruits.

✔      Boron: As a tangerine farmer, you may experience your flowers and fruits aborting while still immature and this may take back your production. The problem is caused by deficiency of Boron. It is therefore wise to have a foliar fertilizer that contains this element and the good thing is that unlike other foliar fertilizers, this one in particular should only be sprayed utmost, twice in a cycle.

✔      Magnesium: Sometimes you may have noticed your tangerine tree leaves developing yellow patches on the midribs starting from the base, enlarging outwards, leaving the tip and the underside green. The condition may spread and turn the whole leaf yellow leading to defoliation. This is a sign of lack of magnesium. Magnesium is the key element of the chlorophyll molecule and therefore very important.

✔      Calcium: As you are doing your crop walk, you may notice some tangerines with a black spot under the fruit. This is a condition known as Blossom end Rot caused by lack of calcium. Calcium is required to ensure your fruit’s cell walls are correctly held together. This can be applied again as a field grade, in the soil, or as a foliar fertilizer. A good advantage is that most calcium based foliar fertilizers are combination of Calcium, Magnesium and Boron hence lowering your input cost.

Irrigation:

Water is not a nutrient but it is directly related to the nutrients above. What if you have already put all the above fertilizers in the soil but you realize you have cases of Blossom End Rot, Fruit and flower abortion, cracking of fruits, bitter fruits or yellowing of leaves. This is a clear indication that your tangerine trees are not getting enough water to correctly transport the much needed nutrients. Therefore, you should have consistent watering to allow moisture to get an inch or two below the soil.

A water test done is also highly advisable. This is because the water may have high levels of sodium or magnesium which is another element that inhibits uptake of some of the important nutrients by the plant roots.  

Field Operations

Visit the successful tangerine farmers in Kenya and you will notice that their farms are well arranged in rows and all the trees are well spaced. This is because they understand that a crowded tangerine farm will always have a challenge of pests and diseases. With that in mind, kindly ensure that the trees have a good spacing of at least 4-5 m. This allows correct air circulation hence reducing humidity for growth of pests and emergence of diseases. It also provides enough spacing to do your spraying.

There are many synthetic products that can be used in tangerine farming in Kenya to help with management of common pests such as leaf miners, mealybugs and whiteflies. If you face challenges with such, kindly consult your agrovet or agronomist to advice you on the best product for the kind of problem you have. Organic farmers prefer to use insect traps.

Tangerine trees, like other citrus trees can develop dry wood naturally in the inner areas. As a result, selective pruning should be done to prevent twig dieback.

Read also: Why Pixie Orange Farming In Kenya Is Booming Now

Banana Farming in Kenya: The Best Practices for Commercial Production

Banana is one of the staple food crops grown in Kenya for both home consumption and for markets. Bananas are widely grown in most parts of Kenya for cooking and dessert. A few Kenyan farmers who know about tissue culture bananas grow the dual-purpose banana varieties that can be used both for dessert and cooking. The popularity of the crop makes it a good cash crop for the Kenyan smallholder farmers, who can sell the produce even at their farm gate.

Banana farming in Kenya, Kwale

The ripe fruit of banana is a good source of vitamins A, B₆, C and Potassium. Cooked bananas are rich in carbohydrates. Recently processing of bananas has gained momentum here and bananas are being processed into flour, canned slices, jam, jelly, puree, vinegar, wine and beer. Demand for these processed products is expected to go up in the coming years, making the market even larger for banana growers in Kenya.

So if you want to do successful commercial banana farming in Kenya, what are the factors that you should consider? We shall discuss all these factors in this article and if we miss out something, kindly ask in the comments section below.

Also Read: Plantain Farming In Kenya: A Guide From Planting To Profitable Marketing

Optimal Ecological Requirements for Banana Farming in Kenya

Banana grows in the tropics; that is the area between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn. Our entire country Kenya lies squarely in this region and being that banana farming is favored by a wide range of agro-climatic conditions, you can grow them almost anywhere in this country.

The crop grows well in hot and humid conditions of altitude between 0-1800 m above the sea level: that’s all the way from as low as Mombasa to as high as Kisii with the exception of the very cold highlands. With a rainfall range of 1000-2000 mm/year or sufficient water for irrigation, you are good to go.

Banana farming in Kwale under drip irrigation

Optimal temperature of 27⁰ C is preferred for banana growing. However it still does well in temperature range of 20- 30⁰C. Deep well drained soils rich in organic matter are required for the growing of bananas with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5. Spacing is important in banana growing so as to ensure adequate accessibility of the required resources by the plant. The planting whole should be big, measuring about 60*60*60 cm and spaced 3x3m.

Banana Varieties in Kenya

Banana varieties which are predominantly grown in Kenya include; Uganda green, ngombe, Gradi shiskame and mutahato for cooking varieties while dessert varieties include; apple banana, bokoboko, giant Cavendish, Chinese Cavendish, Gros Michel and muraru. FHIA 17 is a dual purpose variety and is mostly produced through tissue culture. Banana farmers select their preferred varieties based on tastes, eating habits, market demand and environmental conditions.

Banana Propagation

Bananas are propagated vegetatively by use of cutting, suckers and Tissue culture. The main method of banana propagation by most smallholder farmers is by division of suckers which arise from the base of the main stem, or from the underground corm. This method of banana propagation is used by most farmers as it is cheap and favorable cultivars of bananas are maintained. Additionally, use of suckers for propagation is easy and does not necessarily require skilled labor. However, there are many disadvantages associated with the use of suckers as a method of propagation. The main ones are:

1. Suckers perpetuate the spread of banana diseases and pests.
2. Variation in age and size of sucker, hence the crop is not uniform which leads to difficulty in managing the crop and harvesting.

Tissue Culture Banana in Kenya

Tissue culture also referred to as micro propagation is the science of multiplying clean disease-free planting materials of different crops to have many identical copies of the same variety without altering the taste and other physical attribute of the plant. Tissue culture work is mainly done in the laboratories and then the plants are raised in the nursery beds where farmers can access for planting. Advantages associated with the use of Tissue culture include:

1. Elimination of the risk of pests and diseases
2. Tissue culture is the most rapid method of propagating bananas and increased yields of the bananas.
3. Use of TC ensures a timely large turnover of clean planting materials within a limited space.
4. Tissue cultured banana plants produce uniform maturity of the fruits which make harvesting process easy and reduce labor cost.

Some of the disadvantages of TC include:

1. It’s an expensive method of propagation as it involves laboratory experiments.
2. Reduction in the genetic diversity of the banana due to the fact that all plants are genetically similar.
3. TC technique is still new to many smallholder farmers in Kenya as it requires skilled personnel to carry out.

However, you do not have to worry about the expenses of setting up tissue culture labs and the technicalities associated with it. That has been done for you by Richfarm Kenya and all you need to do is order the variety you need and you get ready tissue culture banana seedlings for planting.

Tissue culture banana seedlings for sale

From the above foregoing it is worth noting that TC is the best method of banana propagation in Kenya and efforts need to be put on high gear to ensure banana farming in Kenya is enhanced by embracing Tissue Culture as a means of ensuring food security as far as banana production is concerned.

Smallholder farmers who contribute to the largest share of the banana farming in Kenya community need to come up together and collectively pull resources to be able to benefit from the profits associated with TC banana propagation, as it is the most viable method to ensure that maximum profitability is attained.