Why Solo Sunrise Is the Most Popular Pawpaw Variety in Kenya and the World

As pawpaw farming and consumption in Kenya increases, farmers and consumers of the fruit now have the luxury of choosing the best among the several varieties available in the country. It is not surprising to see that solo sunrise variety has emerged as the most popular since this is also the trend all over the world. But do so many people love these small papayas?

Solo Sunrise pawpaw farm belonging to Agatha in Ishiara, Embu County

Outstanding characteristics of solo pawpaw

1. Ideal size

Actually, the small size of the fruits of the solo sunrise pawpaw variety is one of the reasons why it is loved. Each fruit is about 250-500g. That makes it ideal for someone to consume the entire fruit in one sitting. Would you want to eat a pawpaw fruit that was cut yesterday? Of course not; so if you were to choose, you would most likely take the small fruit.

2. Very sweet

Honestly, I am yet to taste a variety of pawpaw that is sweeter than solo sunrise here in Kenya. Before this variety was imported into the country, mountain pawpaw used to be the people’s choice. However, no one ever goes back to mountain pawpaw after tasting the solo sweetness.

3. Red attractive colour

Is it just me who finds red to be more attractive than yellow? Certainly not, especially when it comes to fruits. Just imagine walking into a fresh fruit joint where they have prepared fruit puddings: in one package they have used yellow pawpaw and in another they have red pawpaw pieces. Which one would you go for? Many people make their choices from what they see and that is one reason the solo pawpaw is popular world over.

Solo sunrise pawpaw fruits: Harvested by John Tembo in Lusaka, Zambia

4. The long shelf life

Nothing is heartbreaking as picking a pawpaw you are so eager to munch only for your fingers to go right into the fruit flesh. Well that is a disappointment you won’t get with solo sunrise. These fruits have a firm flesh and ripe fruits will remain good for consumption for as long as 14 days. Of course this is something that is subject to temperatures as fruits tend to ripen faster in hot areas.

Solo Sunrise Is Popular Among Farmers Too

The solo variety is an impressive performer in the farm. Consumers are lucky that it serves them right; otherwise farmers would have pushed it down their throats. This variety has all the characteristics a farmer would want in a pawpaw:

1. It bears many fruits

One solo pawpaw tree can carry over 100 fruits in a year. That means money, and a lot of it, for the farmer, especially if they are selling their produce per piece. It also assures the farmer a constant weekly harvest because at least one fruit will be ripening within a week. Varieties with big fruits have fewer fruits per tree and these fruits a long take time to ripen and when they ripen, there is an overproduction.

solo sunrise pawpaw farming in Embu, Kenya

Solo sunrise pawpaw farming in Kenya: Agatha in Embu County

2. Production is throughout the year

The solo variety does not produce fruits in seasons. Once you start harvesting, you will have a constant supply of fruits every week. This is better realized when you are irrigating your trees during the very dry season.

3. The trees are hardy and with a long lifespan

There was an interesting reaction the other day when I posted a photo on Facebook with a hammock tied on pawpaw trees. Many people did not imagine a pawpaw tree could be strong enough to support a hammock. Well, the solo sunrise pawpaw tree is. This hardiness is also realized in pest and disease resistance. And because of this characteristic, the trees can live and produce fruits for over 4 years.

4. Solo sunrise variety does not have male trees

This is a self-pollinating variety. That means all the trees produce edible fruits. That is why the production of this variety of pawpaw in terms of tonnage per acre is higher than the other varieties that have both male and female trees and you have to keep some male trees in your orchard for pollination.

I know the question in your mind now is “where can I get solo sunrise fruits?” or “where can I get the seeds so I can plant for myself?” Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered on that and all you need to do is Contact Us. We also have ready seedling for planting and you can call or WhatsApp us on 0724698357 to order. If you want guidance on pawpaw farming, go to our Farmers Resources Page and download a FREE pawpaw farming guide in pdf.

Also Read:

1. How To Choose The Best Pawpaw Variety For Farming In Kenya in 2020

2. Pawpaw farming in Kenya: Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Macadamia Prices in Kenya to Possibly Climb Over Ksh 200 Per Kg In 2020

Macadamia Production In Kenya FILE PHOTO-NMG

The harvesting season is set to start in February and the already lucrative macadamia farming agribusiness sector has all indications of rewarding the nut farmers in Kenya even more this year (2019)

At the start of the harvesting season last year, the Macadamia Farmers Association of Kenya had announced a farm-gate price of Ksh170 per kg. This was the price that had been reached at in a meeting between the farmers association and the Agriculture and Food Authority.

However, the Nuts Processors Association of Kenya (NutPAK) seemed to disagree with the price saying that it was speculative given the quality of nuts that the farmers were supplying at the time, and the fact that major macadamia nut buyers had not started buying.

Quality a major determinant of macadamia prices in Kenya

Nut Traders Association of Kenya (Nutak) chairman Johnson Kihara commenting on the issue said, “We were ready to buy them at even Sh300 a kilo but AFA does not control quality as expected. We cannot buy low quality nuts at such a price because we will not get a market for them.”

But by the close of the harvesting season in 2019, the price of a kilo of macadamia had climbed to Ksh 230.

The Macadamia Farmers Association of Kenya has its foot on the ground in advocating for better prices saying the farmers have been exploited for long. The buyers are yielding to the pressure saying the only thing limiting the prices macadamia farmers in Kenya are paid is quality.

“We sell over 98 percent of our macadamia to global markets. Our buyers dictate quality. If we don’t adhere to best practices in this highly competitive market we will be edged out,” said Mr. Muigai, the NutPAK executive officer.

Improved Macadamia Varieties

The awareness on the importance of producing high quality macadamia nuts to fetch better prices has been rising among farmers. Many are now replacing old trees with improved varieties such as Muranga 20.

Read Macadamia Nuts Farming In Kenya: How to Make It a Highly Profitable Business

Regulations have also been put in place to prevent harvesting of immature nuts. The farmers, having realized that such regulations are meant to protect them, are towing the line and thereby producing high quality nuts. With this trend, the prices will be much higher than Ksh 200 per kg this year.

Also read Why Macadamia Farming in Kenya is the Most Profitable Long-Term Investment Avenue

Miriti’s Ksh720,000 Per Month Plan From Pawpaw Farming in Meru Starts Paying Off

Pawpaw farming in Meru: Photo by PHOEBE OKALL

A careful observation of the pawpaw farming business in Meru, Eastern Kenya, is what triggered a curious study of the crop by one former chemist Howard Miriti. He had observed that middle-men constantly combed the villages in the rather dry part of the country buying pawpaw fruits from small scale farmers.

This trend made him realize that there must be a lucrative business in selling the fruits so he decided to test the waters. He started by planting 1,000 trees of the Solo sp variety. His choice of variety was largely influenced by the market demand and previous experience of the farmers in his region. During his research, he had discovered that the buyers preferred the solo and mountain pawpaw, both of which were performing very well in the warm Igembe climate.

Pawpaws in Meru mature within 9 months

He had also been told that the solo sp pawpaw variety matures within 9 months and true to it, he made his first harvest in December having sown his seeds in March. At the time Enterprise was interviewing him, he was in his third week of harvesting and he was getting 500 to 600 kg per week.

“The pawpaw trees will get to their optimum production in April. From then, I expect to harvest at least a kilo from each tree per week. This kind of harvest will continue for the next two years before productivity starts declining,” he said.

A pawpaw tree gives 1 kilo per week

Having observed the success of the first crop, Miriti rolled out the project on a 6 acre land planting over 6000 trees in total. He has a target: he estimates that upon maturity, each of the trees would give him 1kg every week, which adds up to a total of 6,000kg from the entire farm.

Miriti, like the other farmers in his area, sells the fruits to the middle-men at a price of Ksh 30 per kg.

“I don’t have the time to look for a market for my pawpaw so I sell to buyers who are always here searching for the fruits,” he says and adds, “So far, 3 serious buyers have come to my farm, assessed the fruits and are now competing to buy them.”

If all his plans turn out as envisioned, it means he will be selling 24 tons of pawpaw every month making a turnover of ksh720,000.

What will be his Profit?

Miriti says that pawpaw farming in Meru is not labour intensive: the main activities at the farm are weeding and irrigation. However, he has a unique challenge at the farm – baboons from the neighboring Meru National Park. Because of this, his workers have to wake up at dawn to start patrolling the farm before the primates make their loot.

He now employs 6 labourers and a manager who has previous experience in pawpaw farming. He pays the 6 labourers Ksh6,000 each while the manager is paid Ksh15,000 per month. He also spends approximately Ksh24,000 per week on fuel for pumping water to irrigate the 6 acre farm.

We did a calculation and approximated his expenses at about Ksh 147,000 per month. Of course it is higher than that because he did not factor in occasional pest control and other miscellaneous expenses. However, he certainly will make something in the rage of Ksh500,000 in monthly profit if his plan goes as anticipated.

Pawpaw farming guide for Kenya

Pawpaw farming is one of the most profitable agribusiness projects in Kenya. We have collected our experiences and information on it and compiled this comprehensive guide. We also constantly edit it to match the changing realities on the ground.

If you would want to invest in it, we would love to guide you through. Reach us on 0724698357.

You can also get this comprehensive pawpaw farming guide that will guide you right from planting of the seeds through the growth period to harvesting and marketing.

Download your copy from our Farmer's Resources Page. Al the farming guides on the Richfarm Kenya website are free.

Avocado Farming Business in Kenya Under Threat

The future of avocado farming as a business in Kenya lies squarely on the ability of Kenyan farmers to produce a consistent supply of quality fruits. That statement sounds simple, but take this to the bank; if we mess up on quality, it will only be a matter of days before we are thrown out of the international market and that’s the only market sustaining this business.

One of the quality aspects that avocado farmers in Kenya must be keen on is to ensure that they harvest their fruits only when they are mature. As a farmer, when you harvest and sell immature fruits, you not only get paid peanuts but also put the reputation of our products at stake. Immature fruits are a turnoff to importers, retailers and consumers of Kenyan avocados. A consistent supply of such fruits may lead importers in the international market to develop a dislike for Kenyan avocado or probably anything Kenya.

Suspected immature avocados harvested for export

This means continued export of these fruits will make us not only loose on our current market but also loose prospective ones and in the end, all our efforts turn to waste.

How to tell that your avocados are mature

It is a bit difficult to determine if an avocado fruit is truly mature by just looking at it. But here are some indicators that will help you:

The fruit loses its glossiness (the shiny appearance) and becomes duller.
The seed coat becomes thin and brown instead of fleshy and white.
The stem end of the fruit turns yellow.
The stem end (the stalk) is not too firmly attached. However, take note that avocados with stalks that are too loosely attached are also too mature for export.
Immature avocados have a specific weight (this is a unit of comparing the actual weight of an avocado to its volume) of 1.02-0.95g/cm3. While those that mature have a specific weight of 0.95- 0.85g/cm3. There is a special machine for measuring this.
Immature avocados sink or float below the surface of water while mature avocados float on top of water

Determination of Dry Matter/ Oil content in avocados

This is the widely accepted scientific method of determining mature fruits. This can be done through the microwave oven method. The main disadvantage is that it is very tedious and time consuming. One person can hardly test 20 fruits in a day. This is the main method used by avocado exporters in Kenya.

Machine used to determine maturity of avocados
through measuring the dry matter content

For many exporters in the country, the urgency to harvest and export once orders are secured, your guess is as good as mine on inaccuracy of these tests. That leaves the farmers with the greatest responsibility of ensuring that harvested fruits are mature.

Ray of Hope for the avocado farming business in Kenya

An American company Helix Instruments has developed a real time field friendly portable gadget that uses near infrared analysis to test maturity of avocado fruits. It is fast, easy to use and gives results in about 12 seconds. It is most suitable for the avocado exporters as they can test the fruits right at the farm.

Legislation on Avocado Maturity in Kenya

On 24^th, July 1925 California enacted a legislation on Avocado standards which permitted sale of avocados with a minimum oil content of 8%. Since it’s cumbersome to measure oil content, the Dry Matter which is inversely proportional to oil content is often measured as a maturity index.

Muranga Kenya: 95 years since the California Avocado Standardization Bill, Muranga County Government is yet to enact a similar legislation in a couple of weeks. We hope this will serve as a deterrent to harvesting and sale of immature fruits. Meanwhile, it is in the best interest of our business as avocado farmers in Kenya to ensure that the exporters and other middle-men do not lure us into destroying the future of the very business we are working so hard to build.

We, at richfarm Kenya consistently work with farmers to ensure the best farming practices are used. We have also compiled the Hass avocado farming guide below and put it in PDF so that you can keep it and read from your phone. You can download a free from our Farmer's Resources page.

Larry Madowo’s Thought Provoking Tweet on Avocado Export Business in Kenya

Many Kenyans eyeing the obviously lucrative agribusiness sector have their gaze fixed on hass avocado farming. However, it looks like the real money is in the avocado export business, no wonder there have mushroomed so many small export companies of late.

On Monday January 20^th this year, Kenya’s popular journalist Larry Madowo, who is now living in the USA, made a tweet that ignited debate and provoked thoughts about what is more profitable between hass avocado farming and hass avocado export business in Kenya.

"This tiny avocado cost me $1.69. Isn’t this daylight robbery?" Larry tweeted, of course wondering why he had to pay Ksh171 (equivalent of $1.69) for a small avocado that he would have hesitated to pay Ksh20 for if he was here in Kenya.

The avocado that got Larry Madowo complaining

If you are surprised at the price in the USA, then you have a bigger shocker awaiting you. In Germany, an unripe avocado costs approximately 5 Euros (more than Ksh 500 at the current rate). Avocado prices in Europe are much higher than in USA and most other parts of the world.

Let’s keep in mind that the best paid avocado farmer in Kenya gets Ksh48 for his best fruit (For avocado prices in Kenya in 2019 read “Sweet Pay for Kenyan Avocado Farmers in 2020”). This scenario begs the question “Is the significant difference in price due to the cost of transporting these fruits to Europe and USA?” Of course not: while farmers in Kenya are celebrating the improved prices, the people who are truly smiling to the bank are the owners of the export companies.

But why can’t the farmers export their own avocado to these markets and cut off the middlemen? Well, that is not entirely impossible but given the small scale nature of avocado farming in Kenya, individual farmers do not have the produce quantities and the financial muscle to put in place the infrastructure required to successfully export their fruits.

Yes, the only way to address these weaknesses as farmers is nothing new… We have to come together to form marketing bodies. This is an idea that has been floated to farmers for the longest time; it has obviously been met with inactiveness, perhaps because farmers don’t even know how to start.

How about this – we join a common-interest Whatsapp group for avocado farmers in Kenya. I think such a platform will give us an ample space to interact and brainstorm on how we can bring our efforts together to aggregate our produce to meet the required consistency and pull our resources together to meet the infrastructural requirements that will enable us smoothly export direct to the market instead of using middle men.

You can join our hass avocado farmers’ common-interest group through this link https://chat.whatsapp.com/FR4WzgiWjXz1W9ZAQxmnPP

The export market for Kenyan avocado is huge and growing. We painted a picture of how it is in this article Demand For Kenyan Avocado Continues to Climb: The Issue Right Now Is Providing a Continuous Supply.

You will also remember that in April 2019, the Kenyan government signed a trade deal with the Chinese government allowing Kenyan avocado farmers to export their fruits to China. While there are tough regulations in that deal, the Kenyan government is negotiating to have them removed and the negotiations are actually starting to bear fruits: see Avocado Farming in Kenya Gets a Boost as China Slashes Duty on Kenya Avocadoes.

Projections indicate that when this China deal becomes fully operational, without excessively limiting small scale farmers with tough regulations, the Chinese market alone will be able to absorb 40% of Kenya's total avocado produce.

The future looks bright for avocado farmers in Kenya. It’s obviously the ripe time to invest in this project as we make efforts towards bringing farmers together to enable them access the international market directly. We, at Richfarm Kenya would love to help you in establishing your hass avocado orchard. You can reach us easily through 0724698357 or through the other channels given in our Contact Us page. Don’t forget to go to the Farmer’s Resources page to get a copy of this Hass avocado farming guide (PDF).

Sasini Expands Avocado Farming and Exports in 2020, Working With Kenyan Farmers

For a long time, Kakuzi has been the best company in the avocado farming and export sector in Kenya but it looks like Sasini is going to give them a run for their money starting this year 2020. Sasini, which initially dominated the tea and coffee farming and export industry, entered the avocado business in 2017 saying, “…we needed to identify a crop which would offer health benefits to the consumers and Avocado was an easy pick from a range of other crops…”

Sasini Avocado: New entrant in the avocado export business in kenya

But you can clearly see that this was a good move in time to cushion the company against the fluctuating prices of tea and coffee. Sasini’s move was well informed as the company ventured into avocado farming and exporting at a time when the market was craving for Kenyan avocado as global demand for the healthy fruit went through the roof.

Providing market for avocado farmers in Kenya

When it started the avocado export business, Sasini did not have its own farms so it started by working with farmers in various parts of Kenya. It also planted 200 acres of hass avocado in Nandi and Meru highlands. The company intends to increase the land under this crop to 1,000 acres by the end of this year, 2020.

However, they have an elaborate network of farmers who supply them more than 50% of all the fruits that they export. The farmers are engaged through a contract that sees them get GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) certified. Before selling their fruits to Sasini, the farmers must have their produce tested to ensure that they pass the minimum residual level.

Sasini Outgrowers: The company buys 50% of their export fruits from small scale avocado farmers in Kenya

Exporting fuerte avocado as well

Unlike other avocado exporting companies in Kenya which only export the hass avocado, Sasini also packs and exports fuerte avocado. They mainly market their fruits in the United Kingdom, the larger Europe and America, although they also have interests in other global markets.

Small scale avocado farmers in Kenya set to benefit more

With the entrance of such agribusiness heavy weights, the small scale farmers in the country are set to benefit the most as competition for supplies will definitely lead to better prices. The farmer’s worst challenge in avocado farming, market, is also addressed as the country’s export capacity is increased.

You should also read:

1. Avocado demand continues to climb:“The issue right now is providing a continuous supply”

2. Avocado Farming in Kenya Gets a Boost as China Slashes Duty on Kenya Avocadoes

Hass avocado farming guide: Kenya

As the prices of other commodities in the international market highly fluctuate, that of avocado seems to be relatively stable. This is the best time to invest in avocado farming. Check out this hass avocado farming guide for kenya for relevant information on how to start. It is now available in pdf and you can now request for it from our Resources Page.

How Avocado Farming In Kenya Is Influenced By Global Supply

No doubt the Hass avocado farming business in Kenya is mainly supported by the global market. This is because we export most of the fruits we produce to sell them in the same market as other major producers in the world like Peru, Mexico, Columbia and Spain. South Africa is also a major supplier to this market but Kenya recently overtook it to become Africa’s top exporter of avocado.

Avocado farming in Kenya

As such, the Kenyan avocado exporters have to maintain a high quality standard in order to remain competitive and get better prices. However, that is not the only factor that influences prices. Any event in a major avocado producing country, which has an effect in the production or distribution of the fruits in the world market, is bound to influence prices.

For example, the avocado prices faced a sharp decline last year (2019) towards the end of November – it was a drop from €18 (Ksh2,025) to €7 (Ksh787) for a 4kg box. That happened within a very short time of just about 2 weeks.

What caused such a sharp decline?

According to Produce IT, a Dutch company that grows avocados in Mexico and exports them to the global market in Europe and America, a culmination of several circumstances caused the price drop.

"There were a lot of strikes during the Chilean season. All the fruit came late onto the market, all at once. Those were then poorer quality products that had to be sold quickly. Peru offered avocados until the end of November. Kenya also kept sending more product too. The usual countries of origin also come on the market with more avocados every year. These countries include Mexico, Colombia, and Spain." Said Ruud Kester of Produce IT.

Kenyan Avocado

What was the effect on avocado farming in Kenya?

Any time there is such a drop in the prices of avocado in the export market, the avocado export companies in Kenya always pass the burden to the farmer.

However, the good news is that the avocado season in Kenya starts in April and extends to around early October, a time during which there is low supply in the global market hence prices are high and fairly stable. During that window, the price of a 4kg carton can go as high as €20 (Ksh2,250).

Read Also:

1. Avocado demand continues to climb:“The issue right now is providing a continuous supply”