Pawpaw Farming In Kenya: How Much Do I Invest and What’s The Profit

Pawpaw farming has been practiced in Kenya for a relatively long time. However, most of the people who cultivated this fruits did it for own consumption. It is a wonderful source of vitamins during the long dry periods in Kenya during which other fruit farming activities don't give much.  

Recently things have changed and pawpaw farming is not just for subsistence; it is now an income generating venture in Kenya. Gone are the days we did agriculture blindly: we are now in the days of AGRIBUSINESS in which you must carefully consider the amount of capital you invest in the farming venture and the expected profit.

pawpaw farming in kenya

Pawpaw (papaya) is in this light one of the most profitable fruit farming ventures you would engage in today. While we have enjoyed this sweet fruit from the days of our childhood, its commercial production in Kenya only took root about 3 years ago and the rate at which investors are taking this venture is impressive.

Pawpaw farmers in the country have moved from supplying their fruits only to the local fresh fruit markets to processing – like Kenya Papaya Products Ltd – and exporting. This growth creates and impressive investment opportunity.

Capital requirement


So how much do you invest and what are the expected returns?  Allow us to give you figure from our experience: these are figures (in Ksh) for one acre done with the recommended spacing of 2x2 meters in which an acre accommodates 1100 plants. They are estimates for one farming period which runs for about 2 years.

Land clearing (by ploughing)                                                                   4,500
Holes Preparation (Digging and application of manure)                    33,000
Manure                                                                                                         20,000
Seedlings                                                                                                      66,000
Crop protection (pesticides and fungicides)                                         10,000
Irrigation                                                                                                      20,000
Labour (for general orchard maintenance)                                           20,000
Total                                                                                      173,500

Returns:


The average yield per acre of various varieties of pawpaw is about 40 tons per year. Farm gate prices for a kilo of pawpaw go as high as Ksh.60 but let us take a more conservative price of Ksh.30 per kg and a yield of 30 tons per acre. The total income for the first year then comes to Ksh.900,000 giving a profit of Ksh.726,500

Read Also:
1. Pawpaws Make You Money While Asking For Very Little Input From You
2. Neofresh Pawpaw Farm Is a Mind-blowing Inspiration

The same crop should also produce about the same tonnage in the second year. After the second year, production starts going down but with proper farm management, the same trees could give you good quantities in the third and fourth year. 

However, the lifespan of the trees depend mainly on the variety. The varieties commonly cultivated in Kenya are solo sunrise and mountain pawpaw have a lifespan of up to 4 years. New dwarf varieties such as calina papaya IPB9, the Malaysian Red Lady and the Red Royal have gained much popularity in Kenya.

The new dwarf varieties have numerous advantages:

  1. The trees are easy to manage due to their size
  2. They produce big fruits of about 1kg each but still with a good keeping quality
  3. They are self pollinating hence no male trees that only take up space without producing fruits.
  4. The fruits have an attractive red color and are very sweet.
papaya farming guide kenya pdf
Pawpaw farming guide for Kenya
Pawpaw farming is a venture worth considering. If you would want to invest in it, we would love to guide you through. You can call or WhatsApp us on 0724698357. 

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

Request for your copy through the Farmer's Resources Page.

Ready to plant seedlings are also available at  our nurseries in Embu and Naivasha. We also do deliveries countrywide and help you set up the farm, guide you through the growth period and later connect you to consistent buyers. For more enquiries about this and to get our help in setting up your farm, kindly call or whatsapp us on +254724698357. 

Chia Seeds Farming in Kenya: How Profitable Is It, Complete Guide on Growing It


Chia seeds came into the Kenyan market sometime before 2017 but it’s in early that year that the crop hit the market strongly. Since then, its market has been expanding from the high end shops to retail supermarkets as information about the benefits of these seeds trickles down to a wider population. This made it to rise into the group of most profitable cash crops to grow in Kenya. 

The other crops you may want to consider are:

The tiny black and grey chia seeds provide a whole meal packed with proteins, Omega 3 fats and a dozen of other nutrients that include calcium, manganese, and phosphorus.

chia seeds farming in kenya

Chia seeds farming is being done commercially not only in Kenya. In fact, the crop is grown commercially in the US, Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Australia and Mexico for its seeds because of its high nutritional value. 

Growers in the Ord Valley, Australia, started trialling the crop back in 2005, following research by a Nuffield scholar who was looking for natural solutions to modern diet related diseases.

This little crop with tiny seeds is causing waves not only in Kenya but across the world. This is because of its established and documented benefits. These include:

  • Chia Seeds have Omega-3 fats – it is the richest plant source of omega 3. These are essential fatty acids known for their effectiveness at lowering cholesterol levels, blood pressure, preventing heart disease among other health benefits.
  • Chia seeds are rich in fibre: Two tablespoons of Chia – about 25 grams – provide about seven grams of fibre.
  • Chia seeds are rich in minerals which include calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, manganese, copper, niacin, and zinc.
  • Chia seeds have a nutty flavour, and are a healthful addition to the diet sprinkled on cereals, yogurt or salads. You can also eat them whole or mix them into flour when baking bread, muffins or other baked goods.
  • Chia leaves are also used to make therapeutic tea.
These benefits are recognized worldwide giving this crop and its products a great demand.


Chia seeds farming is relatively new in Kenya with the only documented farmers being found in Nakuru, Meru, Nyanyuki and lately Busia County where farmers with an aggregate 150 acres are growing the crop for export to Denmark with the support of the county government.

Chia seeds farming in Kenya is easy and is not capital intensive as other cash crop ventures. The capital requirements are similar to other crop and could actually be lower considering that the crop is a pest repellent and can be grown without the need for spraying pesticides or applying chemical fertilisers.

Typically, the costs of chia seeds farming in Kenya for one acre is as follows:
·                        Land lease                 5,000
·                           Ploughing                  3,000
·                           Harrowing                2,000
·                           Planting                     3,000
·                           Seeds                          8,000 (1,000 per Kg)
·                           Harvesting                5,000
           Total                              26,000

The average yield per acre is 300 kgs. Should the prices plummet from the Ksh. 2,000 we are currently seeing on retail shelves of our supermarkets to a low of Ksh. 500 per kg, a farmer will still make Ksh.150,000 in just 3 months from planting. 


Read also:


chia farming in kenya pdfWe have put together our experiences and have come up with this farming guide. 

If you would like to start chia seeds farming, then you will find this book very helpful. 

You can request for your copy here or through the Resources Page

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