How To Choose The Best Pawpaw Variety For Farming In Kenya

A wise choice of the best variety is something you must consider in order to make your pawpaw farming business significantly profitable. There are about 9 main varieties currently being farmed in Kenya, all with diverse characteristics. It would be unfair to explicitly force to you one of these varieties claiming it’s the best. Instead, we will point out the three of them that we think have the most outstanding characteristics.

1. The Solo Sunrise Pawpaw

This is one variety that has been loved by everyone who has tried pawpaw farming in Kenya. It was first imported by KALRO and propagated in their farm in Baringo. It fast spread throughout the country with many farmers taking it up in Meru, Machakos and Makueni. Today, it is the most common in the country and its largest propagator, Richfarm Kenya, has distributed seeds to as far as Zambia.

solo sunrise pawpaw farming in kenya
Solo sunrise pawpaw tree
Solo sunrise pawpaw tree matures fast and starts bearing fruits after only 6 months. At this age, the tree is about 1 meter tall. As it sets fruits, more flowers develop on the growing crown and by the time the tree is a year old, it would be carrying over 60 fruits. The production is continuous and the tree will give you more than 100 fruits in the second year of production.

The fruits are small and pear-shaped, with a red flesh and very sweet taste. Each fruit weighs about 500 grams, ideal for one person to eat in one sitting. The fruits have excellent keeping quality since a ripe fruit can be kept for 14 days without going bad. This is why it is the best variety to farm is you are targeting the export market.

Read Also:

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2. Calina Papaya IPB9 Pawpaw

This variety was imported into Kenya from Indonesia. Its outstanding characteristic is that it is a pure dwarf: it starts bearing fruits at only 30 cm high. It matures very fast such that is you planted it in a hot area with sufficient water for irrigation, you harvest your first fruit in under 6 months.

calina papaya IPB9 pawpaw kenya
Calina papaya IPB9
Calina papaya fruits are large and oval weighing between 0.5kg and 1.2 kgs. They have a very appealing red colour inside and are very sweet as well. Most of the fresh fruit vendors in town love it because of its large size that allows them to slice it and sell in parts. Can you also imagine how attractive a bowl of fruit pudding would look like with the bright red chops of this pawpaw?

This variety may not have as good keeping quality as solo sunrise but it is still a darling for fruit exporters. With good management, each tree of this variety will give you more than 50 fruits in a year.

One advantage that farmers of Calina papaya IPB9 variety have is that they can space the trees a bit more closely (1.5 meters from plant to plant) hence ending up with about 1350 trees in an acre. You know what that means? Of course more yield per acre hence more money in the pocket.

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3. The Red Lady Dwarf Pawpaw

This is another great variety originating from the Philippines. It is high yielding giving up to 120 fruits in the second year after transplanting. Although it takes a bit longer to mature (9 months on average), it has a long productive lifespan and can give you fruits year in, year out for more than 5 years.

red lady f1 pawpaw kenya
Red lady F1 Pawpaw
Red lady pawpaw fruits are oval in shape, obviously red and sweet but a bit smaller than those of Calina papaya IPB9. They weigh 400 to 650 grams on average.

I should have mentioned by now that it is a self pollinating variety just like the other two we have discussed above. That means as a farmer, you do not have the burden of keeping male trees that do not produce fruits in your orchard.

So among these 3 top pawpaw varieties in Kenya, which one would you go for as a farmer?
If you are a new farmer or intent to invest in pawpaw farming, I recommend that you also read
We have also compiled this comprehensive pawpaw farming guide for Kenya with step by step information from planting through to harvesting and marketing. It also contains budget estimates. It is now available on PDF so you can even read it from your phone while at the farm. You can now download your copy for free from our Resources Page.

High Quality Ready to Plant Papaya Seedlings

We have high quality pawpaw seedlings of the three best varieties mentioned above. You can always visit our nurseries in Embu to pick your seedlings or simply place your order and let us figure out how to deliver the seedlings to your farm. Give us a call on 0724698357 to place your order
hybrid pawpaw seedlings for sale
Hybrid papaya seedlings at Richfarm Kenya, Embu nursery

We are now glad to announce that the people of Rift valley are now covered well by our Naivasha nursery. You can visit Richfarm Naivasha at Boffar farm along Moi South Lake road or call 0723213602 to place your order. 

dwarf pawpaw seedlings for sale
Pawpaw seedlings for sale at Richfarm Naivasha


While pawpaw farming is a lucrative business in Kenya today and relatively cheap to start in Kenya today, it requires a lot of space: for you to make any meaningful returns, you should start with at least one acre. However, space should never be a limitation to investing in agribusiness. If you have a small space and you would like to do farming for business, then one of the best investments you can make is in mushroom farming. We put together this article How To Make Money With Mushroom Farming In Kenya Throughout The Year 2021 to help you get started. Whenever you have questions, you can always reach us on call through 0724698357. 


30 comments :

Unknown said...

Can I get the guidebooks of pawpaw farming please

Unknown said...

Am interested in farming ..can I get contact for more information,want to plant 8 acres ,,was interested in solo and calina

Unknown said...

Contact me on duncanzomo82@gmail.com

Unknown said...

what's the cost of certified papaya seeds? (self pollinated variety)

Unknown said...

Certified pawpaw seeds for solo and how much does it cost per seed

Richfarm Kenya said...

Solo Sunrise seeds cost Ksh5,000 for a pack of one acre. Call 0724698357 to order

Unknown said...

I would like to know the prices for solo sunrise,calina IPB9 and Red Lady F1 pawpaw. What the quantities per different packages.

Unknown said...

Which variety would you recommend for Kenyan market

Unknown said...

I am in mosoroit near eldoret where can i get the seeds.

Unknown said...

which is the best variety for baringo county and what are the prices?

Unknown said...

How do I order pawpaw seeds from Kenya to Nakonde, Zambia

Unknown said...

Comrade from Nakonde Zambia get in contact with me so that we make orders together to reduce ship cost, u may also wish us to exchange notes I ve been into papaya farming since 2020. catch me on 0966992809

Unknown said...

Ipb9 variety where do I get it at how much ksh

Dianne mody said...

Hi, I am in Moi's Bridge, in Trans-nzoia County, which variety can you recommend for this region?

Thanks in Advance.

Unknown said...

I am in Baringo county at mogotio and interested to start pawpaw farming next year which variaty can you recommend for me among the three in a one acre next year.please tell me.

Unknown said...

Am in sultan HAMUD Makueni County which is the best variety for this area

Unknown said...

I'm in Kerugoya Kirimunge) where do I get solo sunrise trees. How much is one tree

Unknown said...

Hi. Did this deal materialise?

Unknown said...

How can I get the seeds I am in Mombasa.

Unknown said...

Hi,I am in namibia and interested in the Ibp9 seeds. How do I get them?kindly reach me at norryadel@gmail.com thank you

Anonymous said...

What is the price of Small packet of seeds for Carina variety. I want to plant in a garden.

Anonymous said...

Good afternoon I would a pack of solo sunrise pawpaw seeds enough for one acre please advise

Anonymous said...

Hae?am Damaris frm murang'a,u can connect me with buyers,am interested with sunrise solo seed

Anonymous said...

I am interested can i have WhatsApp number please from Zimbabwe 🇿🇼

Anonymous said...

I'm in kerio valley where can I get solo sunrise seedlings 0726541361

Anonymous said...

How can I get calina pawpaw seeds from Kanya to Bertoua Cameroon

Anonymous said...

How much does it cost

Anonymous said...

Am from coast currently mida this is between kilifi and malindi i have 3 acres and I need start farming kindly reach me mokolicharo@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Am very much interested in solo and calina, my email is mpingasah@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Am very much interested in solo and calina, my email is mpingasah@gmail.com