Plantain
farming in Kenya is one of the highly profitable kinds of farming being done by
only a few farmers. This is because plantain bananas were not well known to Kenyans, until very recently. When
business people started importing plantains from Uganda, the demand suddenly
started growing. The well-informed farmers quickly saw the opportunity, brought
in the planting materials and started producing them locally.
Plantain farming in Kenya |
But what are plantain bananas and why are they loved so much?
Plantain
is actually a cousin of banana, only that they have a different flavour and culinary use from
the ordinary bananas that we know. Although they originate from the South
Eastern part of Asia, plantain farming is now done across the world including
in Kenya.
The
key differences between ordinary bananas and plantain are:
- Plantains are bigger and longer
- Plantains have thicker skin
- Plantains are mostly for cooking, even when they are ripe.
Also Read: Banana Farming in Kenya: The Best Practices for Commercial Production
Nutritionally, plantains are also different from bananas in that they contain higher levels of starch and lower levels of sugars than bananas. They cook way better than bananas and can be prepared using many different cooking methods: they can be fried, roasted, sautéed, baked or simply boiled.
Plantain farming: it is now very profitable due to the soaring demand for the crop |
I guess you can now see why their
demand in Kenya is rising so fast.
Where plantain farming is done in Kenya
Plantains
are mostly produced at the Kenyan coast. However, due to the growing demand,
farmers in mid and higher altitude areas such as Kiambu and Kericho have taken
up the cultivation of this crop. The good thing is that plantains can grow
anywhere in Kenya as long as they receive full sun and are planted on soils
with sufficient nutrients and organic content. However, they do not perform
well in very cold areas like the frost-prone areas of Nyandarua.
Plantain farming at the Kenya coast: The crop has also been taken up by farmers in other places in Kenya due to high demand |
How to plant plantains
Size of the planting hole
Being
a cousin of bananas, plantains must be planted in huge holes measuring at least
60cm wide and 60cm deep. We make such a big planting hole to allow space for
incorporation of enough manure and for irrigation. This also encourages the
mother plant to produce suckers which grow to become the next generation of
fruit bearing plantain trees.
Plant Spacing
Plantains
are best grown in lines that are 3m apart. The distance from one planting hole
to the next can also be 3m. However, for large scale farms that intent to use
machinery in harvesting and transporting the ready plantains, an inter-row
spacing of 5m is advised.
The actual planting
Plantains
are grown from suckers obtained from the base of a mature mother plant. However,
the best planting material are tissue culture seedlings. With tissue culture
seedlings, you are sure that you will be getting true-to-type plants that are also
disease free. To get either plantain suckers or tissue culture seedlings, call
Richfarm Kenya on 0724698357.
Now
having your planting material ready and the holes dug, mix the top soil with at
least 1 bucket of animal or compost manure. Fill the planting hole with this
mixture and leave about 15cm space for irrigation: you do not need to leave the
space if you will be using drip irrigation system.
With the holes ready, plant the seedling at the very centre of the hole and water till the soil is completely soaked. Plantains, just like bananas require a lot of water in order to grow well.
Maturity period for plantain
Plantains
take 8 to 12 months from planting to the first harvesting. They grow faster in areas
that are warmer, with fertile soils and availability of sufficient water. Good
farming practices such as weeding, thinning and crop protection against pests
and diseases would also see a farmer rewarded with shorter maturity period and
a higher yield. Talking about pest and diseases, let us highlight a few of the
most common ones and how to control them.
Plantain first fruiting at 8 months |
Common Diseases that affect plantain and how to control them
1. Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV)
This
is the most dreaded disease among the plantain farmers in Kenya. It is a viral
disease that causes the top leaves to be “bunchy” and the plant to be stunted.
BBTV can wipe out your entire plantation. There is no known cure for BBTV so farmers
must take precautions to prevent and control it. Here are a few things you
should do:
- Plant resistant varieties,
- Ensure your farm if free from aphids and other small insects that transmit the virus,
- Remove any plants you suspect is infected and discard by burning or burying deep.
2. Black Sigatoka
This
is a fungal disease that causes black spots on the leaves of plantains. It
becomes a serious challenge if not controlled early. However, it is treatable
and can be controlled by using fungicides, by planting resistant varieties and ensuring
proper air circulation around the plants.
3. Panama disease
This
is also a fungal disease that is cause by soil-borne pathogens. The leaves of
the affected plants turn yellow, wilt and eventually die, finally killing the
entire plantain tree. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Panama disease, but
it can be controlled by planting resistant varieties and avoiding planting in
areas where the disease is known to be present.
4. Anthracnose
This
is a common fungal disease that mostly occurs during warm and dump weather. It causes
brown spots on the plantain fruits, which may eventually turn into a rot. It
can be controlled by using fungicides, planting resistant varieties, and
harvesting fruits before the spots become too large.
5. Rhizome rot
This is a bacterial disease that causes the roots of plantain plants to rot. It can be controlled by planting in well-drained soil, avoiding over-watering and using bactericides.
In addition to these 5 diseases, plantains can also be affected by a number of common pests such as nematodes, mealybugs and scale insects. These pests can be controlled by using insecticides, biological control agents and cultural practices such as crop rotation.
Since
some of these pests and diseases can spread very fast, it is important to
monitor your plantain farm, looking for any possible signs of disease or pests.
Profitability of plantain farming in Kenya
If
you are keen to do all the good agricultural practices that we have
highlighted, you should be able to achieve yields of between 10 to 15 tons per
acre every year. The average wholesale price of plantain bananas in Kenya is
Ksh150 per kilo. Zucchini supermarket is actually selling a kilo at Ksh400 as
you can see below.
Plantain price in Kenya: the price ranges between Ksh150 and Ksh400 |
The
cost of producing 1 acre of plantains from planting through the first year of
production is approximately Ksh200,000. This leaves a farmer with a high profit
of over Ksh1,3 million every year. A plantain farm will be productive for many
years as long as you keep providing the plants with nutrients and water.
How to make more profits from plantains
Most
of the buyers that offer Ksh150 per kilo are middle men who go on to make a
kill with your produce. You can cut these middle men off by selling directly to
consumers through social media. You would also make much more if you process
them into crisps, pack and sell through supermarkets and other wholesalers or
distributors.
We are happy to guide you through the entire process of plantain farming in Kenya and its marketing. Please call us on 0724698357 / 0723213602 for any assistance.
7 comments:
Thank you Rich farm kenya and am looking forward to meet you.
Thank you Rich farm for your content.am looking forward to do business with you.
Hello, where can one get plantain suckers for planting
I need to purchase suckers for planting. How can I get?
I have them send your request to my email muiruri46@yahoo.com. Thanks
I need suckers for planting. How much per sucker and how do I get. Share whatsapp no
I'm practicing it, four months to come I will be at Nairobi market.
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