Fruit Farming: Climate-Smart Approach to Fruit Farming For Beginners

In a recent interview featured on KTN News' Farm Kenya program, Evans Nthiga, the CEO of Richfarm Kenya, took the opportunity to walk the audience through a comprehensive, step-by-step process on how to successfully establish and grow a profitable agribusiness, with a particular emphasis on fruit farming. Throughout the interview, Nthiga shared invaluable insights into the various stages of starting a fruit farming venture, from selecting the right fruit for specific climates and soils to managing the business efficiently. 

He also highlighted the importance of adopting a climate-smart approach to farming, explaining how this method not only boosts profitability but also contributes to the sustainability of the agricultural sector. By focusing on techniques that promote environmental conservation and resilience, Nthiga demonstrated how farmers can engage in practices that not only enhance the quality of their products but also help to transform agri-food systems towards greener, more climate-resilient practices, ensuring long-term success in the face of changing environmental conditions.

Full Interview: Insights On Fruit Farming

We will go through some of the key issues highlighted and pick some golden nuggets from our CEO on agribusiness best practices and how you can run a fruit farming venture profitably.

In Kenya, farming is usually linked with the elderly and has traditionally been considered a rural retirement activity.  However, Nthiga is helping to rewrite this story by demonstrating that, when seen as a business, agriculture can be both sustainable and profitable.  The shift from traditional subsistence farming to agribusiness, where young farmers enter the field with a business mindset, has been a significant development.

According to Nthiga, many young Kenyans who start their own farms nowadays are "agripreneurs," who employ innovative and commercial strategies to boost revenues.  Given that farmers are typically 60 years old, this shift is crucial to attracting more young people to the field.  By combining technology, sustainable practices, and modern financial management techniques, agribusiness owners are accelerating agricultural growth and encouraging the next generation to pursue farming.

He talks about how he eventually got into fruit farming. His first jab at farming was beans farming which never went as planned. The most common type of farming around Mbeere in Embu is muguka farming which in his thinking is not a product consumed by all sundry which at some point maybe be challenging to market due to the niche market it serves. The push to try get local farmers away from muguka led him to fruit farming, “That's how I got into fruit farming. With the push to try and show them that there is something else we can do right here on this land as dry as people think it is. There is something that we can do, and it becomes economically viable and help us to make good money. So fruit farming came in as the idea, and we have fruits that are actually suited for our kind of climate, it's hot and dry most times of the year. So we have fruits that are adapted to that. That is what I introduced.”

Pawpaw, dragon fruit and sweet yellow farming as an alternative to muguka farming in Mbeere

Passion Fruit farming                Sliced Red and white dragon fruit 

He states that, “Pawpaw was initially there. What we did is, we just brought hybrid varieties to show them that there is something else that we can do. That we can produce good, sweet fruits that can compete very favorably in the market. And then we have yellow passion also grows very well in such climate. And recently, a new addition, dragon fruit performing excellently in that climate”

Key Considerations In Fruit Farming for profitable 

Emphasis are made on the diverse nature of fruit production and it requires careful planning. The three most crucial factors to consider while beginning a fruit farm are as follows:

1.    Climate Compatibility: A region's climate has a big impact on what fruits can grow there.  For instance, papayas (pawpaw) thrive in hotter climes, whereas apples and avocados thrive in temperate regions. “So you must consider the climate of the area where you want to start your farming. The good thing is that there is a fruit for every area, even those ones in very cold places, they can still grow apples and they will be sweet. They will grow has avocado and they will go into the export market. There are also varieties of grapes that do very well there, bananas, the cooking bananas and plantain they will do well in cooler areas. As you can see, we have made a choice of dragon fruit, pawpaw and passion fruit, because of where we come from.”

2.    Soil Type: Depending on the fruit, different soil conditions exist.  Papayas like well-draining sandy loam soils, but avocados require deep, nutrient-rich soils. “For every type of soil, there is a fruit that will suit it. For pawpaws it requires very well drained soils, almost sandy. But if you're in the clay kind of soil, black cotton, then pawpaw farming may give you a bit of a challenge. The soil type, the drainage and the depth are key. If you have deep soils, you can go for fruits like avocado. If you have shallow soils, dragon fruit will be a very ideal fruit. So you must consider the soil.”

3.    Plan for Marketing: Farmers must decide on their target market before investing in fruit cultivation.  Profitability depends on having a marketing plan, regardless of whether you're selling retail, wholesale, or through value addition. Nthiga encourages farmers to try out innovative marketing techniques, such as setting up small kiosks or working with local vendors, to distribute their products.  Additionally, farmers can use digital platforms like social media and e-commerce websites to reach a wider audience and establish direct connections with consumers.

Avoiding Common Mistakes in Agribusiness

Although fruit farming can be profitable, many aspiring agribusiness operators make costly blunders.  Nthiga enumerated some of the most common errors to avoid:

 

        I.    Insufficient preparation.  Many farmers enter the fruit farming industry without conducting adequate research, which puts a strain on their resources and leads to fruitless ventures. “The first mistake people make when coming into agribusiness, generally, not only just fruit farming, is the is the lack of planning. It's a terrible mistake, I can tell you. If you're coming into this field, you must have a proper plan. And when we talk about a proper plan, it's not only in your mind, it must be written, something that you can refer to at the different stages of this journey, because it is a journey.” A well-structured company plan with specific goals, estimated budgets, and risk assessments is necessary for long-term success.

   II.    Ignoring Professional Guidance:  Consulting experts can lower risks and boost yields because farming is a science. “The second mistake that people make is thinking that this is a common practice, it's anyone's business. As long as I have some background in farming, I can do this. Farming is scientific. I think that is one thing people don't want to get to terms with, farming is scientific. There is a lot of science that goes into agriculture, and so before you set yourself into farming, you must have the expertise. If not, then hire, get an expert to lead you through. Don't assume that it is as easy as you read it. That since you have guides online you are good to go, they are not enough. Someone with practical experience will be of great value to you as you're getting started.”

 III.   The disregard for marketing tactics. Without a plan for selling them, simply cultivating fruits can lead to significant losses.  “Thinking that once I have my produce, then buyers will come knocking. It's a terrible assumption. First of all, it's a business, as I said, and you cannot produce anything and keep it there and hope someone will get inspiration that you have that thing. You have to do marketing. Agribusiness does not end at production, what ends at production is farming. If you want to become a farmer, then you can end your story at production, but if you want to go into agribusiness, then marketing also becomes your responsibility."

Dragon Fruit Production: The Future Is Here

Growing dragon fruit has become more popular in Kenya, especially following COVID-19, due to its high market value.  Initially, all of Kenya's dragon fruit was imported, making it a costly good.  When farmers learned they could grow it locally, demand skyrocketed.

However, as Nthiga warns, many farmers entered the dragon fruit business just for financial gain, disregarding the necessary cultivation techniques or marketing strategy. “Ask any successful businessman, and they will tell you the first thing you need to do is create value, and then money will follow you. Now that is the mistake that many people going into business make, because they forget that there is a deeper purpose that you should first pursue before the money starts trickling in. For us, actually, the other reason other than now providing an alternative to muguka is because this is a fruit that is very nutritious, very rich and also very sweet. If you look at kids eating this fruit, they enjoy it. Then look at the kids, the average kids, and less privileged, they cannot afford dragon fruit. Even to date, if you go to a supermarket where this thing is being sold, the best price you can get is maybe Ksh 700 per kilo, still very high for many of us. Another thing that we pursue with our dragon fruit farming venture is to make this thing available. We actually don't sell at those prices deliberately. We've started by selling to the locals at a very affordable price, for as low as 100 shillings, it's a bit affordable, and we hope to even bring it lower than that. I can tell you for sure, this fruit is not as difficult to produce as many others that are lower in price. It's very easy to produce.”

Dragon fruit farming can still be profitable, though, if farmers approach it with the right commercial acumen. “There is a demand for dragon fruit and we're just scratching the surface, because we have not even considered value addition. There are very many ways of value adding this fruit. We have not even considered the export market. A few days back, someone asked whether I can supply one container full per week, my response was, we don't have that quantity right now. There is an even wider market when we think about going into value addition and export. The demand is something that is way beyond what we can currently meet.”

 Growing Pawpaws and Passion Fruit: An Eco-Friendly Alternative

Nthiga encourages the cultivation of papayas and passion fruit in addition to dragon fruit, particularly in arid areas.  For example, the yellow passion fruit variety thrives in hotter climates and is highly prized in the juice industry.  Hybrid pawpaw varieties produce tasty, premium fruits that sell for competitive prices on the market, but they require careful management.

Passion fruit is a versatile crop that can be sold unprocessed or turned into additional-valued products like jam and juice.  The demand for passion fruit juice in both domestic and foreign markets makes it an appealing option for farmers seeking long-term success.

The Role of Technology in Modern Farming

Agriculture is changing as a result of technology's increased efficiency, sustainability, and productivity.  Precision agriculture methods, such as soil moisture sensors and automated irrigation systems, optimize water consumption to increase yield while reducing waste.  Agricultural monitoring is another application for drone technology that ensures early detection of pests and diseases.

Farmers may track their output, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions that improve their agricultural operations overall by leveraging digital technologies and data analytics.  Mobile apps and internet marketplaces provide easy access to vital resources such as weather forecasts, agronomic advice, and financial services.

 Concluding Remarks: Agribusiness Opportunities in Kenya

As young farmers employ innovative farming techniques and innovative marketing strategies, Kenyan agribusiness is evolving.  Evans Nthiga and Richfarm Kenya serve as examples for aspiring farmers, showing that fruit farming can be substantial and successful with the right knowledge and approach.

As the agricultural sector continues to grow, it is becoming clear that successful farming requires more than just planting and harvesting—it also requires a planned, business-oriented strategy.  By adopting agribusiness, Kenyan farmers may open up new opportunities and contribute to the development of a prosperous and sustainable agricultural industry.

Value addition, sustainable farming practices, and technological integration will all have a big impact on agriculture in the future.  In addition to generating a substantial income, fruit cultivation can make a substantial contribution to food security and economic growth with the right approach.  By investing in long-term planning, knowledge, and innovation, Kenyan farmers will be at the forefront of the global agricultural landscape.

Feel free to ask the experts as you embark on this wonderful journey of fruit farming 0724698357/0723213602 or shoot us an email at info@richfarmkenya.com or RichfarmK on all our socials.