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:
1. Tomato - Please read the article How To Do Tomato Farming in Kenya Without Burning Your Fingers
3. Avocado - How To Grow Avocados In Kenya For Export
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 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.
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:
We 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
