The Money Math of Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya in 2024

Pure indigenous chicken or improved indigenous chicken locally known in Kenya as Kienyeji Chicken can be raised anywhere in Kenya, all one needs is passion, a business mindset, commitment and a little capital to start since it is among most profitable and easy manage farming ventures. It is appropriate to put in place a good plan in place on how as a farmer you will roll out this process seamlessly starting from housing, where water and feeds will come from, proximity to a veterinary doctor for treatment, vaccinations or to respond to emergencies and livestock officers for extension services, and most importantly, the farmer should plan from the outset on marketing to make it a very profitable activity to them.

Chicken Farming in Kenya

Indigenous chicken are ready for meat at about 6 months and are sold at between Kshs.550 to kshs.600 for hens and Kshs.800 to 1000 for cocks. This variety of chicken requires a six month plan to be able to allocate 200 birds for sale each month. Therefore the farmer needs to have parent stock which will give eggs every 21 days required for incubation. 

While the maturity period for improved kienyeji is faster, usually four to five months, the maturity for pure indigenous chicken is six months hence a slower way of raising chicken though their meat and eggs are very popular in the market. Farmers rearing them therefore need to exercise patience and commitment.

For those seeking info on pure kienyeji hens, here is a personal analysis, from personal experience.

also see Why Richfarm is Your Plug to Profitable Farming

If you started with 20 hens, I actually started with three chickens and a jogoo, at the end of the year you can easily have 300 plus chickens. If you put your effort to it! This is how:

Buy 20 hens that are ready to lay and 3 mature jogoos. Always keep the ratio of males to females at 1 jogoo to 7-10 females for fertilization purposes. That way you're sure your eggs are fertilized. Then the timelines will not fall far off from the illustration below: 

·          Month 1, they lay.

·          Month 2, they hatch.

·          Month 3, they rear their chicks.

Once the chicks are one month old, they don't need their mothers for warmth. So withdraw the mother when the chicks are one month old (at the end of calendar month 3) and rear the chicks yourself till they are 2.5 months old before you let them on their own (free range). This is meant to force the hen to start laying again. We are doing business not letting nature take its course! Come on. Alternatively, you can raise the chicks in a brooder without their mother, forcing the hen to start laying again even sooner. Well, let’s stick to a more easier way of doing this.

Month 4, the hens take what we call a "Laying break" to adopt to not having their chicks!

Month 5, the hens start to lay again.

Month 6, they hatch again.

Month 7, they rear the chicks (process repeats itself)! Withdraw the mother at the end of month 7.

Month 8, they are on the laying break.

Month 9 they lay again.

Month 10 they hatch.

Month 11, they rear. Withdraw mother at end of month 11.

Month 12, they take the break, waiting for month 1 of the next year to start over again.

A few things to note:

1. You can only practically do this up to 5 times for one hen before it's "tired"!

2. For every cycle, if you stay strict to the process, you get a week accrued for every hatching cycle because hens hatch after 21 days and in the post, I assumed a month for that. So you might squeeze a one month for the hens.

3. Put 8 eggs for every hen to hatch. In most cases, they'll hatch the entire 8 eggs, and for the poor hatchers, they'll hatch 7. Don't be too greedy. 8 has a good chance of hatching them all, as opposed to doing 10 plus and end up "spoiling" eggs!

4. If you take care of the chicks in a closed environment away from kites (mwewe) and other predators, you should have 5 mature hens for every hatch-cycle, per hen.

5. If you manage to get 5 hens for the 8 eggs hatched and you had 20 hens, you'll have 100 new hens for the first cycle. There are three cycles for every hen per year. That's a good 300 news hens. Plus your original 20 hens, you have 320. Let's just say 300 for the sake of it.

6. By the way, by the time the hen is watching for the third time in the year, the first batch of chicks will already be hatching too. NIIICE!

7. But remember you have an assumption 50/50 for cocks and hens, so you have 150 cocks, and 150 hens!

8. If you sell 100 mature jogoos in the Nairobi market, it's way better than trying to win the "Lotto sio Ndoto" con-game.

In all this, you got to put your mind, effort, money and most importantly, time to it. Don't look at the work right now, look at the end product.

Mature Kienyeji Chicken

And another thing, by the way, one kienyeji hen lays 15-18 eggs before wanting to hatch, if well taken care of that is. Let's say 15 eggs, give it 8 eggs to hatch and sell the other 7 eggs x 20 hens x 15 bob per egg, that's some 2000 that can go to buying you electricity tokens.

Always make sure you give the chickens the newest eggs for hatching. Eggs 15 days old have a 20% chance to hatch, 12 day old eggs have a 30% hatch rate. Eggs 10 days old have a 50% hatch chance. If it is 7 days, it shoots to 80%. Less than 7 days have a 90 plus percentage chance to hatch unless conditions like temperature and humidity fluctuate.

After hens hatch 5 times, sell them and rear the newer ones, they are rendered salvage, they don't lay that much. For those with bigger spaces, do paddocks for easier identification of ages for sale.

Always maintain your "floor stock" at 300 hens and 50 jogoos for easier management and space.

With this, you'll find out that you're collecting 200 eggs every day X 30 days = 6000 eggs less 2500 for hatching, you sell 3500 eggs every 4 months. That's 55k in 4 months. Sell 500 hens 250 jogoos and 250 mweras, at an average worst price of kienyeji 500 bob, 250,000 per year. Plus returns from eggs 55X 3 cycles totals 415K a year. Kienyeji only take about 20-25% of budget. Say 25%. Pocket the rest 311k. Average 25k a month and you don't wake up at 5 to go to work to come back home at 10 PM. More time for family.

Well, this is theory. The practicals have much more fun and some hardships but it is fun doing kienyeji, and the money is tax free unless you feel charitable enough to give the government (pun intended).

Vaccination

In the first week vaccinate the chicks against Newcastle disease (buy Newcastle lasota vaccine 200 doses), repeat Newcastle vaccine on the third and 5th week. At 4 weeks for fowl pox vaccine buy 200 doses. Repeat fowl pox vaccine at 6 weeks and Newcastle plain at 16 weeks. Notice that indigenous chicken are resistant to most diseases but this does not mean you avoid proper hygiene and good bio-security measures.

Chicken House

Remember chicken houses need not be expensive and can be constructed according to the financial ability of the farmer. This can be done using bricks, mud, iron sheets full suit or timber.

How To Construct a Chicken House

Pests

Pests that are a challenge in poultry farming include lice, fleas and bedbugs. They can be controlled by dusting or spraying the poultry and poultry house with recommended chemicals and replacing litter at the end of each crop. Parasites found inside the body such as roundworms, tapeworms can be controlled through regular deworming. One can also use natural methods in controlling some of these pests.

Feeding your Chicken Inexpensively

You can always formulate your own chicken feeds to cut down on costs of buying them. Except for a few feed manufacturers who keep to the standards in poultry feed formulations, many feed companies in the country make very poor quality feeds leading to huge losses to the chicken farmer.

Poor quality feeds lead to a slow growth in chickens, low egg production, diseases or even death. Making poultry feeds on the farm is one of the best ways to maintain quality and cut the cost of production.

The common ingredients are whole maize, maize germ, cotton seed cake, soya beans, sunflower or fish meal (omena).

To add on, farmers need to add several feed additives, that is, micro-nutrients, minerals and vitamins to make ensure their chicken have a balanced feed that meets their daily nutrient requirements.

Material is available cheaply, especially after the harvesting season. Depending on the cost of raw material, farmers who make their own feeds at home save between 30 to 50 per cent for every 70kg bag of chicken feed, depending on the source of their raw materials.

Due to government regulation, major feed companies have reduced the standard quantity of feed from 70kg to 50kg per bag, but the price of feed still remains almost the same. This means that farmers who are able to make their own feeds make great savings on feeds which take up to 80 per cent of the production costs.

To formulate feeds, farmers have to use the Pearson Square method whereby the digestible crude protein (DCP) is the basic nutritional requirement for any feed preparation for all animals and birds.

Now, assuming that a farmer wants to make feed for their chicken using this method, they have to know the crude protein content of each of the ingredients they want to use to make their feed. The following are the DCP values for each of the common ingredients used in feed making:

• Whole maize — 8.23%
• Soya — 45%
• Fishmeal (omena) — 55%
• Maize bran — 7%
• Sunflower — 35%

You can also incorporate Azolla in your feeds as it is packed with protein and essential nutrients that promote the overall health and productivity of chickens. It also improves the weight and increases the egg production. 

Make it a side hustle and it'll turn full time. MOST IMPORTANTLY: FEED them, WATER them, VACCINATE them, and give them MEDICATION at first sight of symptoms of illness. I can't stress that enough. Have fun farming. Remember,  being a farmer isn’t being uncool. It’s the new cool.

Kienyeji chicken farming is ideal for Kenyan youths who do not have access to large pieces of land and make it a very profitable farming activity. We have been exploring such opportunities to benefit our youth and we found another very lucrative one that you should consider venturing into in this year 2021.  That is mushroom farming, and as you will see from the article on our website it is nothing difficult to start. We also wrote and gave details of the profitability of mushroom farming in this article: How Profitable is Mushroom Farming in Kenya? Costs and Market analysis. 

Also see Moringa Oleifera Farming: Nutrient Power House

You also have full time support from Richfarm Kenya in case you have questions about mushroom farming through our weekly training and even on phone 0724698357. 

 

Home Gardening Tips for Beginners

Are you ready to transform your living space into a lush paradise? Home gardening is not just a relaxing hobby, it is a way to reconnect with nature, improve air quality, and even grow your own food. It doesn’t matter whether you are a seasoned gardener or a complete novice, this home gardening tips will help you cultivate a thriving garden right at home that you will enjoy.

Home gardening does give a number of benefits, including:

• Fresh Produce: Growing your own fruits and vegetables ensures you have access to fresh, organic produce.

• Stress Relief: Spending time in your garden can reduce stress and improve mental well-being.

• Environmental Impact: Home gardens contribute to biodiversity and help combat climate change.

• Aesthetic Appeal: A well-maintained garden enhances your home’s appeal and provides a beautiful outdoor space.

Raised home garden 

Essential Home Gardening Tips

1. Choose the Right Plants

When starting your garden, select plants that are suitable for your climate and soil type. Research local flora and consider factors like sunlight, temperature, and humidity. Popular choices for beginners include:

• Herbs: Herbs are used both in gastronomy and as decoration, so they make great choices for beginner gardeners. Some of them need little maintenance and even produce beautiful flowers. Some of these take longer to germinate, so just be patient and they’ll soon turn into lovely ornaments and tasty ingredients. Basil, mint, and parsley are easy to grow and can be used in your cooking.

• Vegetables: Lettuce, tomatoes, and radishes are fast-growing and rewarding.

• Flowers: Marigolds and sunflowers add color and attract pollinators.

Black Nightshade Farming in Kenya: A Complete Guide

2. Plan Your Garden Layout

Before planting, sketch out a garden plan and consider the following:

• Sunlight: Ensure taller plants don’t shade shorter ones. Direct sunlight for at least six to eight hours is best for your home garden. Avoid a space that receives strong winds as it could knock over young buddings.

• Accessibility: Leave some passage ways in between your plants for ease of maintenance.

• Companion Planting

One of the most amazing things about plants is that some of them have learned to grow together and mutually benefit each other. Some plants grow better together, for example, tomatoes and basil thrive when planted near each other. It also allows us to use small spaces creatively.

Blossoming Flower in a home garden

3. Build Healthy Soil

Good soil is the foundation of a healthy garden. It’s essential to:

• Test Your Soil: Use a soil test kit to check pH levels and nutrient content. After selecting the right place, you should test your soil and you must know about the pH and nutrient level of your soil. Knowing the type you have in your property will help you discover what additives you need to choose to improve your soil’s existing properties.

• Amend Your Soil: Incorporate compost to improve fertility and drainage. Compost is a natural fertilizer proven beneficial for garden plants. It is made of organic matter that has been decomposed, so it has all the nutrients plants need. You can buy compost from your local gardening store or you can try making it yourself. To get it started, you need to have a compost bin and add in your kitchen and yard waste. 

Rosemary Farming in Kenya

4. Start Small.

If you are a first-time gardener start small and keep putting down your successes and failures. Many beginner gardeners want to go big right away and plant everything at once. This can lead to chaos and disorder not just visually but also in the functional aspects of your garden. You can easily commit mistakes in not setting the right spacing, lighting, and other important conditions for your plants.  Some plants may not be of benefit to others and this is why it’s better to start with a smaller gardening area and just fill your space with plants over time once you’ve mastered the art of gardening.

5. Set Up a Raised Bed

If you do want to grow in a contained space, raised beds may be your best option. They are also good for ergonomic gardening, and can be built at the height of a wheelchair or around other mobility accommodations. 

6. Remove the weeds

Your first step to creating a home garden is to remove rocks, debris, and weeds. Removing weeds is necessary as they tend to compete with your plants for the nutrients and suppress growth or even damage them. In wed removal , you will most likely need tools like a spade, a trowel, and garden fork.

7. Pick Your Plants

You should select some basic plants to grow when you are starting gardening because they don’t take much time to grow. After getting experience,  you can grow different kinds of plants in your garden.

An easier method of starting your garden is by getting young plants or seedlings that you can transplant where you want them to grow. Dig holes in your prepared bed based on instructions given. Remove plants from the container by pushing up from the bottom. If the roots have grown into a big ball known as being root-bound, use an old fork or your fingers to untangle some outer roots before setting it into the hole. Pat soil into place around the roots and then soak the soil with water.

TIPS ON SUSTAINANBLE AGRICULTURE IN FRUIT FARMING

8. Mulch Your Home Garden

To help in keeping the weeds out and moisture in, cover the soil with some inches of mulch. You won't have to water as often, and by preventing sunlight from hitting the soil, you'll prevent weed seeds from germinating. Just make sure not to mulch over seeds you want to grow or they may not pop out either.

Choose a mulch, each with its own benefits, including shredded bark, straw, and river rock. If you use organic mulch, such as bark, compost, or straw, it will nourish the soil as it decomposes. For a vegetable garden, choose a mulch that decomposes in a few months. For perennials, use longer-lasting mulch such as bark chips.

9. Water Your Plants

Water plants regularly, especially during hot, dry weather. Water at the base of your plant early in the day. Most plants need at least an inch of water per week but avoid overwatering, which can drown plants and cause root rot. Not watering also can be an issue, causing dry leaves and wilting, or even death.

Fresh vegetables in a home garden

10. Enjoy Your Home Garden

Make a habit of strolling around your garden every day. Pay attention to what’s happening, tiny tomatoes are forming, the pollinators are buzzing in the pumpkin blossoms, the birds are visiting the flower blossoms!

Part of the joy of gardening is the daily discovery of what’s new, beautiful and interesting. We promise you’ll find a peace in nature that nothing else can deliver.

 At Richfarm Kenya, we are not only your plug for your home garden plants (seedlings) but also for your big farm for profitable fruits and vegetables farming. Contact us at 0724698357/ 0723213602

 

 

 

 

TIPS ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN FRUIT FARMING

1. Pest Management in Fruit Farming: Beneficial Insects and Organic Solutions for an Environmentally-Friendly Farm.

At Richfarm, we are a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture in Fruit Farming, which is our specialty. We advocate exploring the intricate balance between pest management and crop cultivation in the world of fruit farming.

I started the adventure on a small family farm where I saw directly the effects of traditional pest management techniques. This encounter stoked a passion to discover methods that preserve quality and health of our crops while safeguarding the environment.

Through research and hands-on experience, we at Richfarm have developed a deep appreciation for integrated pest management (IPM) and its transformative potential for the future of agriculture, especially in Fruit Farming.

Tips for Growing Big, Healthy Sukuma Matumbo (curly Kale) in Kenya

At Richfarm, we also focus on innovative strategies that reduce chemical use, allowing farmers to maximize their agricultural output and quality of their fruit without hurting the environment. The use of beneficial insects, which are nature's own pest control agents, is one of the pillars of this strategy. We can establish a natural equilibrium that efficiently controls pest populations by providing habitats for these buddies such as parasitic wasps, lacewings, and ladybugs.

At Richfarm, we are avid supporters of organic solutions to a future with less or minimal chemicals at our fruit farms. Practice of crop rotation, cover cropping, and organic pesticides become part of a sustainable farming model that builds healthy soil and quality fruit. We do conduct workshops, seminars and consultations with local farmers in which we teach these safe practices together giving insights on how to produce flourishing crops without harming our land.

At Richfarm, we have been on this journey which is driven by the conviction that sustainable practices are key, not only to food security but also to a future for agriculture where the relationship between nature and farming is more than perfect; it would be our standard.

2. Impact of Crop Rotation and Diversity in Fruit Production

As a fruit farmer, investigating the effects of crop rotation and the incorporation of diverse plant species in fruit cultivation, and looking at how these practices can improve soil health and hence reducing the prevalence of diseases, and bolster resilience against the challenges posed by climate change can impact fruit farming positively.

Anthracnose Disease: Understanding and Managing Anthracnose Disease in Fruit Farming

It is advisable for fruit farmers and farmers generally, to implement these strategies by carefully planning their planting schedules to alternate crops, thereby preventing soil depletion and pest accumulation. Additionally, integrating a variety of fruit species can create a more balanced ecosystem, which not only enhances biodiversity but also promotes natural pest control. Fruit farmers should also consider utilizing cover crops during off-seasons to further enrich the soil and protect it from erosion, ensuring a sustainable and productive agricultural system.

Why Richfarm is Your Plug to Profitable Farming

If you’re interested in learning more or exploring specific crops, you can visit Rich Farm Kenya’s demonstration farm in Kiritiri, Embu, or contact them at 0724698357 or 0723213602.

Fruit Farming in Kenya

How To Market Your Fruit: Strategies For Success

Having a look at the competitive marketplace today, marketing your fruit effectively can make all the difference between thriving and profitable business and one that struggles to stay afloat. Whether you are a small organic farm, or a local fruit vendor, or even part of a bigger agricultural business, having  a solid marketing strategy is key.In our today's topic, we will explore a major tried and proven strategy that can help you successfully market your fruit and boost your sales.

Urban Farming: Farming Fresh Produce Out Of Urban Spaces

Understanding Your Target Market

Before diving into specific marketing techniques, it’s essential to understand who your target market is for your fruits. Are you selling to health-conscious consumers, a school setting, gourmet chefs, or local grocery stores? Understanding your audience will help tailor your marketing efforts to meet their needs.

1. Create an Engaging Brand Story

A compelling brand story can set you apart from the competition. Share your journey, how you grew your fruit, your passion for farming, and your commitment to quality. Use storytelling to connect emotionally with your customers, making them more likely to choose your product over others.

2. Leverage Social Media Marketing

Utilizing social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X formerly Twitter and Pinterest are fantastic tools for showcasing your fruit. 

3. High-Quality Visuals

 Post vibrant and appealing photos of your fruit to catch the eye of potential customers. Bright colors and fresh produce can attract more viewers making them have a craving for your fruit.

Strawberry Farming in Kenya

4. Engagement

Here you interact with your followers by responding to comments and messages. You can also create polls or ask questions to encourage engagement. Direct engagement enables you to share your story and the unique characteristics of your fruits. Providing samples can entice potential customers, while promotional offers or discounts for first-time buyers can encourage initial purchases. Building relationships with local chefs and food bloggers can also amplify your reach, as they can feature your fruits in their dishes or posts, further extending your market presence.

In addition to social media, participating in local farmers' markets and community events can significantly enhance your visibility. 

5. User-Generated Content

This encourages your customers to share pictures of your fruit and tag your business. This builds community and serves as free marketing.

Exploring The Market For Your Fruits and Vegetables: Where Do I Sell My Fruits and Vegetables

Exploring The Market For Your Fruits and Vegetables: Where do I sell My Fruits And Vegetables?

6. Consider sharing recipes, health benefits, and behind-the-scenes stories about your farming practices. 

This not only builds brand awareness but also fosters a connection with consumers who value transparency and sustainability.

Another good strategy is to focus on niche marketing by showcasing specialty fruits or unique varieties that are not widely available. This can attract food enthusiasts and health-conscious consumers looking for something different. Collaborating with organic or health food stores can also be an excellent opportunity as these venues often cater to customers who prioritize quality produce.

Lastly, leveraging customer feedback and testimonials can help refine your marketing strategy, ensuring you continually meet the needs and expectations of your audience. By combining these strategies, you can effectively market your fruit and achieve long-lasting success in a highly competitive marketplace.

At Richfarm Kenya, the farmer's friends, we believe Udongo ni Mali. We propagate certified fruit and vegetable seedlings, farm management service providers and marketers of fresh produce. You can prepare to plant seedlings from Richfarm Kenya nurseries in Embu or Naivasha. Call or WhatsApp them on 0724698357/0723213602 to place your order. Here is a list of seedlings we propagate at Richfarm Kenya, and you can also visit our website https://www.richfarmkenya.com/ for more detailed articles on Fruit Farming.

Strawberry 🍓 50/=

Grafted Hass Avocado 🥑 150/=

Grafted Fuerte Avocado 🥑150/=

Grafted Tommy and Apple Mangoes 🥭 150/=

Grafted Ngowe mango 🥭 150/=

Grafted Macadamia 350/=

Grafted purple passion 100/=

Loquats 200/= 

Sweet granadilla 80/=

Stevia 60, 100/-

Grapes (white, red, green) 350/=

Grafted pixies Orange 250/=

Grafted Washington orange 🍊150/=

Paw Paw 100/= 

Tree tomato 80/=

Grafted Apple 500=

Guavas ksh 200/=

kiwi 🥝 350/=

Dragon fruit 350/= 

Pomegranate 250/=

Plums 500/=

Pears 400/= 

Blue berry 500/= 

Cherry Guava 200/-

Pixie Fruit Farming in Kenya

Plum Farming in Kenya

BANANA FARMING IN KENYA FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION

Banana is one of the staple food crops grown in Kenya for both home consumption and for markets being that it is among the very profitable farming activities. Bananas are widely grown in most parts of Kenya for cooking and dessert. A few Kenyan farmers who know about tissue culture bananas grow the dual-purpose banana varieties that can be used both for dessert and cooking. The popularity of the crop makes it a good cash crop for the Kenyan smallholder farmers, who can sell the produce even at their farm gate. 

Banana Farming in Kenya

Nutritional Benefits of Bananas

The ripe fruit of banana is a good source of vitamins A, B6, C and Potassium. Cooked bananas are rich in carbohydrates. Recently processing of bananas has gained momentum here and bananas are being processed into flour, canned slices, jam, jelly, puree, vinegar, wine and beer. Demand for these processed products is expected to go up in the coming years, making the market even larger for banana growers in Kenya.

To do successful and very profitable commercial banana farming in Kenya, what are the factors that you should consider? 

Optimal Ecological Requirements for Banana Farming in Kenya

Banana grows in the tropics; that is the area between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn. Our entire country Kenya lies squarely in this region and being that banana farming is favored by a wide range of agro-climatic conditions, you can grow them almost anywhere in this country.

The crop grows well in hot and humid conditions of altitude between 0-1800 m above the sea level: that’s all the way from as low as Mombasa to as high as Kisii with the exception of the very cold highlands. With a rainfall range of 1000-2000 mm per year or sufficient water for irrigation, you are good to go.

Also read Top 5 high yielding banana varieties in Kenya

Banana farming under irrigation

Optimal temperature of 270 C is preferred for banana growing. However it still does well in temperature range of 20- 300C. Deep well drained soils rich in organic matter are required for the growing of bananas with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5. 

Spacing

Spacing is important in banana growing so as to ensure adequate accessibility of the required resources by the plant. The planting whole should be big, measuring about 60 by 60 by 60cm and spaced 3m by 3m.

Establishment

To Plant Bananas

• Make a hole measuring 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet (although this may vary with the variety)
• Separate the topsoil from the subsoil.
• With the topsoil, put 1 debe of well cured farm yard manure and a handful of planting fertilizers like DAP/TSP fertilizer. This accelerates the growth of pseudo stems.
• Add two matchboxes of Menetode or Nemacur nematicide to stop nematode.
• Mix the topsoil with manure, nematicide and fertilizers well. 
• Fill back the hole with the above mixture then followed by the sub-soil.          
•  Choose a 30cm tall seedling and plant in the center of the hole.
• Mulch the seedling with dry grass
• Water every week

Pruning and Stalking

• This helps you to get bigger and higher quality bunches as well as managing sucker growth.

• Dead leaves should be removed at least twice a year.      

• After harvesting, the pseudo-stem should be cut off from the plant at ground level.

• Staking of the fruit bearing pseudo-stem should be done to prevent breakage caused by heavy bunches. 

• Stake with wood by digging a hole 40-60 cm deep at the base of the stem to install the prop.        

• Tie the bunch to the prop near the portion where the fruit stalk emerges from the stem using Y-sticks.

Banana Farming in Kenya

Banana Varieties in Kenya

Banana varieties which are predominantly grown in Kenya include; Uganda green, ngombe, Gradi Shiskame and Mutahato for cooking varieties while dessert varieties include; Apple Banana, Bokoboko, giant Cavendish, Chinese Cavendish, Gros Michel and Muraru. FHIA 17 is a dual purpose variety and is mostly produced through tissue culture. Banana farmers select their preferred varieties based on tastes, eating habits, market demand and environmental conditions.

Banana Propagation

Bananas are propagated vegetatively by use of cutting, suckers and tissue culture. The main method of banana propagation by most smallholder farmers is by division of suckers which arise from the base of the main stem, or from the underground corm. This method of banana propagation is used by most farmers as it is cheap and favorable cultivars of bananas are maintained. Additionally, use of suckers for propagation is easy and does not necessarily require skilled labor. However, there are many disadvantages associated with the use of suckers as a method of propagation. 

The main disadvantages with the use of suckers are that suckers perpetuate the spread of banana diseases and pests, variation in age and size of sucker, hence the crop is not uniform which leads to difficulty in managing the crop and harvesting.

Tissue Culture Banana in Kenya

Tissue culture also referred to as micro-propagation is the science of multiplying clean disease-free planting materials of different crops to have many identical copies of the same variety without altering the taste and other physical attribute of the plant. Tissue culture work is mainly done in the laboratories and then the plants are raised in the nursery beds where farmers can access for planting. 

Advantages associated with the use of Tissue culture 

1. Elimination of the risk of pests and diseases

2. Tissue culture is the most rapid method of propagating bananas and increased yields of the bananas.

3. Use of tissue culture ensures a timely large turnover of clean planting materials within a limited space.

4. Tissue cultured banana plants produce uniform maturity of the fruits which make harvesting process easy and reduce labor cost.

Disadvantages of Tissue Culture

It’s an expensive method of propagation as it involves laboratory experiments.

Reduction in the genetic diversity of the banana due to the fact that all plants are genetically similar.

Tissue culture technique is still new to many smallholder farmers in Kenya as it requires skilled personnel to carry out.

Also read Top 5 High Yielding Banana Varieties in Kenya

Where to get seedlings

However, you do not have to worry about the expenses of setting up tissue culture labs and the technicalities associated with it. That has been done for you by Richfarm Kenya and all you need to do is order the variety you need and you get ready tissue culture banana seedlings for planting.

From the above foregoing it is worth noting that tissue culture is the best method of banana propagation in Kenya and efforts need to be put on high gear to ensure banana farming in Kenya is enhanced by embracing Tissue Culture as a means of ensuring food security as far as banana production is concerned.

Smallholder farmers who contribute to the largest share of the banana farming in Kenya community need to come up together and collectively pull resources to be able to benefit from the profits associated with tissue culture banana propagation, as it is the most viable method to ensure that maximum profitability.    

Common Pests and Diseases

• Weevils: Eat the stems so the trees fall. Dig up and burn infected trees so weevils do not move to other trees.

• Nematodes:  Attack the roots. To stop nematodes, use a Nematicide powder-like Meticode or Nemacur at planting, remove infected stems and do not intercrop bananas with maize, cowpeas or sorghum.

• Black Sigatoka disease: Leaves turn yellow making the banana trees to give small bunches. Use resistant varieties and take off infected leaves.

Banana Farming in Kenya

Maturity

Bananas are ready for harvesting after about 12-15 months. However, maturity indices may vary widely among varieties. Yield of up to 14 ton per acre per year is possible under good management.

Market 

It is a very profitable venture and some of the possible destinations include schools, hotels and nearby market.      

Kindly visit consumers around your and enter into contracts with them.

Tip: Rotate your banana field after 8 years, and for a poorly-managed field, rotate after 5 years.

• Cost per seedling- plantain 500, tissue culture 200. 
• Seedlings per acre- 450 trees
• Spacing- 3m by 3m
• Fruit price- depends with the variety
• Yield- 14 tons per year
• Common pests- weevils and nematodes
• Common diseases- Xanthomonas wilt, fusarium wilt, black Sigatoka. 
• Lifespan- six years approximately depending on variety.

Frequently Asked Questions.

• Can one farm bananas for commercial reasons?
• What are health benefits associated with banana consumption?
• What are the factors to consider for successful banana farming in Kenya?
• How do we establish or plant bananas?
• What banana varieties are suitable for farming in Kenya?
• How do I do banana propagation?
• What is Tissue Culture in banana farming in Kenya?
• What are the advantages of Tissue Culture in banana farming in Kenya?
• Where do I get seedlings for establishment in banana farming in Kenya?
• What are the common pests and diseases affecting banana farming in Kenya?
• How many banana trees can I plant in an acre?
• Is banana farming very profitable?
• What is the maturity and yield of banana trees?
• What is the market price of bananas in Kenya?