A Guide on Mushroom Farming in Kenya

Kenya’s agricultural sector provides numerous opportunities for agribusiness entrepreneurs. One of the most promising and sustainable ventures is mushroom farming. Some of just a few reasons to farm mushrooms include:

• They are a good source of income with the growing market demand locally and for export and thus a very profitable agribusiness.
• They do not need land tracts of land to farm: just a small space.
• They are a good source of vitamin B-Complex and vitamin C.
• Mushrooms are a powerful source of ergothioneine, an amino acid and antioxidant that prevents or slows cellular damage.
• They stimulate a healthier gut.

Mushroom Farming

Not only is it a high-value crop, but it is also relatively easy to cultivate with minimal resources. In this farming guide, we will explore the potential of provide techniques and strategies for successful mushroom farming, and equip you with the knowledge needed to establish a very profitable and sustainable agriculture business venture.

Also see Complete Guide for Mushroom Farming in Kenya For the Year 2023

Many people have lately realized what a potential we have in agribusiness in Kenya and have gone into some of the lucrative ventures in the country such as Kienyeji chicken farming, fruit farming and mushroom farming, whereby mushroom farming has really pulled many youth especially those in urban settings and rural settings too. 

Best Climatic Conditions for Oyster Mushrooms

The most important factor for mushroom growing is providing an appropriate environment both for vegetative and reproductive growth. Success or failure of mushroom cultivation depends on the control of growing conditions. Mushroom mycelia grow well with the temperature range between 20 and 30℃. Pins form at 10-20℃ and over 80% of the fruit body is water. The substrate moisture content should be 60-75%. During fruiting, different relative humidity levels, ranging from 80-95%, are needed at the early, mid and latter stage. Although the mycelia can grow without light, some species require light for fruit body formation. Also being that they are aerobic fungi, mushrooms need fresh air during growing but

Before you start to grow mushrooms, you should consider the following:

1.      Potential markets and supply chains

2.      Source of quality spawn that is mushroom seeds.

3.      Availability of substrate this is the material on which mushrooms grow.

4.      Availability of supplements which are the additional nutrients to the substrate.

5.      Production plan to ensure continuous production.

Mushroom Farming in Kenya 

Climatic and Soil Requirements for Mushroom Farming in Kenya

Mushroom farming in Kenya requires the right climatic and soil conditions to be successful.

The ideal temperature for growing mushrooms is between 16 and 22 degrees Celsius, so you will need to ensure your farm has the optimal environment for optimal growth.

The soil should also be well drained, with a pH level between 6 -7. This is important because the mushroom mycelium needs plenty of oxygen in order to survive, which it can’t get if the soil is too dense or acidic.

Good soil drainage will also prevent water logging which can inhibit growth. You’ll also want to make sure that there’s plenty of organic matter in your soil, as mushrooms are fungi and need a steady supply of nutrition in order to thrive. Just remember, even if you have these ideal conditions, it’s essential that you monitor your farm daily to ensure everything is going smoothly.

Different Varieties of Mushrooms in Kenya

Mushroom production in Kenya spans a variety of species, each offering different flavors, textures, and production levels.

1. Button Mushrooms

Button mushrooms are known for their relatively high yield. Under controlled conditions, a single square meter of growing area can yield around 10-15 kilograms of mushrooms over several flushes.

2. Oyster Mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms are prized for their quick growth and high yields. Depending on the species and cultivation method, a square meter of growing space can yield anywhere from 15-25 kilograms or more per flush.

Steps in Mushroom Farming in Kenya

Mushrooms can grow in almost every part of our country provided there is shelter, reliable water supply and stable temperature in the range of 15 to 30 degrees.

Step 1: Getting Started

Of course, you need some land to plant your mushroom crop. An eight acre piece of land would be adequate to set up a large farm that can produce as much as 2 tons of mushrooms after every 2 months using the shelf-frame method.

Step 2: Build a Simple House

Once you have secured a good piece of land, you will need to build a simple mud-house and a few wooden shelves to utilize the vertical space available. Your local carpenter can help you with this and you can improvise on locally available materials to save on construction cost. (Note: Make sure the house is well aerated to allow proper circulation of air).

Step 3: Look for the substrate

The first and most important supply you will need is the substrate. Substrate is basically the substance on which mushrooms grow. This can be forest soil, wheat straw, bean straw, millet straw or even rice straw. Make sure this is sterilized as the slightest bacterial infection can ruin your entire farm. A bale of wheat straw costs Ksh200 and you will need about 20 bales.

Step 4: Invest In Nylon Bags

You will need small bags to prepare the seedlings and also big bags for the final planting. Small bags like the ones shopkeepers use to package 2KG sugar normally cost about Ksh100 for 200 pieces. Bigger bags can cost as much as Ksh15 per piece and you will require about 1000 of them in an eight acre farm.

Step 5: Invest In Good Hygiene

As you will discover through farm training courses, good hygiene is important in a mushroom farm. You will therefore need to buy things like hand gloves, methylated spirit and cotton wool. Other additional supplies that may be needed include drinking straws and a knapsack sprayer.

Growing Button Mushrooms

For button mushrooms, this is the composting or substrate production phase. It is usually the most time-consuming and also most important stage as it determines the rest of the growing cycle. The ingredients, such as straw, maize (corn) cobs and chicken manure, are composted. This can be done either mechanically or manually depending on the available resources on the farm.

This step involves spawning, a process where the spawn (seed) is mixed with the substrate (compost/manure). The combination is then put into the climate-controlled growing houses (mushroom houses) where the substrate is cased with casing material and closely monitored for humidity and temperature.

Then small mushrooms start pinning and then grow into caps. The whole farming process takes about 12 weeks from composting to full maturity. After which the mushrooms are then hand harvested in about 3-4 flushes or breaks.

Growing Oyster Mushrooms

Oyster mushroom cultivation has a short cycle of 3 weeks to the first harvest. The commonly used substrate is cotton waste which is socked overnight then pasteurized for 4-5 hours. After cooling, spawning of the bags is done in a hygienic environment .The bags are tightened properly and taken in the cropping room for incubation. After 2 weeks of complete colonization, the bags are cut vertically and hanged in the growing room. After 3-4 days of watering, pins are seen which mature to fruit bodies after 2 days if well watered. Mushrooms are harvested and stored in cold rooms or a fridge if not sold shortly after harvest.

Also see Mushroom Farming in Kenya: Oyster Mushrooms Vs. Button Mushrooms.

Challenges in Mushroom Farming

There are many challenges in mushroom farming. Understanding these problems can help you succeed in your agribusiness. With a lot of science involved in cultivating vegetables, many tend to shy off from the venture. Well, it’s true if one is not well-informed on how to go about it, the results can be frustrating. One of the major challenges is pests and diseases that affect mushroom production.

Mushrooms are attacked by a range of pests and diseases during their growth. A cultivator who was doing so well can end up losing the whole crop if care and attention are not given. Also, it should be noted that despite care and attention diseases and pest may find their way into the mushrooms.

For example, cultivating mushrooms on the same spot for longer periods will greatly influence the level of attack the cultivator will face.

Pests

Mushroom Mites

Although other mites can be encountered by the cultivator, two main mites’ members are considered mushroom pests. These are:

Tarsonemusmyceliophagus  species: They are microscopic hence cannot be seen with naked eyes. They multiply fast enough to cause significant losses if not controlled. These mites feed on the hype of the mushroom and any other competing fungi. They can be detected by examining the mushroom stipes, which turn reddish-brown due to the biting effects of the mites.

Red Pepper Mites

They are mostly seen on mushroom caps or the casing materials as sprinkled pepper. Their appearance is due to their high rate of reproduction and ability to colonize a surface within days, hence their name. Though not considered mushroom pests, they facilitate the spread of grey mold and negatively affect the marketability of the mushrooms.

Though considered not to be mushroom pests, nonetheless, they are more of predatory mites, feeding on competing fungi. This should give the cultivator a heads up that his/her substrate was not well pasteurized or sterilized.

Management

Farm hygiene is the key to successfully eradicate the mites’ threat. Ensure foot bath and clean clothes are situated at every house, as mite can be moved by the cultivar.

Substrate should be pasteurized or sterilized to the required standards, to kill off mites, bacteria, fungi, or any other micro-organism.

Mushroom flies.

They are the major challenge that a cultivator faces when infested by them. Flies contribute to a higher percentage of contamination of the mushrooms. From transmitting mites, spreading of competing fungi, egg-laying inside the substrate, to becoming a nuisance to works, they can significantly reduce production rates if not controlled.

Flies are attracted to the mushroom house by the decomposing substrates, which offer a suitable environment for eggs laying.

Different species may be encountered during the production process. It’s of great importance for a cultivator to note the type of fly troubling the production, which helps in effective control of the fly.

Sciarid and phorid flies are the common flies infesting the mushroom house causing drastic losses. Their maggots tunnel through the mushroom stipe resulting in hollow low-quality mushrooms.

Management

Use of nets to keep away flies has succeeded. Nets used should target even the smallest of the flies for effective control.

Proper ventilation should be always considered to prevent the accumulation of odor produced by the decomposing substrate which attracts flies.

It is also crucial to note that hygiene is the most important aspect for controlling flies. Thus, from substrate preparation to spawning, high standards or levels of hygiene should be observed.

Diseases

1. Dactylium Disease 

Symptoms: Webbed, cottony mycelial growth on surface of casing and mushrooms; mycelium is usually white but may be gray or pink in color; infected mushrooms will develop a soft, watery rot

Management

Control of the disease is achieved through good sanitation practices and cultural control methods; casing should be kept clean and sanitized; all tools and equipment should be cleaned and sanitized between use; keep beds free of any mushroom debris; pathogen in susceptible to low humidity and can be inhibited by lowering the humidity in the growing room

2. Green Mold 

Symptoms: A dense layer of mycelium is present on casing surface which is initially white in color but changes to green; developing mushrooms in or near the mycelium are brown and may be cracked or distorted

Management

Prevention of disease is best achieved by following good sanitation practices; ensure compost is properly pasteurized prior to use and sterilize any supplements

3. Verticillium Spot 

Symptoms: Small spotting on mushrooms; mushrooms deformed; surface of mushroom gray and fuzzy; localized dead areas on cap; pinched areas on cap; fruiting body may no longer be recognizable as a mushroom; severe infection can cause a deformation known as "dry bubble" which causes the sporocarp to appear as large puffball like masses; bubbles will become covered with a gray, fuzzy growth

Management

Bubbles should not be disturbed by touching and can be destroyed using salt; salt should be placed in a plastic cup and then placed over the bubbles to dry them out and provide a barrier to prevent spores spreading; fungicides are available for the treatment of Verticullium diseases of mushrooms but many have toxic effects on the mushrooms as they are themselves a fungus.

Mushroom Farming in Kenya: How Profitable is it? Cost and Market Analysis

Market

According to the National Farmers Information Service (NAFIS), Kenya produces 500 tons of mushrooms per year, of which 476 tons are button mushrooms, against an annual demand of 1200 tons. This means there is a high demand for the crop.  A kilogram of mushroom is priced at between Sh400 and Sh800 at the current wholesale 2024 market price.

A lot has been done in the medical section form mushrooms, for example in supplements for patients, capsule tablets, and tea bags for cancer patients, in the cosmetic industry, in domestic consumption as soups and much more.

Ready for Harvest Mushrooms

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is mushroom farming very profitable in Kenya?
• What are the best climatic conditions for growing mushrooms in Kenya?
• What are the best varieties to grow in Kenya?
• How do I start mushroom farming in Kenya?
• What are the market prices for mushrooms?
• How much space do I need for mushroom farming?

If you would like to venture into mushroom farming you can get in touch via 0724698357 for guidance and face to face training sessions at our training center Banana, Kiambu County.

 

PASSION FRUIT FARMING IN KENYA: ESTABLISHMENT TO MARKET

To begin with, passion fruit is a vigorous, shallow rooted, perennial vine that climbs by means of tendrils and can grow as tall as 20 ft (6 m or 600 cm) high and a more realistic life expectation is 3 – 5 years. It is mainly grown for fresh market and juice extraction preferred by small scale farmers due to it being a very profitable crop. It is exported mainly to Uganda, Europe, France, Denmark and the UK making it one of the most profitable export crop or fruit.

also see Passion Fruit Farming in Kenya: The Costs and Expected Returns

Trellised Passion Fruit at the farm

Varieties

The most common varieties are purple and yellow passion fruit. Let’s look at the varieties individually.

1. Purple Passion

The Purple Passion Fruit does well in upper midland to upper highland zones, that is, 1,200 – 2,000 meters above sea level. The purple passion fruit produces purple colored fruits of 4 – 5 cm in diameter and has quite a superior and aromatic flavor to it. It is mainly used for fresh market and juice extraction and it is very popular in the export market.

2. Yellow Passion Fruit

The Yellow Passion Fruit does so well in the lower midland and lowland zones  and it is more vigorous and produces larger fruits of 5 – 7 cm in diameter. The Yellow Passion Fruit is more acidic and is used for juice extraction. It is quite a good fruit to farm as it is resistant to Fusarium Wilt, tolerant to Phytophtora Root Rot, Nematodes and Brown Spot. The Yellow Passion Fruit is used as rootstock for Purple Passion Fruit.

Generally, passion fruit can be eaten fresh or consumed after extracting the pulp and making juice. Passion fruit juice is a delicacy and is in high demand in the local markets. The juice is used in a variety of products and the pulp may be added to different dishes. A wide range of cosmetic products and food flavors are derived from the fruit that is rich in Vitamins A and C.

Sweet Yellow Passion Farming in Kenya: A 2024 Worthy Investment

Best Climatic Conditions For Passion Fruit Farming

The Purple Passion Fruit grow well in altitude of 1,200 – 2,000 meters above sea level, while the Yellow Passion Fruit do well in altitudes of 0 – 800 meters above sea level. The passion fruit needs rainfall of about 900 – 2,000 mm annually, while a growing temperature of 18 – 25 degrees Celsius for Purple Passion and 25 – 30 degrees Celsius for the Yellow Passion.  The passion fruit does well in loamy soils which are deep and well drained with a pH range of 5.5 – 6.5.

LAND PREPARATION

In the land preparation process aggressive perennial weeds such as Kikuyu grass should be eliminated before planting.

1. Holes Preparation

Dig your planting holes 45 by by 45 cm separating the top and sub-soils. Have a spacing of about 2m by 3 m , approximately having 640 plants per acre. Mix the topsoil with a debe which is about 15 kg of Farm Yard Manure and 125 grams of Triple Super Phosphate that is. Proceed to fill the hole with this mixture at least three weeks before transplanting.

2. Supporting Structures.

Number of poles per acre should be about 350 and a pole size of 2.5 meters – 3 meters high with thickness of 150 mm. You will need approximately 120kg of plain galvanized wire, a sisal twine of 10 kg and 4-5 inch nails about 5kg to construct the supporting poles for your passion fruit vines.

3. Seed Preparation

Seeds are selected from well-developed ripe fruit and the seed rate for sowing should be at least 2 seeds per bag.

After sowing ensure to weed weekly, keep watering daily in dry season. Keep maintaining your supporting structures. Discard weak rootstock, pest or diseases and affected plants weekly. Also carry out root pruning monthly.

4. Grafting

• Select a young, healthy vine the same diameter as the rootstock from which to cut scions.
• Cut a scion at the node in a long angle with a budding knife.
• Cut about 2.5 cm slit into the rootstock vine with a grafting knife.
• Slide the angle of the scion into the slit in the rootstock, pairing the two pieces up in size.
• Wrap grafting tape tightly around the union.
• Seal the graft union with grafting compound. The graft union should be at least 45 cm above the soil level.

Purple Passion Fruit at our Kiritiri Farm in Embu

Nursery Management

Harden the improved cultivars before planting as the environment in the field after planting is less controlled than that of the nursery. Remove or reduce shade in a stepwise manner. Remove grafting tape after 8 weeks as it can strangle the scion. When the color of the leaves become dark green, remove the shade completely and don’t forget to prick out, weed and water carefully.

Richfarm Kenya always has ready to plant passion seedlings so you don’t have to do all this work as we have already done it for you. You can buy them from their nurseries in Embu or Naivasha. You can also call them on 0724698357/0723213602 to make an order and they will deliver the seedlings to your farm.

Raising the Seedling

Raise seedlings under an insect proof screen house. Source seeds from recommended sources or collect healthy mature fruit of recommended Purple or Yellow Passion Fruit from parent with a history of good bearing capacity; extract seeds by fermenting for 3 days to ease separation of pulp and seed and then dry the seed under shade. Then sow the seed shallowly into prepared beds or eco bags filled with sterilized soil. Bags should be 5 by 9 inches (12.7 by 22.9 cm). Germination will start after 14 – 21 days.

Remember we have the seedlings ready for you at Richfarm Kenya; we have done the hard part for you.

Establishment

One month after grafting, the seedlings are ready for transplanting in the field. Transplanting should be done early morning or late in the evening. It should be done at the onset of rains like now; perfect time or anytime under irrigation.

Fertilizer

The top dressing fertilizer should be applied in two splits per year; application of 100g NPK (17-17-17/20-20-20) per plant at start of every rainy season.  This could be at least four times in a year. One debe which is 15 kg of well decomposed manure per plant per year is applied before the rains begin. Spraying with foliar feed and trace elements every three months is recommended.

Staking and Trellising

The common system of support is by use of plain wires strung on posts (trellis). The trellis should be erected immediately after transplanting. Poles for trellising should be about 3.0 meters long and 15 cm in diameter, and they are dug 60 cm deep and spaced 6 meters apart in the row. A single strand of galvanized plain wire is tightly stretched over each row of posts and fixed firmly to the end posts.

How to Increase your Passion Fruit Production Through Trellising

Training and Pruning

A light stick is driven into the ground close to the plant or a piece of sisal twine from the base of the young plant to the wire above. The two healthy shoots at the base of the plant are then selected and trained up the stick or the sisal strands by twining them regularly. All the other shoots below the wire and side branches that emerge are removed regularly until the shoots reach the wire.

The two shoots are then trained along the wire in opposite direction by twining and tying regularly. It should be ensured that the laterals which bear fruit hang down from the wire.

Secondary shoots and old shoots which have produced fruit and dead wood should be removed. Additionally, laterals reaching ground level should be cut off 10 – 15 cm above ground as well as entangling tendrils.

Yellow Passion Fruit

Pests and Diseases Affecting Passion Fruit Farming

Pests

The following are the major pests of Passion Fruits in Kenya, Aphids, Mealy Bugs and Spider mites, Thrips, Nematodes, Bugs, Broad or Yellow Tea Mite.

Management

They are usually controlled by use of their natural enemies. Also avoid applying too much nitrogenous fertilizer, as this will make the plants juicy and attractive to aphids. Prune and destroy affected parts at the initial stage of mealy bug infestation. Use recommended pesticides by seeking guidance from Agricultural Extension Officers.

In some cases, intercropping has been found to reduce thrips infestation. Avoidance of successive planting of susceptible crops reduces the impact of thrips, that is, crop rotation.

To control nematodes rotate with cassava, cereals, maize, sweet corn, sweet potato, onions, cabbage and kale. Use of Yellow Passion which has tolerance to Nematode as root stock is highly advisable. Ensure to use clean planting materials and maintain proper field hygiene.

Diseases

The following are the major diseases and physiological disorders of Passion Fruits in Kenya, Fusarium wilt, Passion fruit woodiness, Brown spot, Septoria spot and Phytophthora blight.

Management

Use clean planting material; clean your pruning tools, use resistant hybrids or rootstocks of Yellow Passion Fruit. Remove diseased vines from the field and ensure you do proper weeding. Control vectors or pests (aphids). Also timely spraying with recommended fungicides is advised.

Harvesting

The crop comes into bearing within 7 – 8 months after transplanting. The main harvest is obtained 12 – 13 months after transplanting. There are normally two harvesting peaks: July – August and December – January

Passion Fruit Harvest

Harvesting Method

Passion Fruit for fresh market should be picked when they have developed their characteristic color, purple or yellow. The fruits fall naturally from the vine when they are ripe: these are suitable for juice extraction.

Yields

Average yields are about 4,000kg per acre per year. With good management and crop husbandry yields of more than 6,000 – 8,000kg per acre can be realized.

Yellow passion fruit should be stored at 7 to 10 degrees Celsius with 90 to 95 percent relative humidity for up to 2 weeks. Purple passion fruits are chilling tolerant and can be stored at 3 to 5 degrees Celsius for 3 to 5 weeks.

Post-Harvest Handling

Fruits are harvested when they are about 75 percent turning yellow or purple. They are then packed in fiber board cartons, trays or cell packs.

For processing, the fruit is easy to process. The fruit can be processed to rich fruit juice, or mixed with orange or pineapple juices for mixed fruit juices. The seeded pulp that remains can be made into jelly, or combined with pineapple or tomato in making jam.

Market

Passion fruit is one of the most profitable fruit to farm. One plant if carefully tended can grow vigorously yielding up to 2kg of fruit every week during the high season. That’s 10-15 kg in a year. The local market sells at Ksh. 40-100 per kg, while going for Ksh. 70-100 per kg for export, and is also dependent on the market supply and demand which is always high; this makes passion fruit farming very profitable and lucrative to venture into.

• Cost per seedling- Non grafted- 60, Grafted Purple passion- Ksh. 100
• Seedlings per acre - 620 plants per acre
• Spacing - 2m by 3m
• Fruit price -   40-100 for local market, 70-100/kg export market, but dependent on market supply and demand too
• Yield - 4,000kg per acre per Year
• Common pests - Aphids, Mealy Bugs and Spider mites, Thrips, Nematodes, Bugs, Broad or  Yellow Tea Mite.
• Common diseases - Fusarium wilt, Passion fruit woodiness, Brown spot, Septoria spot and  Phytophthora blight.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the best climatic conditions for passion fruit farming?
• What are the best kind of support structures that are needed for trellising passion fruit plants?
• What materials do I need for constructing passion fruit trellising structures?
• What are the common pests and diseases affecting passion fruit farming?
• After how long can I expect fruits from my passion fruit plant?
• How are the yields in passion fruit farming?
• What is the spacing requirement for the passion fruit plant?
• How do I know my passion plants are ready for harvest?
• Is passion fruit a very profitable fruit farming activity to do?
• How do I handle my passion fruit produce after harvesting?
• How is the passion fruit market locally and for export?

The cost of production and other relevant information is available in a comprehensive guide for passion fruit production in Kenya. You can now request for it from our Resources Page. 

 

DRAGON FRUIT CULTIVATION: SEEDLING TO HARVEST

You ask, why plant dragon fruits in the first place?

•  They have low maintenance cost.
• Dragon fruits are highly nutritious.
•  Require minimal after care.
•  They can be planted in an area that has limited space.
•  Dragon fruits are fast return perennial fruit crop with production expected from 18-24 months after planting
•  Once grown you can harvest for more than 20 years

Dragon Fruit Farming Field

Dragon fruits have been cultivated in Kenya for just about 5 years now but its awareness has spread to all the corners of our country. A kilogram of the fruit sells for between ksh. 500 and ksh. 1,000 in the Kenyan supermarket chains. They come in a variety of Red/Pink, White and Yellow, all these with a vibrant appearance that makes it a feast for the eyes.

While information about dragon fruit farming is still not readily available in Kenya, Richfarm is always visiting farmers to educate them on the best ways of producing the fruit. We have also been holding dragon fruit farming seminars at our Embu farm. We always want you to start off your project from an informed position to reap very profitable yields. That is why we have covered this topic in an online guide on how to grow dragon fruits in Kenya.

Also see Is Dragon Fruit Worth the Price? Unwrapping the Health/Nutritional Benefits of The Most Expensive Fruit

What Conditions are Best for Dragon Fruit Farming in Kenya

The dragon fruit is in the family of cactus, therefore this fruit is adapted to grow even in arid and semi-arid conditions. It requires less water. It is also not selective on the type of soils meaning you can grow it on sandy, loamy or clay soils. However, for your plants to have good vegetative growth and a high yield, the soils must have high organic matter and be well drained. You should also ensure that you give them just a little water during the very dry seasons.

You may ask, can I grow dragon fruits in our Kenyan highlands?

While this crop has the ability to grow even in hot and dry areas, it doesn't mean it can't grow in cooler areas with a lot of rainfall. All you need to do is ensure that the soils are well-drained to avoid soaking the rooting area.

Supporting Structures

The major constraint is the use of trellises. Dragon fruit plants are vine-like and need support hence the need of posts either concrete or wooden. You must make them a support structure over which to climb. The supporting posts are placed in the middle of the planting hole well in advance before planting. For best growth and fruit production plant dragon in an area that receives enough sunlight and less wind.  Dragon plants require less water compared to other fruit plants.

Dragon Fruits with Support Structures

A post with a wide structure at the top will be sufficient to support 2 to 4 vines. The plants will climb up to the top and then spread forming something like an umbrella and this helps in them giving good yields.

Propagation and Varieties

Dragon fruit seedlings are mostly propagated by cuttings. There are five main dragon fruit types:

• Pink fruit skin with white flesh
• Red fruit skin with red flesh
• Red fruit skin with white flesh
• Yellow fruit skin with white flesh
• Yellow fruit skin with red flesh

What is the Required Spacing for Dragon Fruits?

The recommended spacing for dragon fruit is 2m between the lines and 2m from pole to pole within the line. With this spacing, you will plant 2,000 dragon fruit plants in an acre if you establish 2 plants per pole. That is the number we actually recommend. However, we have seen other successful spacing in practice: the commercial farm in Naivasha has a spacing of 2m between the lines and 1m from pole to pole and 2 plants per pole. In other farms, they plant 4 plants per pole and have had successful yield. 

Also see 4-Fast Maturing Fruit Seedlings That You Can Farm With a Budget of Less Than KSH100, 000

How long do dragon fruits take to mature?

It will take 1 to one and a half years for a dragon fruit vine to produce the first fruit if you plant it from the cutting of a mature vine. A vine propagated from a seed will take more than 6 years to mature hence the best method to propagate dragon fruits is through cuttings. The lifespan of dragon fruit plants is over 40 years.

A dragon fruit bud takes 13 days to develop into a flower from a node. This flower opens up for pollination on the night of the 13^th day – just before the 14^th day. This is the only chance that the flower has to get pollinated. If pollination doesn’t happen then, the flower will not grow into a fruit and will simply fall off the plant. If it is successfully pollinated, it will develop into a fruit that will be ripe and ready for harvesting after 38 days since pollination. That means it only takes 52 days from the day a fruit bud emerges to have a yummy fruit ready to be eaten.

When the fruits are growing, they are usually green in color. They start turning into red color when they mature and the ripening process starts. The ripening process takes only 3 days. You must harvest dragon fruits only after they are completely ripe. This is because, unlike other fruits, Pitaya does not continue to ripen after being harvested.

 Where Do I Sell My Dragon Fruit?

Currently, the market for dragon fruits is open and ready for farmers to sell through the many supermarket chains in the country, the open market, fruit aggregators and, of course, the ever-present online market.  The supermarkets that stock these fruits in our country actually import it from other countries. This presents a great opportunity for farmers who would want to invest in dragon fruit farming in Kenya.

3 Reasons Why You Should Invest In Dragon Fruit Farming In Kenya

Why Dragon Fruit Is Set To Be The Next Big Thing In Kenya’s Farming Business

China is the largest consumer of dragon fruits and it imports a bulk of the produce from Vietnam. China is an open and very profitable market to which Kenya is exporting avocado and getting. With the necessary volumes, dragon fruit farmers in Kenya can take advantage of the Chinese and larger international market.

Pest and Diseases

Pest and diseases management

There are fewer disease and pest attacks. As a good practice, prevention is better than cure. There may be cases of thrips, mealy bugs and slug attack. Be on the watch out for any early signs of attack and act to deter any attack. Anthracnose is the most significant disease.

The greatest threat to dragon fruit farming is the fruit fly. Luckily, fruit flies can be controlled using biological methods. The plant is also very tolerant to diseases. Only mild cases of fungal infections have been reported, and even as such, they do not pose any danger to the plant or fruits. 

To make a good profit from Dragon Fruit Farming you need to see that you do the following:

1.     Space: A small space, even 1/8 of an acre is enough to start dragon fruit farming in Kenya at the moment. Being a very high value crop, a few dragon fruit plants are enough to make you realize economic gain. You do not need typically fertile soils as the nutritional needs of this plant are not so high. You can actually plant it even on the edges of the farm.

2.      Support structures: Posts of about 5 feet (150cm) in height are good enough. These can either be wooded or concrete. Concrete ones are best for longevity. Soften the soil around the base of the post and hip it a little especially if you are planting on clay soils that are not so well drained. Mix the soil with a lot of manure to give it sufficient amounts of organic matter. You only need soils that are about 2 feet (60cm) deep since the plants are shallow rooters.

3.     High-quality seedlings: Plant dragon fruit seedlings developed from mature cuttings only. Get mature, rooted dragon fruit cuttings from Richfarm Kenya by simply calling, texting or WhatsApp at 0724698357. When planting, burry only the rooting section of the cutting and water just enough to make the soil moist.

Dragon Fruit Seedlings at our Farm

Pruning  and Training

Prune your plant to remove all damaged or diseased stems. Ensure any stem that touches the ground is removed. Train the main stem and tie it to the support structure as the plant grows. Once the stem reaches the top, cut the tip to induce branching.

Harvesting Your Dragon Fruit

The fruits are likely to be ready for harvest 45-50 days after fruit set. Fruit ripen at different times and should be selectively harvested. You should carefully remove the fruits from the plant for they are easily damaged. The average fruit weight is 300 grams but with proper tree care and fruit thinning you can attain weight of between 850-1000 grams per fruit.

Post Harvest: Shelf-Life

You can keep dragon fruits for up to 18 days after harvesting without refrigeration. Under proper refrigeration, the fruit will remain fresh even for 3 months. This fruit is not perishable since it stops ripening immediately it is cut off from the mother plant. Also, the fruit does not oxidize after being cut. That means you do not have to consume the entire fruit once you have cut it. You can keep a slice under refrigeration and it will look and taste as fresh as when you first cut it.

Dragon Fruit Harvest

Conclusion

If you are entrepreneurial then dragon fruit could be an asset. But before heavily investing take time to do test plants and familiarize yourself with the cultivation process. Learn to do more using less, your establishment cost should be minimal--we can assist in this area. Have a clear road map of who your customers are and how your product will reach them. Is there market for the fruit? Yes, but we believe it is your work too as an entrepreneur to find market for your dragon fruit harvest.

Do you have any questions regarding dragon fruit farming in Kenya, or anywhere in Africa? Contact us on (+254) 0724698357/0723213602. We are always ready to answer any question and we would also be glad to come to your farm and assist in setting up your dragon fruit farming business.

• Cost per seedling- Ksh. 350
• Seedlings per acre- 2000 seedlings being 2 seedlings per pole structure.
• Spacing- 2m by 2m
•  Fruit price- Ksh.500 - 1,000 retail depending on the market supply and demand.
•  Common pests- minimal cases of thrips, mealy bugs and fruit flies
•  Common disease- Anthracnose
•  Lifespan- 20 years

 
Frequently Asked Questions

·      What are the cultivation requirements in dragon fruit farming?

·      What are the common pests and diseases affecting dragon fruit farming?
·      How long after planting can I start getting the first fruit in dragon fruit farming?
·      Can I export my dragon fruit?
·      How is the local and export market?

·      What is the dragon fruit harvest shelf life?
·      How do I support my dragon plant?
·      How do I care for the dragon plant for maximum yields?

      Is dragon fruit one of the most profitable fruit farming ventures?