Buy Dwarf Fruit Trees: Advantages of Growing Dwarf Fruit Tree Varieties

 What is a Dwarf Fruit Tree?

A dwarf fruit tree is a tree that will reach a height of maximum 10 feet tall. Some of those trees can be as small as two or three feet.

Solo Sunrise Papaya

The magical thing about those trees is that no matter how small they are, their fruit is a normal size.

also see Home Gardening Tips for Beginners

How do Dwarf Fruit Trees Stay Small?

You would think that there must be some genetic engineering or genetic modification involved here to make those trees stay small. This is what I was thinking at the beginning but this is not the case.

Dwarf fruit trees are made using a concept called grafting. A scion which is a branch of a fruiting tree in this case, is grafted onto a rootstock.

Rootstocks are chosen carefully for their hardiness, drought tolerance, disease resistance, soil adaptation and size.

The fruit tree will only grow as much as the roots will allow it, for that, combining a branch with a specific rootstock allows us to control the size of the tree.

Hass Avocado Tree

The Advantages of Dwarf Fruit Trees

1. Increased Yields: One significant advantage of dwarf fruit trees is their quick production. Typically, they can start yielding fruit in just two to three years after planting. This means you won't need to wait long to enjoy your homegrown goodies.
2. Efficient Resource Utilization: Dwarf fruit trees require fewer resources compared to larger trees. They use less water, and generally need about 25% less water. That need fewer nutrients, that is they can thrive on reduced fertilizer application. This efficiency not only saves you time but also helps conserve resources, which is great for the environment.
3. Easier Harvesting and Maintenance: Harvesting dwarf fruit trees is a breeze. With branches that are easier to reach, you can collect fruit without straining or needing ladders. This accessibility is perfect for both kids and adults.
4. Reduced Labor and Costs: Maintaining dwarf trees is less labor-intensive. They require simpler pruning techniques and less complex pest management. This can lead to lower costs and fewer gardening headaches.
5. Enhanced Disease Resistance and Longevity: Many dwarf fruit trees are bred for better disease resistance. Certain varieties have shown to be more tolerant against common issues like Powdery Mildew that affects many fruit-bearing plants and Crown Gall, a bacterial disease that can stunt growth. Research indicates that these trees can focus their energy on growing fruit instead of fighting off diseases.
6. Effective Pest and Disease Management: Due to their manageable size keeping pests at bay remains straightforward. With proper care, these trees can thrive with minimal intervention.

Dwarf Fruit Tree Varieties: Why You Should Consider Farming Dwarf Varieties

Choosing Your Dwarf Tree

Selecting the ideal dwarf tree involves knowing your local climate. Different varieties thrive in various zones therefore ensure your chosen tree will flourish according to the hardiness zone. A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants.

Dwarf Fruit Tree In Comparison to Standard Fruit Trees

Dwarf fruit trees are specifically bred to grow smaller than their standard counterparts. Despite their size, they can yield a surprising amount of fruit. Here's how they compare:

• Height: Dwarf trees typically reach only 3 to 8 feet, while standard trees can grow much taller.
• Width: They occupy less horizontal space, making them ideal for tight areas.

Homeowners can maximize their garden space, making room for more diversity in planting.

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Examples of Dwarf Tree Cultivation

Dwarf trees thrive in many settings. Some popular varieties include:

• Dwarf Apple Trees: Great for containers and patios, easily producing sweet apples.
• Dwarf Peach Trees: Compact size doesn't sacrifice delicious fruit; perfect for small spaces.
• Dwarf Citrus Trees: Ideal for warmer climates, thrive indoors as well.
• Dwarf Papaya Trees: Ideal for cool and warm climates, also perfect for small spaces.

These trees can also be integrated into existing flower beds, adding beauty and bounty together.

Matching Your Preferences

Dwarf fruit trees come in multiple varieties, catering to diverse tastes. For example:

• Citrus Trees: Lemons, oranges, and limes.
• Stone Fruits: Cherries, peaches, and plums.

Finding a tree that suits your preference enhances your gardening experience. 

How to Choose Dwarf Fruit Trees

Try to find a local nursery that sells a variety of dwarf fruit trees on a regular basis. They most likely are going to have in stock trees that are known to do well in your area. You can also talk to your cooperative extension agent and ask for a list of fruit trees that do well in your growing zone.

Dwarf Orange Tree

How to Plant Dwarf Fruit Trees in Containers

Use a 15-20 liter container with holes for drainage at the bottom. Fill the bottom of the container with rocks to help with drainage. Fill half of the container with good potting soil, place your tree in the center and make sure it is straight. Add the rest of the potting soil then tamp the soil down around the roots to get rid of air. Water your plant well after planting.

How to Plant Dwarf Fruit Trees in the Ground

Dig a hole 12-18 inches deep and wide in an area that gets 6-8 hours of sun daily. Place your tree in the hole, but make sure the grafted joint stays about two inches above the soil. You will see the joint clearly at the base of the tree. Cover with soil and compost, then mulch around the tree to help keep the soil moist. Water well.

Conclusion

Dwarf fruit trees provide space-saving solutions for every gardener. With shorter sizes, faster yields, and easier maintenance, they transform any small area into a productive orchard.

Also to get started with your fruit garden ensure to choose your varieties by conducting a research on what grows best in your climate and select your favorite fruits, also consider where to plant your trees for maximum sunlight, ensure your soil is nutrient-rich to support growth.

Investing in dwarf fruit trees means time well spent. With a little care, you’ll enjoy fresh fruit for years to come, enriching your culinary adventures and garden beauty. Start your dwarf fruit orchard today and embrace the joys of homegrown fruit!

 

How to be Successful in Agribusiness Today

Agribusiness, the backbone of our society, plays a vital role in feeding the world’s growing population and contributing to the economy. At Richfarm Kenya, we recognize the challenges and opportunities that agribusiness entrepreneurs face. In this article, we will explore some few essential strategies and insights to help you achieve success in agribusiness and cultivate a thriving agricultural enterprise.

also see 3 Reasons Why You Should Invest In Dragon Fruit Farming In Kenya In 2024

1. Setting the Bar

It sounds obvious but the first and most important factor in running a successful business of any kind is putting in the hours. Set the bar high, commit to achieving your goals and go for it. Without effort you are unlikely to reap rewards.

4-Fast Maturing Fruit Seedlings That You Can Farm With a Budget of Less Than Ksh100,000

2. Plan Strategically for Long-Term Sustainability

Agribusiness success is rooted in strategic planning for long-term sustainability. Develop a comprehensive business plan that outlines your farm’s objectives, financial projections, and growth strategies. Assess market trends, consumer demands, and potential challenges to make informed decisions. By setting clear goals and aligning your actions with a strategic vision, you can navigate uncertainties and capitalize on emerging opportunities in the agribusiness sector.

Kiwi Fruit Farming

3. Diversification and Risk Management

Diversification is a key aspect of successful agribusiness. Relying solely on one crop or product can expose your farm to significant risks from market fluctuations, weather events, or pest outbreaks. Consider diversifying your offerings, incorporating multiple crops or adding value-added products to your portfolio. Diversification not only spreads risk but also opens new revenue streams and enhances the resilience of your agribusiness.

Dragon Fruit Farming in Kenya

4. Networking and Collaboration

The agricultural community is a tight-knit network of growers, suppliers, processors, and distributors. Engaging in collaboration and networking within the industry can yield valuable insights, partnerships, and market opportunities. Attend industry events, join agricultural associations, and participate in community initiatives to build relationships and foster mutual growth. Collaborative efforts can lead to shared resources, knowledge exchange, and collective problem-solving, enhancing your chances of success.

Why Pixie Orange Farming in Kenya

5. Sustainability and Responsible Practices

Sustainability and responsible practices are no longer just buzzwords; they are fundamental to agribusiness success. Consumers and stakeholders increasingly prioritize ethical and environmentally conscious agricultural practices. Implement sustainable farming methods, such as water conservation, soil health improvement, and reduced chemical usage. Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability not only attracts environmentally-conscious consumers but also positions your farm for long-term viability.

Passion Fruit Farming at our Kiritiri Farm in Embu

6. Finance and Support

Financing plays a pivotal role in the success of any agribusiness venture. Secure adequate funding to support your operational needs, expand your farm, or invest in modernization. Understanding finances will give you detailed information of the costs of production and income generated by your agriculture enterprise. With these, you can make decisions to either increase, decrease or even stop production of the goods and services of the agriculture enterprise.

Raspberry Farming in Kenya

7. Read Widely

To prepare yourself for a successful agriculture career switch or impact in agriculture, you have to develop your reading capacity. You should read as many articles, books and materials you can find on agriculture. Because agriculture is a very wide discipline and so as not to overwhelm yourself with too much information, you can restrict your reading and studying to topics that focus or are about the particular area or branch of agriculture that you’re most interested in. If you’re not someone who likes to read, you would be able to overcome this obstacle or habit by reading topics about the areas or fields that you are passionate about. 

Tomato Farming in Kenya

Reading opens your mind to new ideas and methods of practicing agriculture. Also, don’t restrict yourself to information about how the type or area of agriculture you are interested in is practiced in your country. Learn how it is done or practiced in other parts of the world as well. Doing this will let you see ideas and concepts being practiced elsewhere that you can import and improvise in the application of agriculture in your own location.

8. Learn Marketing

Marketing knowledge and skills are essential for success in every career, especially agriculture where everyone is practically producing the same crop, products and services. With good understanding of marketing, you will be able to differentiate your value, products and services from the general market and so be able to command higher prices and rewards for your labor. You should have a thorough understanding of the 4Ps of marketing which are Product, Price, Place and Promotion.

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9. Technological Know-How

The continuous fast advancements in technology we see in the world is not leaving agriculture out of its touch. Many of the scientific and technological advancements such as Artificial Intelligence, automation, software, cloud computing among others that are revolutionizing other industries and sectors of the economy will also be brought into agriculture practices in order to improve processes and productivity. 

It will be very beneficial to having a successful agriculture career if you become familiar with these technologies so that you will be very open to the efficiencies they can bring to your agriculture operation. You don’t have to know them deeply but you should be open to understanding their basic principles of operations, for example,  Data Analysis, Artificial Intelligence (AI), 3D printing, robotics, block chain, coding and virtual reality.

10. Engaging Experts

Engaging credible qualified experts like agronomists, investing in research and modern technologies like drip irrigation systems and visiting lots of farms to gain experience will help in making your agribusiness a success. Learning never stops. Farming is a field that one needs to constantly learn. You can have as many mentors as you can, as long as you are picking something worthwhile from their sharing and experiences. 

Why Richfarm is Your Plug to Profitable Farming

We are an agribusiness consultancy firm, propagators of certified fruit and vegetable seedlings in Kenya. We also provide farm management services and are marketers of fresh farm produce. You can always contact us at Richfarm Kenya on 0724698357/ 0723213602, also on our website at www.richfarmkenya.com.

Happy Farming!!!

Lentil ( Lens Culinaris) Farming in Kenya

Lens culinaris, the lentils plant, has many different names. The term "lentil" is a direct reference to the word "lens", which not only references its botanical name but its shape. The legumes resemble small lenses.

A Lentil Harvest

Lentil crops are annually grown and belong to the Fabaceae plant family. The pods contain edible seeds, each pod producing at least two seeds that can be split if desired. The vine itself is quite slender with hairy, erect, branching stems.

In Kenya it is popularly known as kamande, best grown in hot areas with sandy loamy soils that drain water fast. Due to its tolerance to drought conditions, areas of Ukambani, Garissa, Wajir, Siaya, Kisumu, Narok South, Kajiado and the entire coastal region would be ideal.

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Economic Value

Lentils are a valuable human food, mostly consumed as dry seeds. In India it is mostly consumed as ‘Dal’ by removal of outer skin and separation of cotyledons, snacks and soup preparation et cetere. It is easy to cook and easily digestible with high biological value, hence also referred to patients. Dry leaves, stems, empty and broken pods are used as valuable cattle feed. Bold seeded, attractive shaped grains have high demand for export at premium prices.

Lentil Varieties

1. Red Chief: This is a popular variety that is known for its high yields and drought tolerance. It matures in about 90-110 days and can produce up to 2000 kilograms per acre. It is a medium-sized lentil with a red-brown color. It is resistant to a number of diseases, including fusarium wilt and ascochyta blight. 
2. Richlea: This variety is also known for its high yields and is resistant to diseases such as fusarium wilt. It matures in about 100-120 days and can produce up to 1800 kilograms per acre. It is a large-sized lentil with a yellow-brown color. It is also resistant to ascochyta blight.
3. Laird: This variety is a good choice for areas with high rainfall. It matures in about 120-130 days and can produce up to 1600 kilograms per acre. It is a medium-sized lentil with a green color. It is resistant to a number of diseases, including downy mildew and phoma pod rot.
4. Eston: This variety is a good choice for areas with low rainfall. It matures in about 90-100 days and can produce up to 1500 kilograms per acre. It is a small-sized lentil with a brown color. It is resistant to a number of diseases, including ascochyta blight and anthracnose.
5. Green lentils: These lentils are known for their nutty flavor and firm texture. They mature in about 120-130 days and can produce up to 1400 kilograms per acre. They are a small-sized lentil with a green color. They are not as resistant to diseases as some of the other varieties, but they are still a good choice for home gardens.

Soils

Overall, lentils adapt to all soil types but the key is good drainage. Plants prefer sandy loamy soils that are well-drained and fertile.

A pH of 6.0 and 6.5 is best, though the plants will grow in a soil pH up to 8.0. Avoid saline, boron or sodic soils, which may limit root growth and the plant's ability to receive moisture.

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Water Requirement

After planting, water well without flooding. Give plants about 1 inch of water per week. At least 10 inches of annual rainfall is needed. If weather conditions become dry, know that the lentil crop is drought tolerant and they can die if the water becomes water logged. 

Altitude

Lentils are well-suited for cultivation at altitudes ranging from 1,200 meters to 2,500 meters above sea level. Higher altitudes provide cooler temperatures, which are favorable for lentil growth.

Sunlight

Lentils require plenty of sunlight for optimal growth. They are considered photoperiod neutral, meaning they do not have specific day-length requirements for flowering. However, lentils thrive well in areas where the weather is cool with limited rainfall such as Siaya, Kisumu, Narok South, Kajiado. Ideal temperatures are around 25 to 35 degrees celcius.

Fertilizer Application

If your soil is naturally clumpy, add compost to loosen it. Direct contact with fertilizer may shock the seeds. Instead, inoculate seeds with Rhizobium leguminosarum; this will give the plants the nitrogen they need for ideal growth and health.

Dig a long trench on the side of each row of young plants when they are about five inches tall. Pour in compost tea and repeat when the plants start to flower.

Establishment

Choose a well-drained field with suitable soil conditions (sandy loam to loam) and proper sunlight exposure for lentil cultivation. Clear the field of weeds, debris, and rocks to create a clean planting area. Prepare the soil by plowing, harrowing, and leveling to create a smooth and even seedbed.

Seed Selection and Treatment

Select high-quality lentil seeds from reputable sources. Choose certified and disease-free seeds of a suitable lentil variety for your region. Treat seeds, if necessary, with appropriate methods such as priming, coating, inoculation with beneficial microorganisms, or fungicide treatment.

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Planting

Use proper planting equipment, such as a seed drill or planter, to achieve consistent row spacing and seed depth. Set the planting depth on the equipment to about 2 to 4 cm. Plant lentil seeds in rows with the determined row spacing of 30 to 40 cm and within-row spacing of 5 to 10 cm and ensure uniform seed placement

Watering

Water the planting area before and after planting to ensure adequate moisture for germination. Monitor soil moisture levels regularly and provide supplementary irrigation as needed, especially during the early growth stages.

Mulching

Apply a layer of organic mulch, such as straw or leaves, around the seedlings to retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and protect emerging plants.

Thinning

If seedlings are too close together, thin out once they have grown a few inches tall and maintain the desired spacing between plants.

Care and Monitoring

Monitor the lentil seedlings for pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies. Take appropriate measures to address any issues arising and keep the area weed-free to reduce competition for resources and promote healthy lentil growth.

A lentil farming field

Common Pests and Diseases

Pests

Pests are minimal too but can be susceptible to various pests such as aphids, thrips, and pod borers, leaf miners, cut worms, whiteflies and wiremorms.  It is very rare for lentils to attract Lygus bugs, aphids, maggots, wireworms and thrips. If found, just hose or pinch them.

Diseases

Because lentil plants thrive in low humidity, they usually do not attract many diseases. Occasionally ascochyta blight, white mould, rust, powdery mildew, anthracnose, fusarium wilt or root rot may occur as a symptom of rotating lentils with the wrong crops.

In addition to wheat, corn is another good option for crop rotation. Rotate every three or four years. Avoid fava bean, field bean, field pea, mustard, canola, rapeseed, soybean, sunflower, sugar beet, and potato because they are susceptible to the same diseases.

Management of pests and Diseases

• Rotate lentils with non-host crops to disrupt pest and disease cycles.
• Choose disease-resistant lentil varieties when available.
• Remove and destroy infected plant debris to prevent disease spread.
• Implement a combination of cultural, biological, and chemical control methods.
• Use proper plant spacing and avoid over-crowding to reduce disease incidence.
• Planting at the right time can help avoid peak pest and disease pressure.
• Keep the field weed-free to reduce pest and disease habitat.
• Regularly scout for pests and diseases to catch problems early.

Sprouted Lentils

Harvesting Lentils

Collect green pods within 70 to 80 days of planting to eat them like snap beans. When lentils are used as a dry grain, the seed is called a pulse. Harvest lentils when the lower pods are brown.

Hit a seed with a hammer and if it cracks, then it's ready to be harvested. If it mashes, let it dry on the plant longer.

Yield

The average lentil yield per acre varies depending on the variety, the growing conditions, and the management practices used. However, the average yield for lentils in Kenya is around 800-1500 kilograms per acre.

Matured Lentil Crop

Market Outlook

In the market, one kilogram of kamande costs between Sh200 – Sh350 depending on the market supply and demand.

• Seedlings per acre – 12-15 kg seeds per acre
• Spacing – 30cm for rows, 3-4 cm depth
• Market price – Ksh. 200-350
• Yield- 800-1500 kg per acre
• Common pests- aphids, thrips, and pod borers, leaf miners, cut worms, whiteflies and wire worms. 
• Common diseases – ascochyta blight, white mould, rust, powdery mildew, anthracnose, fusarium wilt or root rot
• Lifespan- 90-120 days from planting to maturity

Frequently Asked Questions

• How profitable is lentil farming in Kenya?
• How long do lentils take to mature?
• How much is 1kg of lentils in Kenya?
• How to grow lentils in Kenya?
• What are the common pests and diseases affecting lentil farming?
• What are the lentil farming water requirements?
• Do we have lentil varieties?
• What is the yield per acre for lentils?

 

 

 

 

The Kiwi Fruit Farming: A Goldmine

Kiwi is a temperate fruit and it can do well in the temperate regions of Kenya like Central, Western highlands, Central Rift Valley and others.

There are very few markets where demand exceeds supply. One such market is for Kiwi fruits which despite being a relatively new idea in Kenya, has taken the market by storm. There are very few farmers who have gotten wind of its valued benefits and you can take advantage of this loophole to make a timely investment. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to go about it.

The Basics of Kiwi Fruit Farming in Kenya

Growing Requirements

Soil 

The soil must be well drained. Kiwi tree vines planted where water sits on the surface following rains are likely to develop crown rot. The soil pH should be between 5.0 and 6.5.

Kiwi tree is especially touchy about less than perfect site and soil conditions in its youth. For this reason, some growers coddle their plants in containers for one, even two, years. Kiwi tree growth can be phenomenal in carefully watered and fertilized containers.

In Kenya Kiwi should be planted during the rainy season to take advantage of long-rains but does well too under irrigation. Note that Kiwi Vines are very vulnerable to strong wings and you may need to invest a bit more to protect them by building a temporary fence or planting some trees around the farm.

Fertilizer

Also compost manure and some little amounts of fertilizer, that is D.A.P and C.A.N to provide the crop with adequate nutrients are recommended.

Pests and Diseases

Kiwi plants are susceptible to PSA, crown rot, collar rot and root rot.

Symptoms

• Reduced shoot growth. Leaves are small and chlorotic.
• Vines may collapse suddenly or show a gradual decline in productivity over several seasons.
• Red-brown discoloration of roots and root crowns which is visible when root is cut in two.

Management

Remove and destroy all infested leaves, twigs and fruits to prevent further spread of pests. Avoid water logging and keep the soil aerated.

One may also need bio-chemicals that are usually used on fruits like oranges and grapes.

Pests

Brown Leaf Roller, Green Leaf Roller, Greedy scale, Passion Vine Hopper and Thrips are some of the most common insect pests that attack kiwifruits.

Management

Avoid chemicals, as these may kill beneficial insects, like tachinid flies and parasitic wasps, which prey on leaf rollers. Bacillus thuringiensis is a safe, non-toxic treatment. Pheromone traps are also an effective means of control.

Kiwi Fruit Seedlings

Pollination

The burden of pollination rests mostly with honeybees, though wind and other beneficial insects also play a role. With few exceptions, a separate, non fruiting male plant is needed to fertilize and induce fruiting of female plants. The male should be no further than 35 feet from females. Do not be surprised if it appears that female flowers have stamens, the male flower parts. The stamens are there, but the pollen they shed is sterile. Similarly, male flowers have small, nonfunctional ovaries.

One male plant can fertilize the flowers of 8 or so females; and male and female plants need not be the same species of kiwi tree to cross-pollinate. Bloom times of male and female flowers must coincide, though.

Hand pollination is practical if you grow only a few kiwi trees. Merely pluck off a male blossom and lightly rub it on a half-dozen female flowers. Then go pluck another male, repeat the rubbing, and so forth.

Trellising

Kiwi trees are rampant plants and their trunks never become sturdy enough to hold the plants up off the ground of their own accord. Under cultivation plants must be trained to some sort of support that is both sturdy and allows vines adequate room to ramble.

A trellis used by commercial kiwi tree growers consists of wires stretched between 6-foot-high T-bar supports spaced 15 to 20 feet apart. At some sacrifice to fruit production, but with perhaps a gain in beauty, kiwi tree vines can be coaxed up a variety of other structures such as a gazebo, a pergola, or even along a split rail fence.

Kiwi Fruit Plant

Training and Pruning

The goals in training and pruning are to make a potentially tangled mass of rampant shoots manageable and easy to harvest, and to keep a vine fruitful by allowing adequate light to fall within the plant canopy. Pruning also stimulates an annual flush of new wood, important because flowers and fruits are borne toward the bases of current seasons’ shoots that grow from canes that grew the previous year only.

Not all the new shoots that grow from the previous year’s canes will fruit. Some canes may have been too shaded the year before, or the vine may be too young. Those canes that are fruitful will produce fruiting shoots at their basal half-dozen or so buds; the buds further out are capable of producing shoots that will fruit the next year.

An established kiwi tree vine consists of a trunk, permanent cordons, and fruiting arms or canes. Training and pruning are done by tying shoots to supports and pruning the plants while they are growing and they are dormant.

Girdling

Girdling is a technique that induces fruiting and hastens maturity and bud-break  by disrupting the flow of nutrients and hormones in the stems. In late summer, make two parallel cuts, one sixteenth of an inch apart, on the trunk, and remove the strip of bark from between the cuts. Do not girdle any vine that is in a weakened condition, or cut too deeply, remove just the outer bark.

Kiwi Fruits 

Harvesting

A mature kiwifruit vine can produce more than 90 kilograms of fruit. The ready kiwi fruits are harvested by snapping them off their stalks when the skins turn brown and samples of cut fruit show black seeds. The fruit will be hard, but will soften and sweeten in a week at room temperature. In a cool room, such a fruit will keep for two months. If the fruit is refrigerated to near freezing, and the humidity maintained at 95 percent with a plastic bag having just a few small holes, the fruit will store for 9 months. Let firm and ripe fruit soften before eating. This can be hastened by putting the fruit in a bag with an apple.

Hardy and super-hardy kiwifruits drop or come off easily from the vines when they are ripe. They are picked firm and ripe with their stems attached, and the small fruited kiwifruits store as well as the large kiwifruit.

The average kiwi vine takes 2 to 3 years to mature and start producing fruits. The first few harvests may however not be as productive but this tends to improve throughout the plants maturity life.

Kiwi Fruit Remains an Undiscovered Goldmine in Kenya

Market Outlook

There are very few markets where demand exceeds supply. One such market is for Kiwi fruits which despite being a relatively new idea in Kenya, has taken the market by storm. And you just need to have a taste of this fruit to understand why so many people love it.

There are very few farmers who have gotten wind of its valued benefits so far. Actually, production of Kiwi fruits in Kenya is yet to kick off on a commercial scale. Now that’s where the mammoth opportunity is. You can take advantage of this low-supply-high-demand situation in Kenya and make your profits.

Kiwi Fruit Harvest

Investing in Kiwi Fruit

Let’s start with good news; Kiwi seedlings are now available in Kenya for an affordable price of Ksh.300. You can contact Richfarm Kenya 0724698357/ 0723213602 to have clean certified seedling.

The crop management is similar to passion fruit management practices. That means you will also need trellis and enough manure and water to bring up a healthy profitable crop. See the complete guide below; it contains the cost estimates for an acre.

The Money Math

An acre of kiwi fruits carries about 650 vines. In the third year, each vine should give you about 20 fruits on the lower side. That gives you about 13,000 fruits in a season. Check out the prices in supermarkets today and you will find a retail price of between Ksh.90 and Ksh.100 per fruit. Supposing you sell the fruit at a wholesale price of Ksh.70 per fruit, that acre will give you a cool Ksh.910,000. Now keep in mind that the production increases with time.

We have compiled this comprehensive Kiwi fruit farming guide for Kenya with step-by-step information from planting through to harvesting and marketing in our resource page where you can download a copy.

NB: The ratio of male to female kiwi plants is 1:5, therefore we recommend having 5 seedlings at once to minimize the chance of you taking females only yet a male is needed for fertilization. I covered this on female and male kiwi fruits above under pollination.

• Cost per seedling ksh.300
• Seedlings per acre - 340 vines
• Spacing – 2m between lines, 6m from plant to plant
• Fruit market price – Ksh. 90-100 retail, Ksh. 70 on wholesale
• Yield – 20-30 fruits per vine in a season
• Common pests - Brown Leaf Roller, Green Leaf Roller, Greedy scale, Passion Vine Hopper and Thrips
• Common diseases - PSA, crown rot, collar rot and root rot
• Lifespan – Deciduous  

Frequently Asked Questions

•  Is Kiwi fruit profitable in Kenya?
• How long does it take for a kiwi plant to start producing fruits?
• What is the best place to grow kiwi fruits n Kenya?
• How is the Kiwi fruit market locally and for export?
• What is the cost of kiwi fruit farming in Kenya?