Our trainings are comprehensive covering all aspects of production. The traditional maize and wheat type of farming is being replaced by more profitable and efficient ways that are aimed at providing both sustainability and profitability. Breeding for new varieties which can be grown under wide range of climate has been done. As new information becomes available, growers will have the ability to make adjustments to meet the rapidly changing agricultural landscape. Onion farming in kenya can be done in greenhouses and open gardens. There is a high demand for the strawberry leaves, which are an important component of bouquets due to their beautiful shape and sweet scent. The strawberry varieties suitable for growing in kenya include chandler, domanil, pajaro douglas, tioga selva, rabunda, tristar and tribute. Growing strawberry plants can be an incomeproducing alternative to traditional crop farming. The fruit is a high value crop in kenya for export and local market. Kenya organic strawberry farming biasharapoint east africa. Clods and stubbles should be removed from the seedbed. Ideally, begin working in aged manure or compost a couple months before planting. It is especially hard to market the fruits if you are the only farmer who has ventured in this agribusiness in your region. It is late maturing,with low production hence not popular.
Strawberry farming in kenya strawberries can grow in almost every part of our country provided there is constant water supply and stable temperature in the range of 10 30 degrees celsius. Agriculture is the backbone of kenyas economy, contributing 26 percent of its gdp and 60 percent of its export earnings. Strawberries are tolerant of different soil types, although they prefer loam. Here are the top 4 most profitable crops in kenya today. Its cultivation has become popular throughout the world. Some history species of strawberry fragaria that grow in temperate zones and fruit during.
A few things to know about onion farming in kenya would include price, market availability and variety to plant. Strawberry plants require 610 hours a day of direct sunlight, so choose your planting site accordingly. The strawberry growing master manual strawberry plants. Greenhouses are better however in areas that are cold as they protect the crops from excess rainfall and blight. Commercial greenhouse tomato production introduction greenhouse tomato production offers interested growers an opportunity to produce a marketable product at times when supplies are low. Strawberry farming is a multibillion dollar business around the world. Authors details samuel maina githigia is a senior lecturer at the faculty of veterinary medicine of the university of nairobi and a member of a research group from the government ministries, kenya agricultural research institute and.
Strawberry how to acquire strawberry seeds in kenya. A farmer in limuru adds value on strawberry cultivation. The fruit is a high value crop for export and local market, though the export market has not been exploited in kenya due to limited supplies. There are an abundance of pickyourown strawberry farms scattered across the usa. How limuru lady is earning big from strawberry farming.
Other types that are popular are tioga selva, douglas, tristar, domanil, rabunda and tribute. Strawberries gardening is a golden opportunity for the youth in kenya for selfemploymentand livelihood improvement. Strawberry farming in k enya is particularly done outdoors in order to get the best fruits with a sweet aroma and a uniform red color. Passion fruit farming has nearly unlimited possibilities from extended life span exceeding three years after establishment to ability to intercrop. He has a farm in machakos which is almost a 18 of an acre and he has been doing strawberry farming for almost a year now.
We at the strawberry farm currently sell pure organic, chemical free strawberry fruits and seedlings. Because not many people engage in strawberry farming in kenya, the crop is scarce, which makes it expensive guaranteeing good returns for farmers. It is a day neutral variety that is high yielding with firm skin and sweet berry. Strawberry plantings can remain productive for three to four fruiting years.
We provide training in the organic production of strawberries. To inspire, educate, network and source strawberry farming related goods and services. Strawberries have a short fresh period, therefore, the cold chain is very critical during the postharvest period of. If you are looking for a highvalue crop that can produce an income in the first year, take a look at passion fruit farming. Lygus bugs western tarnished plant bug saltmarsh caterpillar. According to him, strawberry is one of the easiest crops to grow. According to alex, strawberry farming can make your zeros in your bank account to increase greatly. Any strawberry farming start up project needs proper land preparation. On his fathers quarter acre piece of land in the rural town of thika, kenya, he ventured into strawberry farming, planting 500 strawberry plants. Until 40 days after planting, strawberry leaves, runners and flowers are removed. Renovation, fertility, and disease and insect control also are important if production is to be pro. Strawberry can grow in almost any part of kenya as long as there is a constant supply of water and temperatures not below 10 degrees or above 30 degrees. Smart farming technologies cc strawberry farming in. It is locally consumed and available from roadside sellers to supermarkets.
Farming systems and production constraints article pdf available in the journal of agricultural science 55. To avoid any wastage, she has been using any remaining fruits which are not bought or small in size and are undesirable to traders to make juice and jam upon approval by kenya bureau of standards kebs in 2007 a year after she started farming strawberries. Lucrative strawberries farming in kenya agroenvironment. Nutrients are supposed to be used for strawberry plant growth only, not for runners and flowers. They have runners which grow away from the parent plant and in turn attach to the ground forming roots. After that, the ministry gave them sh100,000 as seed.
Market is big for strawberry fruits and a farmer cannot go wrong by growing the crop. Curiosity leads farmer into successful strawberry farming. Organic food and farming in kenya paul rye kledal,1 habwe florence oyiera,2 john wanjau njoroge3 and eustace kiarii4 geography and economy kenya is a country about as large as france, with a population of 37 million. I used to grow various crops before i met officials from ministry of agriculture who introduced me to strawberry farming in 2004, kihika averred. The strawberry plant was initially a temperate zone plant but has adapted well to the warmer regions. Variety, selection, weed control, frost control, and winter protection are of particular importance. Strawberries are very juicy healthpacked fruits which can be eaten whole, made into fruit salads, jam,milk shake and smoothie juice. For example you could do hydroponic strawberry farming, aquaponic strawberry farming or container farming. Pig sector kenya food and agriculture organization. The estimated total strawberry production in kenya is 1487 tons while the demand is over 15,000 tons. It is short day variety that has a symmetrical shape, colour and flavor. If you are a farmer and currently engaged in strawberry farming in kenya, you are probably wondering where to get a strawberry market in kenya in 2020. Strawberry farming has become increasingly popular in the recent past in kenyan rural, urban and periurban areas. Relative toxicities of insecticides and miticides used in strawberry to natural enemies and honey bees.
Our strawberries are grown under shade netting which provides a conducive environment for proper growth and development alongside providing protection to the plants. Many people beginning strawberry farms in kenya simply buy seedlings from nurseries on the side of the road and there is. Unfortunately, however, numerous farmers each year decide to take the plunge into commercial strawberry growing and go bust. You wont find a better deal on this much strawberry information anywhere.
It increases the length of time tomatoes are available and improves buyer interest in the area. Guide to growing strawberries in the garden the attractions of strawberries are many. When you combine hitech with farming, you get smart farming. It all started in 2008 when gathoni and her womens group were trained in strawberry farming by officers from the ministry of agriculture. Strawberries are very juicy healthpacked fruits which. How to practice strawberry farming in kenya zakenya. In kenya there are 42 types of strawberry plants and the hybrids are chandler, pajero and sulphur.
Strawberry gardening is a multibillion dollar business around the world. Meet peter, grew from 500 to 6,000 strawberry plants youtube. Alexander mwengi is one of the farmers who are struggling to satisfy the demand for the strawberries in kenya. Draw the lines 10 to 15cm apart throughout the length of the seedbed. How to start strawberry farming in kenya nigeria strawberry farming in kenya nigeria at the moment is still an untapped goldmine. Strawberry production scenario in india strawberry fragaria vesca is an important fruit crop of india and its commercial production is possible in temperate and subtropical areas of the country. As a matter of fact kenyan farmers are reluctant to venture into strawberry farming because the strawberry industry in kenya is not very developed. The most common type of strawberry is that of the fragaria genus. Making a fortune from strawberry farming in ainabkoi in. Today, the value of his farming venture has grown to sh480,000 according to limurudistrict hrticulture officer mary kinuthia. The fruit plant is a high value export crop which makes a multibillion dollar business around the world. The ideal seedbed should be 60cm wide, 56cm long and 2025cm high.