An acre of maize produces 20 to 30 bags of grain while an acre of 670 vines gives two kilogrammes of passion fruits each vine on a weekly basis, he says. The fruit farms in kenya are located on altitudes ranging from 1,200m 1,800m in the eastern part of the rift valley and 2,000m on the western part. Kenya has developed three new droughtresistant varieties of passion fruit, it was revealed this week kalro says the new varieties can increase farmers yields to up to three tonnes per hectare. The disparity in supply is evident from the margin of the cost of passion fruits in the various towns in kenya. The fruit will be eaten fresh or consumed when extracting. Marketing difficulty is due often to the small quantities involved, which make sales firms reluctant to. Passion fruit farming flourishes in eldoret horticultural news. In addition to these problems, the technical ones of processing the juice and converting it into a saleable product are also proving to be difficult. Bajja fruit farm located along kampala masaka road at lukaya. The purple passion fruit passiflora edulis is the most commonly grown passion for commercial purpose in kenya. Labour is needed for disease and pest control, fertilising, harvesting and packing over a 10month period. The yellow passion fruit has a more vigorous vine, and the fruit is normally larger than the purple type with a thicker fruit wall.
Other countries include australia, new zealand, kenya, uganda, rwanda etc. Kaduru tending to the passion fruit nursery research into market the passion fruits were planted in 2012, after a lot of research on the viability of the crop in uganda. Most of the farming is large scale, and under deep irrigation as. She is among 5, 000 others who have swapped maize for fruit farming.
The plant thrives in regions with an optimum temperature in the range of 18 to 25 degree celsius. Perimeter shamba group members plowing a plot for dry season, organic vegetables at nyumbani village, kitui. It is an interesting enterprise, because it exemplifies some problems which are apparent in fruit growing, especially in the tropics, including pest and disease control and commercial outlets. Fresh market passion fruits should be picked when they have developed the characteristic purple colour for purple passion fruit and yellow colour for yellow passion fruit. The horticulture industry is dominated by smallscale farmers with less than 2 hectares, especially in vegetables production whereby they account for about 70% of vegetable producers. We also supply high yielding, disease resistant purple passion fruit seedlings to upcoming farmers. Compared to maize, he says, passion fruit farming is better because it earns good money and also requires less labour.
But the farmers are collaborating with scientists from the kenya agricultural research institute kari to beat that problem. I had noticed that this variety had big fruits and more fruits per tree than the varieties i had seen in kenya. After almost 20 years of research in kenya, a newly commercialised passion fruit variety is enjoying good sales in the european market the variety was developed by the kenya agricultural research institute kari a few months ago, with the latest figures from january showing that the country has exported over 779 tonnes of passion fruit to europe, accounting for about eight. The kenya agricultural value chain enterprises activity works with smallholder farmers, businesses, and national and county government partners to address constraints up and down the value chain such as agroprocessors, input suppliers, transporters, exporters, retailers, financiers and develop fullyfunctioning, competitive value chains. Passion fruit production is constrained by abiotic and biotic factors in the north rift region of kenya as recently outcried by farmers in this region after high crop losses. Yellow passion this passion fruit is grown for its aromatic but rather acidic pulp. The farm is located in lukaya along kampala masaka high way. Read this to lean all passion fruit growing tips in kenya. Status of passion fruit production in kenya oxfarm. During a seminar on enhancing the performance and impact of purple passion fruit in kenya, stakeholders discussed ways of adapting ideas from zimbabwe for use in kenya. Kenya develops droughttolerant passion fruits african farming. The fruit is bigger with a diameter of 57 cm, relatively acidic and used for juice extraction.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time i comment. Passion fruit was introduced into kenya in the 1920s for commercial juice processing. Making more than kshs 600,000 from passion fruit farming. Passion fruit, a climbing vine, is a versatile crop whose demand is growing in both export and domestic markets. Salina is talking about traders also known as brokers who move from farm to farm buying passion fruit from farmers for the local market. Mar 19, 2011 passion fruits is changing the lives of a small village in nandi kenya.
Yellow passionthis passion fruit is grown for its aromatic but rather acidic pulp. Marketing difficulty is due often to the small quantities involved, which make sales firms reluctant to handle the product not only. Ask us your question or share with us your concern relating to passion fruits ranging from land preparation, best varieties, orchard management, disease control and prevention. Passion fruits is changing the lives of a small village in nandi kenya. Apr 01, 2016 passion fruit, a climbing vine, is a versatile crop whose demand is growing in both export and domestic markets. Name address email address contact kenya fresh produce exporters p.
Passion fruit farming greenlife crop protection africa. It is native to india, bangladesh, myanmar and malaysia, but can be found growing in more than 60 other countries throughout the world. The crop produces high yields under proper care, for instance, a yield of 50,000kg of passion fruit per hectare has been reported in kenya. The passion fruit is a vigorous, climbing vine that clings by tendrils to almost any support. By sara delaney ive wondered before if passion fruit really deserved such an emotionfilled name, but after visiting farmers in nyanza, kenya, and seeing their passion for growing it, i will always believe it should be called passion fruit. I have a passion for farming, so when i saw the fruit, i immediately decided to start commercial tree tomato farmer makes a fortune from tree tomato farming farming back in kenya, he says. The passion fruit farming in africa has little known pests and diseases. The purple fruit is less acidic, has a better aroma and flavor, and normally has a slightly higher juice content. The demand for the fruit on both local and export market is still unmet. Dec 14, 2017 orange fruit farming in kenya december 14, 2017 orange is one of the common fruits in kenya with popularity in all parts of the country ranking the forth most eaten fruit after banana, pineapple and mangoes. When nathan kivuva quit maize farming a year ago to venture into passion fruit farming, little did he know he was opening a new chapter in his life.
Here is a brief guide that has been prepared exclusively for you by the kuza biashara. Passion fruit farming is a highly lucrative enterprise in kenya with high and regular income. Apr, 2015 developed by the kenya agricultural and livestock research organization kalro, the new varieties kpf 4, kpf 11 and kpf 12 are the results of a 20year research project aimed at increasing passion fruit production in the country. May 15, 2014 passion fruit farming has been touted as the next big business venture for subsaharan countries such as kenya. Fruits stored in unperforated, sealed, polyethylene bags at 23. We provide training and mentor ship on passion fruit growing. The az of growing passion fruits to harvest 15 tonnes. Standing between this success is the emergence of fusarium wilt, a bacterial disease that affects passion fruit vines. The shortage of passion fruits for domestic and commercial consumption has sparked a rise in price as the entities strive to meet their fruit needs. The lucrative business opportunity in passion fruit. Passion fruit the third most wellliked fruit in kenya after bananas and mangoes and bananas respectively. Extension officers agree that this is a poser for passion fruit farming. Kenya grows plums, pears, apples, grapes, oranges, lemons, tangerines, bananas, loquat, dates, pawpaws, pineapple, avocados, peaches, apricots and passion fruit.
But many kenyan farmers are not earning as much as they could from the fruit a combination of poor planting and orchard management, and increasing plant disease and pests. Several years back, republic of kenya was among high producers of passion fruits, however overtime production has stagnated. Mango cultivation in kenya mango is one of the most important fruit crops in the tropical and subtropical lowlands. Passion fruit production in kenya has, unfortunately, been liable to large fluctuations in supply and the production problems must obviously be solved before largescale marketing can take place.
It is an interesting enterprise, because it exemplifies some problems which are apparent in fruitgrowing, especially in the tropics, including pest and disease control and commercial outlets. Are you thinking of starting a profitable passion fruit farm in kenya. Peaches have not penetrated the kenyan market that well. Kenyas rift valley region provides the bulk of the countrys food but in recent years many small scale farmers there are moving away from food crops to passion fruit farming which makes them more. Kyotera farmers resort to growing profitable passion. Passion fruit is commercially cultivated in the north eastern states of manipur, mizoram and nagaland. Bajja fruit farm is engaged in commercial production and marketing of the small purple passion fruits purple granadilla type. Surveys were carried out in three uasin gichu districts to determine causes of these losses by collecting data on pests and diseases, on planting materials, the conditions. Mr odongo has joined hands with other passion fruit farmers in the area in the siaya passion growers association. Common passion fruit varieties in uganda the purple grandillais popular for its scent and is locally known as kasese, masaka and kenyan passion fruit variety.
Vision 2030 and the agriculture sector development strategy in kenya identified the transformation of the agricultural sector as a key stimulus in providing economic growth especially during the current global recession. Passion fruit is grown in north eastern region of india. You may not know it, but passion fruit is the number three on the list of most popular fruits in the country. Follow these steps to get high yields from passion fruits. Fig fruit farming in kenya, a fruit not many farmers are aware of. What you should know regarding pears fruit farming in kenya. Technology boosts passion fruit farming anna and david maithya showcase their first harvest of yellow passion fruit from 75 vines that matured in just four and a half months. At the moment only about 10% of passion fruit from kenya makes it to the international market. Passion fruit grows in warm to cool climates within altitude ranging from 12002000m. Aloysius kibila of kabila passion fruit growing association says majority of the farmers in the area have resorted to growing the fruits because it is profitable.
The lucrative business opportunity in passion fruit farming. Passionfruit growing is well suited to family operated farms. According to softkenya, passion fruit is third most popular fruit in kenya after mangoes and bananas respectively, and this enterprise already boasts an area of. He says they have registered over 0 farmers in kabila sub county alone. Passion fruits can either be picked from the vines or let to fall on the ground once they are ready. Common among them are nematode infections, and attacks by tobacco white fly, cut worms, and beetles. Nov 22, 2010 kenya s rift valley region provides the bulk of the countrys food but in recent years many small scale farmers there are moving away from food crops to passion fruit farming which makes them more. Passion fruit farming has been touted as the next big business venture for subsaharan countries such as kenya.
Passion fruit, which is a climbing vine, may be a versatile crop whose demand is growing in both domestic and export markets. The mango industry in kenya has expanded considerably over recent years, not only in size but. A passion for farming thirtyfouryearold eunice jones and her husband started growing passion fruit in 2010, setting aside half an acre of their land to grow a new variety of the fruit. Many passionfruit growers have other fruit crops or agricultural enterprises. The average price of one kilo of passion fruits is sh50. Light to heavy loams of medium texture with ph ranging from 5. This is often as a result of its proof against bacterial wilt and woodiness. Sweet yellow passion kpf4, kpf11, kpf12, purple passion fruit, yellow passion fruit, banana passion fruit and giant passion. A brief account is given of a minor fruit growing industry in kenya. Passion farming is a highly lucrative enterprise with high and regular income. A wide range of cosmetic products and food flavours are derived from the fruit that.
It is a perennial crop which produces fruits within a year. How to earn millions from 1 acre of passion fruit yes it. Passion fruit vines make good container specimens but require maintenance. Passion fruit demand has many a time, been high as soft drink companies strive to meet this raw material. Highly resistant kawanda hybrid this is a cross between the local purple and the yellow passion fruits. Thanks to snv netherlands development organization and partners, local farmers have teamed up to form an association where. Passionfruit growing involves intensive use of labour throughout the year. A few years ago, our local partner in kenya, anglican development servicesnyanza ads, started working with. We are experts in passion fruit farming with vast knowledge and experience. Faith mumo standing under one of her passion fruit trees in kwale county, kenya.
Their use of a water retention polymer maximized yield on the demo plot at their unyaa farm in kitui county, inspiring other smallholders to venture into the value chain. Passion fruit is one of kenyas top three export fruits. Its more hardy and vigorous as compared to the purple passion. All you need to know about passion fruit farming kuza blog. After almost 20 years of research in kenya, a newly commercialised passion fruit variety is enjoying good sales in the european market the variety was developed by the kenya agricultural research institute kari a few months ago, with the latest figures from january showing that the country has exported over 779 tonnes of passion fruit to europe, accounting for about eight per cent of. However there are few farmers who cultivate peaches on a small scale and do sell their produce to roadside. A dutch firm, simon navy veronica snv, and millennium management consultant mmc have also been helpful in boosting his skills. The demand for the fruit on both export and domestic market keeps on growing. They planned to sell their harvest at a market in mombasa.
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