During every rainy season in Lower Eastern part of the country which covers Machakos, Makueni and Kitui Counties, farmers have always preferred maize and beans farming. Sometimes they also go for peas and green grams.
In these cases, most farmers end up harvesting small amounts of produce which they only use for family consumption and if they decide to sell, they make very small profits.
It is time now farmers should take advantage of the ongoing heavy rains and tap big to their pockets in terms of profits.
These are the three crops you can grow and make huge profits in the region:
1. Passion Fruit
Passion fruit is becoming the most profitable fruit farming you can try. Passion fruit has nearly unlimited possibilities from extended lifespan going to past three years after establishment.
Passion fruit farming doesn’t need a lot of money. If you have the piece of land you only need some small amount of money for seedlings and supplies.The plant produces high yields with proper care.
Currently, in the country, the plant can produce 50,0000kg per hectare of passion fruits. Now the average cost of the fruits per kg is Sh50. I hope you are doing the math?
However, you can earn more if you can source for the direct market. Remember that also big juice companies are sourcing various fruits to tap the fresh fruits processing market.
2. Strawberries
Strawberries in the country seem to currently be in low supply. The demand for the product is growing day in day out.
The companies that use this fruit in Kenya are currently relying on importing.
An 1/8 of an hectare can produce 50kg of strawberries per week and the fruit takes only 70 days to mature and produce first fruits. The current market price for strawberries if Sh200 per kg giving you Sh40,000 per month.After the first harvest this plant continues producing fruit up to three years.
All you need here is a piece of land then source for the best seedling which KARLO can help you in getting the best seed for your land.
3. Mushrooms
Mushroom farming is hitting the market with amazing profits. The plant is land and rainfall independent so making many farmers maximize revenue from their land usage.
The Kenyan market demand for mushrooms is unsatisfied.
This product can be grown using various substrates from agricultural waste like Maize stocks, Wheat straw, paper waste, banana leaves etc. Mushroom Spawns seeds can easily be obtained from JKUAT.