They are highyielding, mature faster and do well in the market, says annie who farms under the trade name farm2home. Roots the watermelon root system formation begins prior to emergence of cotyledons to the soil surface and reaches maximum extension by the time of flowering. Annie nyaga is one of the most successful watermelon farmers in kenya. Jan 23, 2017 farmers in kenya s rift valley have traditionally been a maize and wheat crowd. Production in high rainfall areas is also possible but requires aggressive disease control efforts. You must plant the best watermelon varieties to get big harvests and maximum profits. Watermelon farming in k enya in 2020 is a very lucrative. Cantaloupe farming musk melonkharbooj agri farming. Today, watermelon is cultivated all over the world on all five continents. If you have heavy clay soil, definitely raise the bed. From the 88,000 kilos harvested, the farmers will earn a gross income of sh2. When growing season arrives, melons are a favorite fruit to grow and eat.
Now that you have a clue on the varieties of watermelons and the necessary conditions, here is a watermelon farming guide in kenya. Diseases and insect pests melons suffer most of the diseases and insect pests that attack other cucurbits. While the pinkred flesh variety is the most popular, there are other watermelon types such as the yellow crimson. Secrets from tomato man with 6,000 plants daily nation. All you need to know about watermelon farming how kenya. The costs of watermelons in major towns in kenya vary from sh25 to sh40 per kilo. The term dry onion is used to distinguish them from green onions which are pulled while ops are still green and usually before a large bulb has formed. The yield of watermelon varies according to the system of cultivation, season and several other factors. Early to midmorning is the best time to monitor bee activity. Watermelon farming in kenya 2020 watermelon growing.
A mound or ridge is free draining melons dont like wet feet. Pepino melon agribusiness and frming in keny, benefits of pepino melon, demand of pepino melon, diseases affecting pepino melon in kenya, helth benefits of pepino melon, how to cultivate pepino farming, management practices of pepino melon in kenya, melon farming in k enya, melon type in kenya, nutritional facts of pepino melon kenya, oxfarm. Getting the best from your jambar f1 monsanto africa. Pepino melon 300500 pepino melon seedlings in a green house, 8m by 30m greenhouse, benefits of pepino melon, control and management pest and diseases in a green house, farming fruits in kenya africa, greenhouse with a new investment, organic farming of pepino melon, oxfarm organic pepino melon fruits, pepino melon farming in kenya, pepino. Form a flat, slightly concave depression on the top of the hill, and then make three or four holes in the soil with a tool or your finger, 2.
Make ksh 500,000 per acre in 3 months from water melon fruit. Visit farms near you to understand the ins and outs of the watermelon farming business in kenya. Guide to farming watermelon in kenya for 2020 value magazine. Farmers practicing watermelon farming in kenya can buy from trusted suppliers locally. How to be a profitable watermelon farmer the ultimate. Aug 08, 2014 the practice of growing sweet melons fruits in kenya is catching up quite fast. This fruit mostly cultivated for its fresh juice and sweet flesh. Water melon as a crop is one of the commonly consumed commodity worldwide. The area is too hot and water is scarce,i plan to use tap water please advice how to preserve water and the drought and disease resistant type of seeds. Jun 06, 2014 according to kenya agricultural research institute kari this crop can also perform well in areas with black cotton soil such as kitengela if planted under drip irrigation. Pdf high yield is a major goal for watermelon citrullus lanatus breeders. The fruit has a hard and fleshy outer rind, making it immune to most farm pests.
As with any other business, watermelon farming has its. Watermelons lend themselves well to smallscale and parttime farming operations. Hybrid watermelon can earn farmers sh2 million in two months. Watermelon farming in kenya is easy to start, the plant requires little management and the market is plenty. It is better to choose the hybrid seeds, as in the end you will get the best results. The practice of growing sweet melons fruits in kenya is catching up quite fast. Watermelon farming greenlife crop protection africa. Learn how to grow watermelon, watermelon cultivation practices, varieties, season, pests and watermelon plant diseases etc. Get good returns from growing sweet melons fruits in kenya. Seeded watermelon in largescale production, few seeded varieties are currently grown. But with stiffer competition and cheaper imports, they are beginning to diversify, looking for more profitable. We planted watermelon seeds on decmber 23rd 2017 and 1st jan 2018 the plants grown out from soil. According to kenya agricultural research institute kari this crop can also perform well in areas with black cotton soil such as kitengela if planted under drip irrigation. Watermelon farming tips, techniques and varieties in kenya.
It has been two years since morori, 38, went into watermelon farming, a venture that has brought boundless fortune, making him the only millionaire in his village. With watermelon farming it takes 100 days to grow ksh40. Watermelons can be grown on any welldrained soil throughout georgia but are particularly well adapted to the coastal plain soils of south georgia. Its because of this reason that watermelon farming in k enya is a lucrative agribusiness venture, especially for those farming in areas with low rainfall. Mounds are also good if the soil is as poor as mine. Farmers switch from maize to watermelons in search of.
Follow the pieces of advice in the article like soil preparation for watermelons or how many watermelon plants per acre should you plant, and your watermelon buyers in kenya will increase day after day. What are the best varieties of watermelon to grow in kenya, and how different are they in terms of maturity time, resistance to watermelon diseases and. They provide a good refreshing taste especially during hot days when you want to cool off. In kenya, it is done mostly in hot regions like makueni, machakos, kajiado and the. Watermelon is a warm, longseason crop and is now grown in all tropical and subtropical areas of the globe. Gross margin per ha for watermelon variety charleston gray in embu area of kenya is kenya shillings 8,409 airc, 2003. Watermelon cultivation can be done as an intercrop or as a standalone watermelon farm. This helps in reducing reliance on manual labour easy access of mechanization saves on time. As with any other business, watermelon farming has its fair share of challenges. The hard cover also helps in preservationyou dont have to worry about rushing the produce to the market like tomato and pilipili hoho farmers. With watermelon farming it takes 100 days to grow ksh40,000. Its because of this reason that watermelon farming in kenya is a lucrative agribusiness venture, especially for those farming in areas with low rainfall.
She started growing the fruit on her parents threeacre farm with a capital outlay of sh20,000. Watermelon farming in kenya is a profitable business, that can pay off in the shortest terms. Water at the vines base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and avoid overhead watering. If numerous bees are not vigorously working watermelon flowers, two bee hives per acre is recommended.
Pdf growth and yield performance of watermelon during. An official from simlaw seeds said an investor can earn at least sh1 million from watermelon farming after spending less than sh40,000 in startup. On feb 5th it started to flowering and feb 20 fruits started to grow. Watermelon farming, cultivation information guide agri farming. One of the biggest challenges in farming watermelon in kenya is controlling the melon fly. She used the money to buy seeds, but soon realised that she needed more to invest in a proper drip irrigation system. After thinning and sidedressing, furrows are reformed to the condition prior to. Young successful tomato farmer in kenya narrates how he did it duration.
An official from simlaw seeds said an investor can earn at least sh1 million from watermelon farming after spending less than sh40,000 in startup capital. Watermelon is a good cash crop in kenya with very good market opportunities, particularly in urban areas. But to succeed, you must learn the best farming techniques. We also wish to thank all of the past authors and participants that have. Yields of 20,000 to 40,000 pounds per acre are common. Water melon grows well in hot dry areas planted under irrigation, although they can grow under rain fed conditions in marginal areas. Musk melonkharbooj can be cultivated on wide range of soils.
Pepino melon agribusiness and frming in keny, benefits of pepino melon, demand of pepino melon, diseases affecting pepino melon in kenya, helth benefits of pepino melon, how to cultivate pepino farming, management practices of pepino melon in kenya, melon farming in kenya, melon type in kenya, nutritional facts of pepino melon kenya, oxfarm. The watermelon is ripe when there is little contrast between the stripes. Commercial watermelon production 1 watermelon is a warmseason crop related to cantaloupe, squash, cucumber and pumpkin. In directseeded plantings, seed is placed 1,2 cm to 1,9 cm deep. Commercial cultivation of watermelon takes place on larger scale in summer season in most of the asian countries. Watermelon is frost sensitive and are monoecious both male and female flowers are produced on the. There are many delicious varieties of melon that all require similar conditions for planting and growing, including watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe and muskmelon. Pepino melon 300500 pepino melon seedlings in a green house, 8m by 30m greenhouse, benefits of pepino melon, control and management pest and diseases in a green house, farming fruits in kenya africa, greenhouse with a new investment, organic farming of pepino melon, oxfarm organic pepino melon fruits, pepino melon farming in k enya, pepino. Medium to early 90 days hybrid with good fruit setting ability. Watermelons grow best on loam soil which is well drained and slightly acid. May 16, 2015 soil requirement for cantaloupe farming. Sukari f1 watermelon variety earns class eight leaver sh2m. Potassium, vitamin c, lycopene and iron found in watermelon drives away any feeling of fatigue you may experience.
Meet anita, grew from 1 acre to 7 acres of water melon. When planting the watermelon seed, each hole for the watermelon seedling needs to be 1 foot deep and over 1. The current demand is quite impressive due to increased awareness of their health benefits. Fruits are oblong in shape with an average fruit weight of 78 kg some may grow to upto 12 kg. Learn how to grow watermelon, watermelon cultivation practices, varieties, season, pests and watermelon. Very good information what about the pdf ebook for farmers. Water melon is grown as a main crop in a rotation program. It is green on the outside and red inside, and very profitable to grow. With high yields, short maturity period and ready market, commercial watermelon farming is being embraced by kenyan farmers as high return. Meet anita, grew from 1 acre to 7 acres of water melon youtube.
Fine sand always produces the highest quality melon though only when adequate fertilizer and water is provided. Watermelon grows as a vine that sends out long runners along the ground. The average watermelon fruit yield varies from 20 to 30 tonnesha. Therefore you need to prepare soil adding compost or rotted manure. Starting a watermelon farm sample business plan template. Onions cultivars varieties are classified into groups according to when they bulb. This is a platform which link small and large scale farmers to access superior agricultural machinery through leasing. While melon plants are growing, blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Make ksh 500,000 per acre in 3 months from water melon. While at it, take note of the areaspecific opportunities and. Watermelon farming in k enya is easy to start, the plant requires little management and the market is plenty. Watermelon farming in kenya in 2020 is a very lucrative.
Glory alice muriu said on march 7, 2012 i have a two acre farm near sagana in kenya. The over 92% water in the fruit serves as a great refreshment to quench thirst. Watermelon farming, cultivation information guide agri. Japan international cooperation agency jica kenya office. A farmers guide to growing watermelons be knowledgeable about watermelons this booklet offers you a step by step guide to growing your own watermelons.
Watermelon features a highly branching taproot extending up to 1 m deep into the soil. If the watermelon sounds like it gives a little, its ripe. There is no need for a nursery bed, the watermelon seeds are planted directly in the farm. In fact, if not managed, it can cause up to 80% crop. I settled for watermelon farming in kenya because they do very well in mbeere. Watermelon farming in kenya, watermelon tips and varieties. Known to reduce stress by researchers watermelons have benefits like reducing fatigue. This is a watermelon farming guide for anyone thinking of ways to start a watermelon farm in kenya. Watermelon farming in kenya, all that you need to know watermelon is a very high value crop in kenya.
Before then he had ventured into tomato farming in smallscale on a small piece of land he inherited from his. My farm is in a semi arid area and the soil is loam. When growing watermelon, the crop is propagated by seeds, directly planted in. If using such techniques, temperatures low enough to injure watermelon are not uncommon in late april in oklahoma. Watermelon farming is a very profitable agribusiness. Watermelon is ninetytwo percent water, making it the ideal fruit when it is hot and one is thirsty. One of the good attributes that have boosted this industry is the fact that the crop is excellent in quenching thirst due to its highwater content. Watermelons are planted on flat beds 2 m wide and 20 cm to 30 cm high. A pdf copy is sent via email once one purchases the germinated cloves. History and background watermelon, citrullus lanatus, is part of the cucurbitaceae family and is thought to have originated in southern arica. Dec 11, 2017 watermelon cultivation can be done as an intercrop or as a standalone watermelon farm. The cultivation process in watermelon farming is quite complicated as you need to plant the seedlings in a specific way to give them better space to germinate. One acre of land requires approximately 40,000 ksh.
Am from kenya and i want to start watermelon farming. The garlic farming guide includes stepbystep instructions on selection and preparation of land, planting, harvesting and storage, and marketing. South africa locally watermelon is planted in most warm areas of the country. Rono ploughed sh350,000 as he embarked on horticulture farming, with the money going on a greenhouse measuring 40 by 16 metres, a. Garlic farm nakuru garlic farm kenya welcome to garlic. Melons grow best in warm weather, with plenty of sunshine and. Watering is very importantfrom planting until fruit begins to form. He ventured into it after learning about the high demand of watermelon in 20. Follow the following watermelon farming tips and techniques to succeed with watermelon farming in kenya. Davis onyango, a in homa bay county, has found greener pastures in watermelon production, making a tidy sum from growing the juicy crop. The trade he knew well then was farming and that is what he chose to venture into. Before the end of this article, you will learn the exact step by step process which successful watermelon farmers use to increase their yield. However, its cultivation is best suited on sandy loam lighttextured, warm, welldrained soils with high in organic matter.
I have a farm in shimoni area of kwale district, kenya. Oct 22, 2015 watermelon farming in kenya is what is behind the fruit known for being juicy and sweet. Then mound the soil into small hills spaced about 100 cm apart. Dropping out of school due to lack of school meant that kariuki musyoka had to work harder than his peers in order to earn a living. Work the compost or organic slowrelease fertilizer into the top soil. The expenses of watermelons production are pretty low. With its origins in the desert of africa, watermelon is a sweet fruit with pink, red, and sometimes yellow flesh, depending on the variety. Garlic and onion farming in kenya guide there are about one thousand two hundred varieties of watermelons grown in over ninetysix countries globally. Production for more information on early planting techniques. Watermelon farming dinner starts here farm 34 duration. A class eight school leaver who chose to grow sukari f1 watermelon variety about ten years ago over other varieties in the market due to its sweetness and quick maturity is now making sh2m per season out the venture. The following are the post harvesting tasks in watermelon production. Watermelon citrullus lanatus belongs to the cucurbitaceae family and is a. We cover the launching of tomato assila f1 in mwea, central kenya and in.
They have an efficient root system and when planted on heavy soil the plant develops slowly. The agribusiness pays well as one kilo of the fruit retails at an average of sh100. Watermelon farming in kenya, watermelon tips and varieties guide. Basically, the crop yield depends on many factors like variety, soil type, climate and farm management practices. The most popular types of seeds in kenya are sugar baby, ealy scarlet f1, daytona f1, zuri f1, sukari f1 and pato f1. To grow watermelons it helps to raise the soil make mounds or ridges. In fact, that is the main reason for this watermelon cultivation guide. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. May 17, 2012 water melon grows well in hot dry areas planted under irrigation, although they can grow under rain fed conditions in marginal areas.
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