Profitable cash crops to grow on a small farm
Profitable cash crops to grow on a small farm
[SMALL FARM] [PROFITABLE IN KENYA.]
Making wealth from a small homestead is many people’s dream. While it may feel elusive, with effort, one can take steps to make it a reality.
Agronomist and farmer, Gilbert Mwangi from Kiambu who has managed to build something admirable from farming shares a few lessons on achieving this goal. Mwangi’s farm is about half an acre, and he earns a decent living from growing cash crops.
First, do market research, establish acreage needed, and grow requirements to help you decide if one of these cash crops is a good fit for your farm.
(1) STRAWBERRY FARMING IN KENYA
Strawberries.
The profitability of a cash crop like strawberries depends on many factors like plant variety, climate, and current market dynamics. Still, farmers and homesteaders can make lucrative earnings from strawberries, even on a small piece of land.
Specialty crops like strawberries are a good choice because they are always in demand, and they grow well in almost any climate and in a wide range of soil types. The best soil for optimum productivity and plant health is well-draining with a fair amount of organic matter.
“You will reduce your risk of loss and get a better crop if you plant a type of strawberry adapted to your region’s climate. Keep weeds under control, and give plants one inch of water per week during your growing season,” says Mwangi.
Varieties grown in Kenya include Chandler, tribute, tristar, tioga selva, domail, rabunda, pajaro and douglas. The chandler variety is most favourable for the Kenyan market.
Fresh, ripe strawberries are not difficult to sell at farmers markets, local grocery stores, or restaurants. But if you do not want to spend the time and labour picking, packing, and transporting them, you can allow customers to come and pick their own berries and pay. Mwangi sells a 200 grams pack at Sh300.
Other berries like blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries also are becoming popular and are high-value crops, particularly if you have a pick-your-own or direct-to-consumer business model.
(2) MUSHROOMS FARMING IN KENYA
Mushrooms
Another one of the most profitable crops for small farm owners and homesteaders is mushrooms. Mushroom varieties like button or shiitake do not need dedicated garden space. You can grow them wherever you have room or even indoors, so your climate zone does not restrict you.
“Basically, anything grown on land is a potential substrate for mushroom cultivation. One may use rice husks, dry banana leaves or coconut waste. Anything from the legume family, such as bean waste, is great because of the nitrogen content. Most commercial mushroom farmers in Kenya use hay, wheat straw or rice husks,” says Mwangi.
Buy seeds or spawns from a professional propagator to get clean, non-contaminated material. On average, a kilogram of spawn will cost Sh600 and would be enough for approximately 40 standard-size bags.
These seeds are introduced in the bags filled with the substrate and all a farmer does from there on is simply maintain the recommended moisture levels in the bags and the growing house, and wait to start harvesting.
“Specialty crops like shiitake mushrooms are easy to sell at farmer’s markets, to local grocers, restaurants, and your friends,” Mwangi says.
Due to the crop’s lower cost of production and the high yielding capacity, mushrooms present a good opportunity for small to middle-scale farmers. A kilo of button mushroom retails at between Sh400 to Sh600. This high-profit margin means that one will take a shorter time to break even and eventually make profits.
Mushroom farming in Kenya.
VEGETABLES FARMING IN KENYA
(3) Vegetables
It is possible to choose from a large variety of vegetables to grow. Since vegetables are foods that are consumed daily. Finding the market may just be a day job. You can sell the vegetables direct from the garden or get a booth at the farmers’ market. Whichever way you sell that produce can be a good seasonal stream of income.
Vegetables like Spinach, Amaranth and African nightshade will get a good market.
Additionally, if you find that even with preserving your harvest and selling the extra, you still have surplus produce, you can consider donating it to a non-profit organisation.
(4)HERBS AND SPIECES FARMING IN KENYA
Herbs and spices
Most herbs are small in size and stature, and they can even be grown in containers. There is a quickly growing market for sustainably grown and harvested herbs and spices in Kenya like coriander, ginger, mint, turmeric, and rosemary, among others. They are easy to grow and take two to three months to mature. Some of these can be consumed both in fresh and dried forms.
Like vegetables, you can sell these directly from your garden from referrals, or take the produce to the market.
The market price of fresh ginger per kilogram is about Sh199.
(5) GARLIC FARMING IN KENYA
Garlic
Kenya is still an importer of garlic. As of April 2023, garlic import data in Kenya stood at 2,137 shipments, according to an online imports and exports monitor, Volza Grow Global.
Garlic takes six to eight months for an entire bulb of garlic to grow from a single clove, depending on your climate zone.
Garlic grows best in soil that is rich in organic matter and gets good drainage, and they need watering when the weather is dry. Garlic is naturally pest and disease resistant. Do not stress the plants by overwatering or underwatering them.
Bulbs are ready to harvest when most stem leaves have turned brown. After pulling them, let them dry in the sun or open air before storing them, so they have a longer shelf life.
Good quality bulbs of garlic can be sold at local markets and grocery stores, restaurants, or at farmers markets.
“Garlic is a versatile and flavourful ingredient that has played an important role in history and cultures around the world. It is a staple in many cuisines, it is also widely used in traditional medicine. In the modern era, garlic has been the subject of scientific research which has demonstrated its potential health benefits, including its ability to lower cholesterol and blood pressure and boost the immune system,” Mwangi says.
You can find a good market with Sh275 per kilogram.
Dalagyo lacag caddaan ah oo faa'iido leh oo lagu beero beer yar
By Maxamuud Axmed Jaamac-
[BEERAHA YAR] [FAA'IIDADA KARTA KENYA.]
In hanti laga sameeyo guri yar waa riyo dad badan. In kasta oo laga yaabo in uu dareemo in aan la dabooli karin, haddii la dadaalo, qofku wuxuu qaadi karaa tillaabooyin si uu u noqdo mid dhab ah.
Beeraleyda iyo beeraleyda, Gilbert Mwangi oo ka socda Kiambu oo ku guulaystay in uu dhiso wax la yaab leh oo beeralayda ah ayaa la wadaagay casharro dhawr ah oo ku saabsan gaaritaanka yoolkan. Beerta Mwangi waa qiyaastii nus acre, waxaana uu nolol wanaagsan ka hela beerashada dalagyada lacagta caddaanka ah.
Laga soo bilaabo toonta sii kordheysa ilaa beerista boqoshaada, waxa uu sheegay in ay jiraan siyaabo badan oo kor loogu qaado xariiqda hoose iyada oo aan la helin maalgelin lacag caddaan ah oo culus.
Marka hore, samee cilmi-baaris suuqeed, samee acreage loo baahan yahay, oo kori shuruudaha si ay kaaga caawiyaan inaad go'aansato haddii mid ka mid ah dalagyada lacagta caddaanka ah ay ku habboon tahay beertaada.
(1) FARMAAJO KENYA
Strawberries.
Faa'iidada dalagga lacagta caddaanka ah sida strawberries waxay ku xiran tahay arrimo badan sida noocyada dhirta, cimilada, iyo dhaqdhaqaaqa suuqa hadda. Weli, beeralayda iyo guri-guriyaasha waxay ka heli karaan dakhli faa'iido leh strawberries, xitaa qayb yar oo dhul ah.
Dalagyada khaaska ah sida strawberries waa doorasho wanaagsan sababtoo ah had iyo jeer waa kuwo loo baahan yahay, waxayna si fiican u koraan ku dhawaad cimilo kasta iyo noocyo kala duwan oo ciidda ah. Ciidda ugu fiican ee wax soo saarka ugu wanaagsan iyo caafimaadka dhirta ayaa si fiican u qulqulaya oo leh qadar caddaalad ah oo walxaha dabiiciga ah.
"Waxaad yareyn doontaa khatartaada inaad lumiso waxaadna heli doontaa dalag wanaagsan haddii aad beerato nooc strawberry ah oo ku habboon cimilada gobolkaaga. Xakamaynta haramaha, oo sii dhirta hal inch oo biyo ah usbuucii inta lagu jiro xilligaaga koritaanka,” ayuu yidhi Mwangi.
Noocyo ka baxa Kenya waxaa ka mid ah Chandler, tribute, tristar, tioga selva, domail, rabunda, pajaro iyo Douglas. Noocyada Chandler-ka ayaa ah kuwa ugu wanaagsan suuqa Kenya.
Strawberry bislaaday ma adka in lagu iibiyo suuqyada beeralayda, dukaamada raashinka, ama makhaayadaha. Laakin haddii aadan rabin in aad waqtiga iyo shaqada ku qaadato soo qaadis, xirxiran, iyo raritaankooda, waxaad u oggolaan kartaa macaamiisha inay yimaadaan oo ay soo qaataan berry iyaga u gaar ah oo ay bixiyaan. Mwangi waxa uu ku iibiyaa baakidh 200 garaam ah 300 Sh.
Miraha kale sida blueberries, raspberries, iyo blackberries sidoo kale waxay noqonayaan caan waxayna yihiin dalagyo qiimo sare leh, gaar ahaan haddii aad leedahay nooc ganacsi oo aad adigu iska leedahay ama si toos ah u macmiisha.
(2) FARMAAJO KENYA
Mushrooms
Mid kale oo ka mid ah dalagyada ugu faa'iidada badan milkiilayaasha beeraha yar yar iyo kuwa guryaha leh waa boqoshaada. Noocyada likaha sida badhanka ama shiitake uma baahna meel bannaan oo beer ah. Waxaad ku korin kartaa meel kasta oo aad qol ka haysato ama xitaa gudaha, si aaggaaga cimiladu aanu kugu xaddidin.
"Asal ahaan, wax kasta oo ka baxa dhulka ayaa ah qayb ka mid ah beerashada likaha. Waxa laga yaabaa in la isticmaalo qolof bariis ah, caleen muus oo qalalan ama qashinka qumbaha. Wax kasta oo ka soo jeeda qoyska legume, sida qashinka digirta, waa wax weyn sababtoo ah waxa ku jira nitrogen. Inta badan beeralayda likaha ganacsiga ee Kenya waxay isticmaalaan caws, caws qamadi ama qolof bariis ah,” ayuu yidhi Mwangi.
Ka soo iibso abuurka ama dhalooyinka ka soo qaad faafiye xirfad leh si aad u hesho wax nadiif ah oo aan wasakh ahayn. Celcelis ahaan, kiilogaraam oo canab ah ayaa ku kici doona Sh600 waxayna ku filnaan doontaa ku dhawaad 40 bacaha caadiga ah.
Abuurkaan waxaa lagu soo bandhigaa bacaha ay ka buuxaan substrate-ka iyo dhammaan beeralayda uu halkaa ka sameeyo waxay si fudud u ilaalinayaan heerarka qoyaanka ee lagu taliyey ee bacaha iyo guriga koraya, oo sugaan si ay u bilaabaan goosashada.
"Dalagyada gaarka ah sida boqoshaada shiitake way fududahay in lagu iibiyo suuqyada beeralayda, dukaamada maxaliga ah, makhaayadaha, iyo asxaabtaada," Mwangi ayaa yidhi.
Sababtoo ah qiimaha hoose ee dalagga ee wax-soo-saarka iyo awoodda wax-soo-saarka sare, boqoshaada ayaa fursad fiican u ah beeralayda yaryar iyo kuwa dhexe. Kiilada badhanka likaha ah ayaa tafaariiqda u dhaxaysa Sh400 ilaa 600 Sh. Xadkan faa'iidada badan leh waxay la macno tahay in qofku qaadan doono waqti gaaban si uu xitaa u jebiyo oo ugu dambeyntii faa'iido u helo.
Beerashada likaha ee Kenya.
FARMAAJO KENYA
(3) Khudaarta
Waxaa suurtagal ah in laga doorto noocyo badan oo khudaar ah si ay u koraan. Maadaama khudaarta ay yihiin cuntooyin la isticmaalo maalin kasta. Helitaanka suuqa ayaa laga yaabaa inay tahay shaqo maalmeed. Waxaad si toos ah uga iibin kartaa khudaarta beerta ama waxaad ka heli kartaa waab suuqa beeralayda. Si kasta oo aad u iibiso wax soo saarkaas waxay noqon kartaa dakhli xilliyeed wanaagsan.
Khudaarta sida Spinach, Amaranth iyo African nightshade waxay heli doonaan suuq wanaagsan.
Intaa waxaa dheer, haddii aad ogaato in xitaa adigoo ilaalinaya dalaggaaga oo aad iibinayso dheeraadka ah, inaad weli haysato wax soo saarka dheeraadka ah, waxaad tixgelin kartaa inaad ugu deeqdo hay'ad aan faa'iido doon ahayn.
(4)DHEERAHA IYO XAASHIGA KENYA
Dhir iyo dhir udgoon
Dhirta intooda badani way yar yihiin cabbirkooda iyo dhererkooduba, oo xataa waxa lagu kori karaa weel. Waxaa jira suuq si degdeg ah u koraya oo loogu talagalay geedo iyo dhir udgoon oo joogto ah oo la goosto Kenya sida kiriyaha, sinjiga, reexaanta, turmeric, iyo rosemary, iyo kuwo kale. Way fududahay inay koraan waxayna qaataan laba ilaa saddex bilood si ay u koraan. Qaar ka mid ah kuwan waxaa loo isticmaali karaa labadaba qaabab cusub iyo kuwo qalalan.
Sida khudaarta oo kale, waxaad si toos ah kuwan uga iibin kartaa beertaada adigoo tixraacaya, ama waxaad geyn kartaa wax soo saarka suuqa.
Sicirka suuqa ee sinjibiil cusub halkii kiiloba waa ilaa 199 sh.
(5) FARMAAJO TUUNTEED EE KENYA
Toonta
Kenya wali waa soo dejisa toon. Laga soo bilaabo Abriil 2023, xogta soo dejinta toonta ee Kenya waxay istaagtay 2,137 shixnad, sida uu qabo kormeeraha soo dejinta iyo dhoofinta onlaynka, Volza Grow Global.
Toontu waxay qaadataa lix ilaa siddeed bilood in guluubka toon oo dhami uu ka soo baxo hal xabo, taas oo ku xidhan aagga cimiladaada.
Toontu waxay si fiican uga baxdaa ciidda qani ku ah maadada organic waxayna helaysaa biyo-bax wanaagsan, waxayna u baahan yihiin waraabin marka cimiladu qallalan tahay. Toontu si dabiici ah ayay u adkaysataa cayayaanka iyo cudurrada. Ha ku adkeyn dhirta adigoo si xad dhaaf ah u waraabinaya ama hoos u dhigaya.
Nalalka waxay diyaar u yihiin inay goostaan marka caleemaha asliga ah badidoodu noqdaan bunni. Ka dib markaad jiidato, ha ku engegaan qorraxda ama hawo furan ka hor inta aanad kaydin, si ay u helaan nolol shelf dheer.
AMP
[Beerashada Toonta ee Kenya]
Nalalka toonta oo tayo wanaagsan ayaa lagu iibin karaa suuqyada maxalliga ah iyo dukaamada raashinka, maqaayadaha, ama suuqyada beeraleyda.
“Toonta waa shay aad u dhadhan badan oo door muhiim ah ka ciyaartay taariikhda iyo dhaqamada adduunka oo dhan. Waa qayb ka mid ah cuntooyin badan, waxa kale oo si weyn loogu isticmaalaa dawooyinka dhaqameed. Xilligan casriga ah, toonta waxa ay ahayd mawduuc cilmi-baadhis cilmi ah oo soo bandhigay faa’iidooyinkeeda caafimaad, oo ay ku jirto awoodda ay u leedahay in ay hoos u dhigto kolestaroolka iyo cadaadiska dhiigga oo ay kor u qaado hab-dhiska difaaca,” ayuu yidhi Mwangi.
Waxaad ka heli kartaa suuq wanaagsan oo leh Sh275 kiiloogaraamkiiba.
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