This archive report was first published on 9 July 2020.
It's been a year since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Kenya, and for many farmers, the crisis has been a blessing in disguise. One such farmer is Maina Kanai, who has seen a significant increase in sales of tree tomatoes from his quarter-acre parcel of land in Nakuru County.
On a chilly morning, Nyakundi Report visited Kanai's farm, where he was harvesting ripe tree tomatoes. Donning a red short-sleeved T-shirt, navy-blue trouser and a pair of black gumboots, Kanai was busy tending to his plants.
According to Kanai, he planted 120 seedlings of non-grafted tree tomatoes in 2018 at a cost of Sh6,000. He waited for two weeks and sprayed them with PHI insecticide to kill aphids, and used organic manure during planting.
"Grafted or local tree tomato seedlings are ideal because they easily adapt to any climate and are rarely affected by diseases," Kanai said.
With the demand for tree tomatoes skyrocketing since the Ministry of Health urged Kenyans to consume a lot of fruits to boost their immunity to fight Covid-19, Kanai has been reaping the benefits. He said he has received good money since the pandemic, with a kilogram of tree tomatoes retailing at Sh80, up from Sh50 and Sh10 per fruit.
"I have received Sh20,000 from the sales, which was the highest amount I ever earned from these fruits," Kanai said.
Before the pandemic struck, Kanai used to make Sh5,000 per month. However, with the increased demand, he now earns Sh20,000 per month, and has even started buying produce from other farmers to meet the demand.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, including the cessation of movement in and out of Nairobi, Kanai's business has thrived. He said he has learnt a lot on various farming techniques through field days, agricultural shows and seminars.
"I hope to supply more fruits to schools than I used to before the disease struck. I urge the government to disburse funds to schools on time once they are reopened," Kanai said.
