This archive report was first published on 24 July 2021.
Strawberry farming in Kenya has gained popularity in recent years, and for good reason. With the right conditions and care, strawberry farmers can earn a significant income in a short period of time.
Belindah Jelagat, a strawberry farmer from Uasin Gishu County, harvests strawberries from her greenhouse. She attributes her success to the training she received at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) on how to grow strawberries and earn money from it.
According to Jane Ndunge, a strawberry farmer from Machakos County, strawberries can grow in almost every part of Kenya, provided there is constant water supply and stable temperature in the range of 10 to 30 degrees celsius.
Ndunge started her strawberry farm after attending a training at JKUAT. She says that the crop takes about three months to mature, depending on the temperature of the place. It takes less than three months to mature in warmer areas as compared to colder places.
‘From the training, I learnt the benefits that come with growing the fruit and I decided to venture into it,’ says Ndunge.
She advises that the best variety of strawberry for the Kenyan environment is the Chandelier Strawberry. She also recommends buying seedlings from a trusted agent and investing in fertiliser.
‘You will require about 3,000 seedlings for an eighth of an acre. Given that each seedling costs Sh10, then your minimum investment in seeds alone will be about Sh30,000,’ says Ndunge.
She also advises farmers to plant their strawberry seedlings leaving a distance of 30cm in between rows and at least 50cm space between any two sections of the farm.
Because the fruits are highly perishable, Ndunge advises farmers to start looking for market early enough to avoid incurring losses.
She harvests and packs the strawberries in punnets. She harvests up to 100 punnets a day and she harvests twice a week. She sells a punnet of strawberry fruits at Sh100 farm gate price and Sh120 a punnet in the market.
‘I harvest sometimes 50, 80 or even 100 punnets a day. I deal with orders but sometimes I get online customers or I take them to markets around Machakos and Nairobi. I also sell during farmers’ open days, agricultural shows and exhibitions,’ says Ndunge.
She also advises farmers to increase productivity by investing in aquaponics, which is basically a cooperation between plants and fish for maximum yields.
Additionally, she suggests that farmers can make more cash by making juice and jam from the strawberries. However, they should get certification from relevant bodies like Kenya Bureau of Standards.
