This archive report was first published on 18 September 2021.
Growing Dhania in Kenya: Tips and Opportunities ¶
Published on September 18, 2021
Dhania, also known as coriander, is an affordable, early-maturing crop that is in high demand due to its nutritional value. It can be grown in kitchen gardens and small pots, making it an ideal crop for urban farmers.
Gideon Gachii, a farmer from Kiambu County, has successfully grown and sold dhania in his neighbourhood. He shares his insights on crop husbandry and market opportunities.
According to Gachii, the common varieties of dhania in Kenya include Leaf Cilantro, Seed Coriander, Vietnamese Coriander, and Culantro.
For quality, Gachii advises farmers to obtain seeds from certified companies like Kenya Seed Company. The crop thrives in places with no extreme temperatures and grows rapidly with the right amount of sunshine in loamy soil.
"A warm 25 degree Celsius is enough for the seeds to germinate and grow into plants," says Gachii.
After tilling the land, plant coriander seeds in drills 30cm apart at a sowing depth of 2.5cm to 3.5cm. Germination occurs from day seven to 10 after sowing.
"The crop requires fertile soil, so add organic manure and fertilise the soil as per crop-nutrient requirement. For best results, apply fertiliser after doing a soil test," he advises.
Thinning is done when the crop attains five to ten centimetres height. After sowing coriander seeds, water them thoroughly and continue doing so every day till the seeds germinate.
"Ensure that the water doesn’t stand for long hours as it will cause rotting of the roots and damage the plants," Gachii says.
Some challenges Gachii faces are attacks from pests like aphids and diseases like bacterial leaf spot, soft rot, and powdery mildew. However, these are easily controlled through maintaining field hygiene, crop rotation, seed dressing, and using disease-free seeds.
"Spraying with pesticides and fungicides is not recommended unless necessary," he says.
Within four to six weeks after planting, the dhania should be ready for harvesting. Gachii advises farmers to always start by harvesting the largest ones to allow the smaller plants get enough space to grow.
"Harvest dhania when its leaves are still green otherwise they will get soft and turn yellow. For storage, soak the harvested dhania in water to maintain their freshness," says Gachii.
Gachii markets his produce online, which helps him reach more customers. He also supplies to the local mama mbogas around.
"Other customers just come here to buy by themselves, I sell from Sh5, depending on the amount needed by the customer," says Gachii.
