This archive report was first published on 23 November 2019.
November 23, 2019 - Mandera County has proven to be an unlikely haven for onion farming, with Ali Harrow, a local farmer, reaping the rewards of his decision to grow the crop in 2005.
According to Harrow, who has been a crop farmer in Mandera since 1995, it was a visit to a friend's farm that inspired him to try his hand at growing onions.
"I have been growing onions since then on 14 acres and I don’t regret because the crop does very well in this climate," Harrow said.
He uses a diesel generator to pump water from River Daua, which runs along the Kenya-Ethiopia border, to irrigate his farm.
"Onions are easy to grow, they are hardy, strong and have a steady market as they are always used in cooking," Harrow explained, adding that the Hagar mud variety, sourced from Yemen, is particularly well-suited to the local climate.
However, onion farming in Mandera is not without its challenges. Bernard Ogutu, the county director of agriculture, noted that diseases such as onion neck rot and white rot, both of which are fungal, are common in the area.
"Neck rot can be cured by fungicides, but white rot has no cure and the whole crop remains stunted," Ogutu said.
Additionally, farmers in Mandera must contend with onion flies and onion thrips, which can reduce production or even kill the crop.
"Regular spraying of onions with a pesticide is the best way to control pests," Harrow advised.
Despite these challenges, Harrow has found success with his onion crop, harvesting an average of 300 tonnes from his 14 acres each year.
He sells his produce in markets in Moyale, Wajir, Garissa, Nairobi, and Mombasa at a wholesale price of between Sh30 and Sh45.
