Profitable Onion Farming in Kenya: A Comprehensive Guide
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In Kenya, spring onion farming is a lucrative agricultural practice that offers income-generating opportunities. If you're wondering whether spring onion farming is profitable in Kenya, this blog will delve into the details and provide insights on optimizing your spring onion farming venture for success.
Profitability of Spring Onions in Kenya: The profitability of spring onions in Kenya hinges on the yields you can achieve. Consider this: an acre of land can yield approximately eight tonnes of spring onions in each season. If you sell these onions at, for instance, Ksh. 20 per kilo, you can potentially earn Ksh. 160,000 in every season. Spring onions become particularly profitable when their market prices are high, and you consistently achieve high yields. Moreover, their demand remains steady as they are widely used in vegetable salads and as a seasoning in soups. The good news is that spring onions are easy to cultivate, making the initial planting costs minimal.
Cost of Farming Spring Onions in Kenya: For a one-acre plot of land, the cost of spring onion farming in Kenya involves various expenses. You'll need 100 kilos of onion seeds, each costing Ksh. 500, totaling Ksh. 50,000. Additionally, you'll require fertilizers (25 kg bags at approximately Ksh. 500 each), pesticides (around Ksh. 1,000), and miscellaneous expenses such as labor and transportation, which might amount to nearly Ksh. 50,000.
Price of Spring Onions: The price of spring onions fluctuates based on the season and location. During low-demand seasons, a kilo of spring onions may sell for Ksh. 15, while in high-demand seasons, prices can reach Ksh. 30 per kilo. In urban markets, a bundle of 142 kg can fetch Ksh. 2,200. The local market for spring onions in Kenya varies according to demand.
How to Grow Spring Onions in Kenya: Growing spring onions in Kenya is straightforward and can even be done in a kitchen garden. Spring onions can be cultivated throughout the year, unaffected by day length. The highest-quality spring onions are typically produced in late spring. It's important to note that during the winter season, spring onions' tops may turn yellow due to frost, which can affect their quality. Nevertheless, spring onions thrive in various climates, as they can tolerate both heat and cold conditions. They grow best in well-drained loose soils with a pH range of 6.3 to 6.8.
Land Preparation: Before planting spring onions, select a sunny piece of land and prepare it adequately. Enrich the soil with plant fertilizers, incorporating 15 kg of well-decomposed manure and 20 gm of phosphate fertilizer per square meter. Ensure thorough mixing of the soil.
Planting Seeds in the Nursery: Create furrows on the nursery bed, 2 cm to 3 cm deep and 15 cm apart. Place the spring onion seeds in these furrows and lightly cover them with soil to retain moisture. Use a thin layer of mulch to prevent the seeds from being washed away during irrigation. Approximately 10 days later, the spring onions will germinate. Remove the mulch and provide shade for the young seedlings. After 4 to 6 weeks, when the leaves reach 15 cm in length, the seedlings will be ready for transplanting.
Transplanting: Transplant the spring onion seedlings either in the morning or evening to avoid scorching from intense sunlight. Plant them with a spacing of 30 cm between rows and 8 cm between individual seedlings.
Watering and Care: Ensure proper watering before and after transplanting. About four weeks after transplanting, apply CAN fertilizer at 9 kg per acre for top dressing.
Harvesting: Harvest spring onions when the leaves are succulent, usually after 2 to 4 weeks. Uproot the entire plant using a fork for harvesting.
Spring onion farming in Kenya offers a profitable venture for those who optimize their practices. By carefully managing costs, timing your planting, and ensuring proper care and harvesting, you can maximize your profits. Remember that Onion Doctor provides valuable support to smallholder farmers in Africa, offering quality seedlings, farm planning services, soil testing, and more to help you optimize yields and profitability in your spring onion farming journey.