Fine sand always produces the highest quality melon though only when adequate fertilizer and water is provided. How to grow watermelon guide to growing watermelon. My farm is in a semi arid area and the soil is loam. As with any other business, watermelon farming has its. When raising watermelon, garden space is the main issue. Known to reduce stress by researchers watermelons have benefits like reducing fatigue.
How to be a profitable watermelon farmer the ultimate. They are highyielding, mature faster and do well in the market, says annie who farms under the trade name farm2home. The demand for watermelons is consistent all year round. Changing farmers mindset from grow and sell to grow to sell.
Melon farming dos and donts wednesday february 6 2019 when growing watermelon, the crop is propagated by seeds, directly planted in the field or raised in the nursery before. According to kenya agricultural research institute kari this crop can also perform well in areas with black cotton soil such as kitengela if planted under drip irrigation. Wuuno omulimi wa water melon akuwa amagezi duration. May 17, 2012 water melon grows well in hot dry areas planted under irrigation, although they can grow under rain fed conditions in marginal areas. One of the biggest challenges in farming watermelon in kenya is controlling the melon fly. Since the plants get so large, its not really practical to grow watermelons in containers. Water melon top 10 health benefit of water melon in hindi. Water shortages early in crop development delayed maturity, reduced yields, production gaps water shortages later in the growing season quality often reduced, even if yields not hurt short periods of 23 days of stress can hurt marketable yield.
Watermelon farming in kenya, watermelon tips and varieties guide. Cooler temperatures and excessive rainfall slows growth, maturity and can. Young successful tomato farmer in kenya narrates how. Water at the vines base in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves and avoid overhead watering. Make ksh 500,000 per acre in 3 months from water melon.
You must plant the best watermelon varieties to get big harvests and maximum profits. Follow the pieces of advice in the article like soil preparation for watermelons or how many watermelon plants per acre should you plant, and your watermelon buyers in kenya will increase day after day. Watermelon farming in kenya and all you need to know. For decades, farmers in western kenya focused on commercial farming of maize, sugarcane, coffee. Watermelon farming in kenya, watermelon tips and varieties. Highly varied climatic and geographic regions are available in kenya, covering a part of indian ocean coastline, several large rivers, swamps and other water lands, a portion of the largest freshwater lake in africa and all of. Yields of 20,000 to 40,000 pounds per acre are common. In kenya, it is done mostly in hot regions like makueni, machakos, kajiado and the.
With watermelon farming it takes 100 days to grow ksh40. The over 92% water in the fruit serves as a great refreshment to quench thirst. With its origins in the desert of africa, watermelon is a sweet fruit with pink, red, and sometimes yellow flesh, depending on the variety. Today, watermelon is cultivated all over the world on all five continents.
History and background watermelon, citrullus lanatus, is part of the cucurbitaceae family and is thought to have originated in southern arica. Tips on water melon farming in zambia tips on watermelon farming considering the high prices for a water melon fruit and the love of the fruit by many people, watermelon is a fruit that has got the attention of many farmers since its a good way for them to earn income from their land. Very good information what about the pdf ebook for farmers. Watermelon citrullus lanatus belongs to the cucurbitaceae family and is a. Visit farms near you to understand the ins and outs of the watermelon farming business in kenya. Watermelon is frost sensitive and are monoecious both male and female flowers are produced on the.
Watermelons require minimum water usage especially when they have developed their fruits. Am from kenya and i want to start watermelon farming. Make ksh 500,000 per acre in 3 months from water melon fruit. They are a good source of water in the diets of human beings but can also be used for making jams and other preservatives including jell preparation. A pdf copy is sent via email once one purchases the germinated cloves. Make ksh 500,000 per acre in 3 months from water melon fruit growing in kenya. The warm temperatures of most parts of the coast favor watermelon planting. Watermelon farming in k enya in 2020 is a very lucrative.
Highly varied climatic and geographic regions are available in kenya, covering a part of indian ocean coastline, several large rivers, swamps and other water lands, a portion of the largest freshwater lake in africa and all of those support an. Potassium, vitamin c, lycopene, and iron found in watermelon drives away any feeling of fatigue you may experience. Watermelons are large round fruits that thrive very well in dry lands. Watermelon has very high water content 93ml100g edible portion. Major watermelon markets in kenya include githurai market, city market, aghakhan market, gikomba, kangemi in nairobi and kongowea market in mombasa, hotels and supermarkets. It contains carbohydrates 5mg, calcium 8mg, phosphorous 9 mg, ascorbic acid 8 mg and vitamins 0. When planting the watermelon seed, each hole for the watermelon seedling needs to be 1 foot deep and over 1. In fact, if not managed, it can cause up to 80% crop. It looks at things like planting, weeding, pests and diseases, harvesting and storage and value addition. To provide a guideline on production of watermelon. The area is too hot and water is scarce,i plan to use tap water please advice how to preserve water and the drought and disease resistant type of seeds. What are the best varieties of watermelon to grow in kenya, and how different are they in terms of maturity time, resistance to watermelon diseases and. Now that you have a clue on the varieties of watermelons and the necessary conditions, here is a watermelon farming guide in kenya.
Dec 04, 20 plants are 8095% water watermelon 9091% m. This is a watermelon farming guide for anyone thinking of ways to start a watermelon farm in kenya. Commercial fish farming in kenya is not a new business idea. Watermelons need five things to grow and produce fruit. For this article, i will discuss why you should invest in watermelon farming, and how you can start your own watermelon farm in no time. Watermelon farming, cultivation information guide agri farming. The skin outer cover of the fruit is light green covered with dark green stripes while the flesh is deep red. Meet anita, grew from 1 acre to 7 acres of water melon youtube. Farming is kenyas economic backbone as it is the biggest foreign exchange earner.
Other varieties grown in kenya include sugar baby, crimson sweet,julie f1 and charleston grey. Watermelons grow best on loam soil which is well drained and slightly acid. Starting a watermelon farm sample business plan template. Watermelon farming in kenya in 2020 is a very lucrative.
However, there are lots of other ways to use watermelon. An acre gives an average return of 70,000 80,000 ksh. Three friends join hands to farm vegetables and blaze the. The two are fruit preserves that are prepared using pulp, sugar, pectin and other ingredients. While melon plants are growing, blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Form a flat, slightly concave depression on the top of the hill, and then make three or four holes in the soil with a tool or your finger, 2. The crop prefers a sandy loam soil texture with ph of 5. Tourism is the main source of livelihood for a majority of inhabitants of the coast region. The culture of watermelons goes back to prehistoric times. Garlic farm nakuru garlic farm kenya welcome to garlic. Some varieties have seeds while others are seedless. Apr 20, 2020 watermelon farming in kenya growing watermelon patch. Meet anita, grew from 1 acre to 7 acres of water melon.
Water melon is grown as a main crop in a rotation program. Growing watermelons be knowledgeable about watermelons this booklet offers you a step by step guide to growing your own watermelons. Production in high rainfall areas is also possible but requires aggressive disease control efforts. All you need to know about watermelon farming how kenya.
Guide to farming watermelon in kenya for 2020 value magazine. Annie nyaga is one of the most successful watermelon farmers in kenya. Farmers prefer sukari f1 watermelon farming in kenya because of the fruits short maturity period eighty to ninety days and its sweetness. The watermelon was cultivated in ancient egypt and verified by david livingstone the noted missionary explorer in the 1850s when he found great tracts of watermelon called kengwe growing wild in the kalahari desert and semitropical regions of africa. Watermelon farming tips, techniques and varieties in kenya. One of the good attributes that have boosted this industry is the fact that the crop is excellent in quenching thirst due to its highwater content. If you have a piece of land and wanted to venture into farming, watermelon farming might be a good option.
Sep 27, 2015 pests and diseases in watermelon farming. Commercial watermelon production 1 watermelon is a warmseason crop related to cantaloupe, squash, cucumber and pumpkin. Watermelon farming in kenya is easy to start, the plant requires little management and the market is plenty. Dec 11, 2017 watermelon cultivation can be done as an intercrop or as a standalone watermelon farm. Kenya is endowed with many aquatic resources with successful aquacultural potentials. Watermelons can be grown on any welldrained soil throughout georgia but are particularly well adapted to the coastal plain soils of south georgia. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext.
There are many delicious varieties of melon that all require similar conditions for planting and growing, including watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe and muskmelon. Water melon grows well in hot dry areas planted under irrigation, although they can grow under rain fed conditions in marginal areas. In some towns like hola and bura, farmers plant watermelons and irrigate using water from river tana. The yield of watermelon varies according to the system of cultivation, season and several other factors. Watermelon farming, cultivation information guide agri.
You can also look at the tendrils short, curly, stemlike vine next to the melon. This means that watermelon farming in kenya is easy to start and profitable. But for richard baya who lives in malindi, agriculture and more. Watermelon farming in kenya is what is behind the fruit known for being juicy and sweet. Ensure you have an adequate supply of water and soil rich in nutrients to propel growth. Watermelon cultivation can be done as an intercrop or as a standalone watermelon farm. Watermelons belong to the pumpkin family cucurbitacea with. Pdf high yield is a major goal for watermelon citrullus lanatus breeders.
Planting an acre of watermelon costs around 15,000 ksh if you own the land. If that portion of the watermelon is a pale yellow color, the melon should be ripe. Jun 06, 2014 according to kenya agricultural research institute kari this crop can also perform well in areas with black cotton soil such as kitengela if planted under drip irrigation. While at it, take note of the areaspecific opportunities and. Farmers practicing watermelon farming in kenya can buy from trusted suppliers locally. Watermelon farming emanual on sale agroenvironment initiative.
Japan international cooperation agency jica kenya office. Learn how to grow watermelon, watermelon cultivation practices, varieties, season, pests and watermelon plant diseases etc. They provide a good refreshing taste especially during hot days when you want to cool off. Melons grow best in warm weather, with plenty of sunshine and. Jun 05, 2014 farming is kenyas economic backbone as it is the biggest foreign exchange earner. The garlic farming guide includes stepbystep instructions on selection and preparation of land, planting, harvesting and storage, and marketing. These vines spread out along the ground and can reach 15 feet in length. Watermelon farming in kenya is a profitable business, that can pay off in the shortest terms. Watermelon farming greenlife crop protection africa. This sample water melon farming business plan in nigeria can be used for grant applications, bank loans, proposal writing, business concept note, competitions etc. Rolling the melon over and looking at the ground spot where the melon was laying is probably the best method. With high yields, short maturity period and ready market, commercial watermelon farming is being embraced by kenyan farmers as high return. With watermelon farming it takes 100 days to grow ksh40,000. Because it has a very high water content, its not possible to store watermelon for long periods of time.
Jan 02, 20 tourism is the main source of livelihood for a majority of inhabitants of the coast region. Nov 01, 2015 young successful tomato farmer in kenya narrates how. The sukari f1 watermelons are oblongshaped and average between 7 to 8 kilograms. Watermelon farming is popular in kenya because the fruit is in high demand during hot seasons. The common pests found in watermelon farming is beetles and fruit fly. The water sometimes fills the trench for up to a week, making him save a lot in fuel since he relies on a generator to pump the water. I settled for watermelon farming in kenya because they do very well in mbeere.
The cultivation process in watermelon farming is quite complicated as you need to plant the seedlings in a specific way to give them better space to germinate. When growing season arrives, melons are a favorite fruit to grow and eat. Starting a watermelon farming business can yield massive profits as you can cultivate and harvest three batches of watermelon fruits in a year. Its because of this reason that watermelon farming in kenya is a lucrative agribusiness venture, especially for those farming in areas with low rainfall. Water melon as a crop is one of the commonly consumed commodity worldwide. Watermelon is ninetytwo percent water, making it the ideal fruit when it is hot and one is thirsty. Tips on water melon farming in zambia farm rite with yinka.
The water melon was cultivated in ancient egypt and verified by david livingstone the noted missionary explorer in the 1850s when he found great tracts of watermelon called kengwe growing wild in the kalahari desert and semitropical regions of africa. When watering the crop avoid water logging, actually drip irrigation is much better in order to save on water as the crop will require 1,400mm per tree yearly, its a hardy plant and thats why it does well in arid and semi arid areas. Kenyas highest earning crops are tea, coffee and flowers. Learn how to grow watermelon, watermelon cultivation practices, varieties, season. They have an efficient root system and when planted on heavy soil the plant develops slowly. Pepino melon 300500 pepino melon seedlings in a green house, 8m by 30m greenhouse, benefits of pepino melon, control and management pest and diseases in a green house, farming fruits in kenya africa, greenhouse with a new investment, organic farming of pepino melon, oxfarm organic pepino melon fruits, pepino melon farming in kenya, pepino. Follow the following watermelon farming tips and techniques to succeed with watermelon farming in kenya. Watermelon farming in kenya 2020 watermelon growing. As with any other business, watermelon farming has its fair share of challenges. One of the good attributes that have boosted this industry is the fact that the crop is excellent in quenching thirst due to its high water content. It has been nine years since annie, went into watermelon farming in kenya, a business that has brought her great joy.
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