Thread by @SeruyaFarm

Crops For Profitable Farming

THREAD

Thinking of farming but don't know which crop to focus on?

Many farmers get tied to nonprofitable crops with little to write home about.
Others end up doing crops that require volume to make reasonable margins.

Try the following crops👇

Bambara Nuts (Bande, or tsibande or Njugu Mawe)
These nuts are highly nutritious and they cost a hand in the market.
Currently one tin of 2kgs is costing ksh. 1000 in most parts. 1kg at 450 to 500.
They require good farm management, weeding n covering them with soil. Yields high.

These nuts do well in most altitudes but low and medium altitudes are the best.
Read soil is the perfect for them. Plant one per hole at 10cm from hole to hole and 1F row to row. Best time is in September during short rains. Be keen with rodents. Top dress with NPK 17:17:17

Ground Nuts (Njugu). Praised for male vitality boost and antidepression, these nuts are good for both home and commercial farming. Currently, 2kg tin is at ksh. 500 to 700 depending on location.
Yield is high.
Same cultivation conditions as for Bambara nuts apply.

3. Beans. All beans are profitable. These range from French beans, yellow green, roscoco, njahi, etc including peas.
Most parts in Kenya are good for beans cultivation. We have various varieties for almost all clinatic conditions in Kenya. Phosphate and potassium are important.

Do not apply nitrogen fertilizers as these legumes have enough of it. Fertilizers with high phosphorus and potassium will give you extraordinary yields.
In a single season, you can plant beans twice as their maturity is 2 months. I do this with Roscoco oftenly. Space closely.

Soya. Although among beans, I have singled soya out because of its importance in commercial farming. Soya is a crucial ingredient in food and feeds manufacturing processes.
Many firms would buy it in bulk. It also yields well and takes less time to maturity. Maximize on volume.

Bananas. If you are lucky to have a large piece of land, think bananas. Spacing is important. Feed them well and ensure you have enough supply of water.
Firms in banana value addition are the best customers. Brokers will camp at your farm with FHs trucks eager to harvest.

Pawpaws.
These are highly profitable crops that do not need large space. If you have 1 acre or at least half an acre, think papaya. One stem can give over 100 pawpaws. Its fruit, seeds and sap have market both local and international. Farm manure is important when doing papaya.

Butternuts and pumpkins
These are the easiest crops to farm yet very expensive in the market.
Plant seeds at 1m apart. Plant with farm manure. Top dress with CAN at growth stage, and NPK at flowering. Control Fruit flies.
Huge demand in the local market.

Onions and Garlic
These are highly valuable crops. Market is stable almost throughout the year. We have a huge deficit and depend on TZ and Uganda.
Farm in large volume.
Warning: very labour and capital intensive and requires proper management. Good for small and large scale.

Avocado
Currently, avocados are gaining prominence in both local and international markets. Grafted versions of hass and foerte are the best options.
If you are thinking avocados, think organic. The market is huge and high deficit exists.

Nduma (Arrow Roots)
This is a precious crop. Very expensive in the market as 1kg goes for ksh100 to about 150.
If you can do large volumes, you will never go wrong. Takes 8 months to mature and you can time the long rains. Plant in March and harvest by Nov/Dec

Chilli
Capsicum and pepper fall within this category. These are also among the easiest crops to farm. Require less labour and spraying. Ensure your farm is clean all the time. Harvesting starts few weeks after transplanting and the market is also huge.

Finally, HERBS eg Basil
Herbs have gained local and international prominence and are preferred by many firms for various reasons. If you can secure contracts with those firms, you will be among the few rich farmers.
You might need to invest in greenhouse and seedlings.

Verdict
I prefer the crops below:
Bambara Nuts,
Gnuts,
Onions,
Garlic,
Pawpaws,
Bananas,
Ndumas,
Chilli,
Soya n beans,
Avocados
Pumpkins n butternuts.

Avoid maize at all costs unless you are doing large scale and mechanizing. If not, better do sorghum and millet.

If you find stuck with any of the above discussed crops, find me @SeruyaFarm For management support.

DM for direct contact.

My experience in the field farming these options has given me a lot of insights.

Crop management is important. So invest your time where your money is.

Your personal experiences and suggestions are welcome.

Let's avoid common blunders.

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