The onion also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable that is the most widely cultivated species of the genus allium. Onions are propagated sexually by use of seeds or asexually through sets. The introductory guide to onion farming in kenya smart. Blog onion farming in kenya a small business idea you can start with little capital august 21, 2015. Millionaire farmers grow bulb onions in kenya agro.
Onion farming in kenya nigeria small business idea you can start with little capital. Ampeloprasum group greatheaded garlic bulb and leaf. One acre of garlic will yield about 7 tons of garlic bulbs. Onions are cultivated by vegetable farmers, and vegetable farmers are known to grow a wide variety of vegetables onion, peppers, potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, sweet corn, mushrooms and all other vegetables and melons in. All of us enjoy eating food prepared with onions as one of the key ingredients. This makes the red bulb onion a very attractive commercial investment for the kenyan market at the moment, since local production is not enough. More on this weeks agribusiness segment smart farm with. Farming onions is a great choice for the farmer around the worlds. Onion downy mildew causes gray to green fuzzy patches on the leaves. Try them out as you grow our shortday red onion jambar f1. It is a close relative of the garlic and widely used in kenyan kitchen and around the world as a food ingredient. There is the small, thin and firmly layered onion that has a strong pungent smell from tanzania. This is because a farmer has to calculate the input costs verses the output costs in.
Before you begin onion farming you need to check and confirm market availability, price of the onions and the variety of the plant. The first ever stak seed trade assocaition of kenya congress and expo took place in nairobi from the th 15th november. Modern bulb onion farmers are more than ever in need of up to date climate resilient agribusiness innovations for profitability and success. Unlike strawberry farming, onion farming in kenya in 2020 is affordable and the returns are equally good. A pdf copy is sent via email once one purchases the germinated cloves. Onions can be grown in a wide range of climatic conditions, they are. Lately, kenyan onion farmers have been upping their game in attempt to fill the gap in demand. Farming starts here earn ksh 350, 000 from one acre of onions in 34 months. Below is a guide that you might follow while planting onions. Kindly inform me the best fertiliser to use for growing the crop in the region. There is a rising demand for locally grown onions in kenya.
They can be grown for subsistence or commercial farming. Kenya, universities, farmers and students to discuss a small but very important part of. Well before i take you through the kenyan areas where onion farming does well, it would be of much interest first to understand the ideal conditions to grow onions. Partly because it is not only affordable to start but its returns are high. In only 3 months one acre hybrid bulb onions will give you gross income of ksh 800,000.
A simple analysis of onion farming in kenya urban kenyans. Once the farmer gets ready to plant, our telephone support. Must be free from diseases and insects and was not planted with onion in previous year. Onion white rot occurs when the leaves wilt and yellow, or the plant becomes loose in the soil. Onion farming in kenya greenlife crop protection africa. Cost of onion farming in kenya and business profitability. Gakuo narrates his journey and gives tips on managing a successful onion farm in kenya. A to z of growing big and healthy onions last week, i got an email from tony, a regular smart harvest reader. The second one is the big loosely held variety that is grown locally, in kenya. Onion farming in kenya can be done in greenhouses and open gardens. Even the cooked meals like vegetable salads are never complete without the. Getting the best from your jambar f1 monsanto africa.
Potato farming is one of those businesses that can either make or break you. The onions can live off the bulb for approximately three weeks. A farmers guide to growing watermelons be knowledgeable about watermelons this booklet offers you a step by step guide to growing your own watermelons. Small scale onion farming is gaining popularity in kenya. Vidalia onion committee was formed to oversee the federal market order. Dry onions are a crop that lends itself well to small scale and parttime farming operations.
Two women prepare onions for the market in this photo taken in september in a farm in kilongoni, makueni county. Fortunately, nowadays lots of people engage in backyard gardening and they find growing onions as their choice. If one wants to cook vegetables, anything, name them, one uses onions. Throw away any infected bulbs and do not plant onions, leeks, or garlic on this land again for eight years. Of course, there are a few things you need to know in order to run a successful onion farming business in kenya. The collected money is used for national and international promotional campaigns and for onion research. The crop has a good and growing market in kenya, due to its culinary and medicinal value.
Dont worry if you cant plant them immediately, even if the roots and tips begin to dry out. He went into onion farming at the beginning of the year, starting with an acre. Free subscription get the news that matters from one of. Growers are required to register and pay funds based on their production to support the industry. If you want to start this onion farming, here is all you need to know. The garlic farming guide includes stepbystep instructions on selection and preparation of land, planting, harvesting and storage, and marketing. So, today, we learn the top onion farming techniques, tips, and ideas. Onion farming in kenya is gaining popularity every day this is as result of its high returns and small operating capital. Farmers guide on onion farming in kenya kilimo biashara. Quit accounting career and now a successful onion farmer. A good onion harvest offers 2025 tonnes per acre depending with the variety. Seed grown onions being directly sown and in the same position for longer, tend to have more problems but seed grown onions can be as reliable as sets when started in modules and transplanted. Here is a guideline on how you can successfully plant these marketable products.
Venturing into onion farming is a lucrative farming business if people took it seriously. Many things have been said about how onion farming can make you rich in kenya. If you are planning on doing onion farming, then i am glad to inform you that this is one agricultural investment you will never regret in life. The germinated cloves are provided disease free and ready to plant. The following are the major pests of bulb onion in kenya.
The term dry onion is used to distinguish them from green onions which are pulled while ops are still green and usually before a large. Bulb onion production, first published by shep in 2009, revised by shep plus in 2019 ver. Changing farmers mindset from grow and sell to grow to sell. Bulb onion farming greenlife crop protection africa. However, here is information to give you a head start. Onion growing business plan onion agriculture scribd. Do your research well and come up a good roadmap to your farming. Earn a million in 6 months by growing an acre of garlic. Learn how to grow anything, farming manuals, greenhouses, irrigation systems and general consultancy.
Choose a site with adequate sunshine free from shades of other plants. Onions and garlic are common ingredients in food preparation, therefore, they are in demand all year round. Some areas and soils are better for growing onions than others. Most farmers give success stories of how they are making so much profits. Zero starter guide of onion farming in kenya oxfarm. It is almost impossible to cook any recipe without using onions. Before you get tempted to engage in onion farming, do your homework well and learn from the masters who are already in the agribusiness. Free subscription get the news that matters from one of the leading news sites in kenya.
However, due to lack of interest of many farmers the industry declines. In 1989, the industry began to adopt controlled atmosphere ca storage. Investment required for growing onions on a commercial scale is very less and plant care of onions are also very minimal. Remove and destroy any infected leaves immediately to prevent spread. The common dry onions allium cepa, a member of the amaryllidaceae family, originated in central asia afghanistan, tajikistan, and uzbekistan where it is widely used. Prepare while the enclosed plants may appear dry, dont be alarmed. For example, onion and garlic prefer a fairly neutral ph, of between 6.
This is the brief guideline to start your onion farm easily and all the thing you have to know. Oftentimes that means theres still a huge opportunity for those looking to venture into onion farming in kenya. Onion farming in kenya 2020 onion growing kenya info hub. Onion farming in kenya nigeria, how to start information.
Jul 22nd 2016 50 percent of the red onions in kenya are imported from tanzania, as indicated by food and agriculture organisations fao 2014 report. Kenyan farmers have been doing their best to address the demand and close the gap, but there is still more supply to be achieved. Home farmlink articles crop production vegetables onion farming in kenya. Onion is one of the most favorite vegetables for most of the people all over the world. Major types of onions farmed in kenya are bulb onions and spring onions. The term dry onion is used to distinguish them from green onions. Things farmers ignore when growing onions daily nation. But not for oloimooja, who does telephone farming from the us. Start onion farming the complete guide farming method. In supplement of fertilizer, onions require moist, weedfree soil with a ph level between 5. Handbook for vegetable growers fifth edition knotts handbook for vegetable growers, fifth edition. Onion growing business plan free download as word doc. For many years, onion farming became popular across yemen.
Onions and especially onions grown from sets, are usually trouble free. On the other hand, restaurants and other professional food chains in kenya, onion types are sorted out with a lot of precautions. Soil that is too acid or too basic causes slow growth and late maturity. Onion farming, planting, care, harvesting a full guide. It is locally consumed and available from roadside sellers to supermarkets. O showed that 50% of red onions consumed in the country are imported from tanzania which essentially means that local farmers. Would you like to venture to the farming but do not know where to start. Japan international cooperation agency jica kenya office. Onion crop was kept free of weeds throughout the growing season. They are usually served or cooked, as a vegetable or part of a prepared savory dish, but can also be eaten raw in salads. The choice of onion variety matters a lot when it comes to commercial farming agribusiness.