Eggplant Farming in Kenya
Eggplant farming in Kenya is very profitable, Growing numbers of successful vegetable farmers in Kenya are turning to start a profitable eggplant farming business in Kenya. In this blog post, we'll provide advice on how to establish an eggplant cultivation in Kenya, eggplant price per kg in Kenya, eggplant market in Kenya, eggplant yield per plant in kg,
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Starting Eggplant Farming in Kenya.
- Starting Eggplant Farming in Kenya.
- Health Benefits of Eggplant
- Varieties of Eggplant Grown in Kenya
- Propagation and Planting Eggplant in Kenya.
- Best Fertilizer for Eggplant Farming in Kenya.
- Crop Care and Management in Eggplant Farming
- Pests and Diseases Management
- Harvesting Eggplant
- How Profitable Is Eggplant Farming In Kenya?
- The Market for Eggplant in Kenya
- Conclusion
- F.A.Q
Aubergines, or brinjals, are warm-weather vegetables that are harvested in the middle to end of the summer. Young eggplants are finest gathered for flavor. Learn more about how to cultivate and harvest these beautiful, deep purple vegetables, which are some of our favorites to grill!
The Asian vegetable crop can be grown in a variety of colors, such as white, purple, and green, giving one's farm aesthetic appeal. The most prevalent color is purple.
In the region, eggplant is referred to as "biringanya," but it is also known as "brinjals," "garden egg," and "guinea squash."
Tomatoes and Irish potatoes are also members of the same vegetable family as eggplants. Similar to tomatoes, they develop by hanging from the vines of a plant that can reach heights of several feet.
The majority of the crop is exported from Kenya, where eggplant is produced all year long.
For diabetics, the white variety's fruits provide therapeutic potential. It takes 4 to 7 months for an eggplant to mature. To coincide with the export season, which runs from October until May, they are typically planted in Kenya from the beginning of June to the end of December.
Health Benefits of Eggplant
Eggplant is an excellent source of fiber and digestive acids. The first one gives the body enough roughage for healthy digestion and bowel movement. Additionally, fiber promotes gastric juice release, which aids in food processing and nutritional absorption.
Anemia Prevention: Consuming eggplant is essential because it provides the body with the missing iron deposits that are necessary for the formation of red blood cells. Iron deficiency offers a risk to all people, but pregnant women are more vulnerable because it shows up as anemia.
Brain and Aural Function: Consuming Kenya eggplant or any other eggplant, which is a rich source of phytonutrients, will enhance recognition abilities and nerve connection. In order for the brain to work properly, it also needs enough blood, and because eggplant contains potassium, this mineral, the brain's ability to see fine detail, improve memory, and perform other tasks is improved.
Fights Diabetes: The minimal soluble carbohydrates in eggplant make it a great choice for managing diabetes. The fruit controls the body's production of glucose and insulin.
Curbs Birth Defects: High folic acid intake during pregnancy is necessary to protect the fetus from neural tube abnormalities. When pregnant, eggplants combine into a ready-to-eat, nutrient-dense snack thanks to their high folic acid content.
Perfect Bone Health: Eggplants have an adequate amount of calcium and iron, two nutrients that help build bones.
Weight Loss: Any list of essential health items must include fat burning, and since eggplant has no fat whatsoever, it is well suited to both prevent obesity and stop weight growth.
Cancer Prevention: Chlorogenic acid, an antioxidant included in eggplant, is a potent tool in the battle against cancer because it helps to eliminate free radicals.
Varieties of Eggplant Grown in Kenya
Before selecting "eggplant farming in Kenya", keep in mind that size parameters vary by Eggplant Variety, as well as growth circumstances, maturation times, and coloration:
The typical eggplant size is referred to as "Black Beauty." Four to six huge, spherical fruit are produced per plant. The regular kinds "Black Magic," "Purple Rain," and "Early Bird" are among the others.
'Black Bell': a traditional, 6-inch, oval to circular, purple/black fruit that is disease-resistant.
'Dusky': a traditional pear-shaped fruit with a glossy, 6- to 7-inch, purple/black skin, outstanding flavor, and disease resistance
Large, oval-shaped, purple to black eggplants are produced by the oval to oblong eggplant.
The Japanese eggplant grows long, slender fruits and matures quickly.
The small-fruited eggplant blooms into green fruits, including purple and white variations as well as white and lavender ones.
In addition, there are novelty eggplants, which come in odd shapes like the egg-shaped eggplant, green Thai eggplant, and orange Turkish eggplant.
Best Hybrid Seed See the Pricing Here Countrywide delivery, Pay on delivery
Ecological Requirements for Eggplant Farming in Kenya
The ideal daytime temperature for eggplant farming in Kenya range is 25–35 °C, and the ideal nighttime range is 20–27 °C. Frost is not tolerated by Eggplant. It can withstand periods of drought and heavy rain. It thrives in lowland (areas below 800m), sandy loam soils with little to no temperature change. The ideal pH is 6.4, with the range of requirements being 6 to 7.
Propagation and Planting Eggplant in Kenya.
If done logically and on a scalable basis, eggplant farming in Kenya can be a lucrative endeavor.
To put it briefly, eggplant is a perennial plant, however farmers in Kenya typically treat it like an annual. The majority of Kenyan commercial eggplant growers start their harvest from best hybrid seeds in a protected nursery environment.
Farmers get the field ready while they wait (about 4-6 weeks) for the young eggplant seedlings to mature and be prepared for transplanting.
Farmers prepare the ground by tilling it, creating raised beds or furrows, and putting a black plastic covering between the rows. The black plastic covering inhibits weed growth in addition to warming the soil.
Additionally, eggplant farmers plan and install the drip irrigation system. When the seedlings are prepared for transplanting, tiny holes are made in the plastic film, and the seedlings are then planted there after digging tiny holes.
In the majority of situations, fertilization, drip irrigation, and weed management are used. Most farmers stake their plants once they reach a height of 40 cm (16 inches) in order to encourage eggplant plant growth, enhance aeration, and make harvesting easier a few weeks later.
Additionally, thinning is used. In order to urge the plant to focus its energy on fewer, larger, and tastier fruits, commercial eggplant farmers eliminate some sprouts. After transplanting, most commercial eggplant types can be harvested 60 to 100 days later. The age of the seedlings planted, the variety, and the temperature all affect how long it takes from planting to harvesting.
Planting Spacing
90 cm x 60cm
Best Fertilizer for Eggplant Farming in Kenya.
200 kg of phosphate each acre When plants are 25 cm tall, top-dress with 200 kg/ha of CAN. Topdressing with 200kg/ha CAN six weeks later
Then apply water-soluble N-P-K 20-20-20 once a week. They keep applying the 20-20-20 until the fruit has reached 2/3 of its total weight.
From this point on, they begin to raise potassium levels in eggplants by giving them KNO3 and/or K2SO4. Plants at this stage require more potassium to produce large, aesthetically pleasing fruits.
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Crop Care and Management in Eggplant Farming
Eggplant Stacking
The majority of Kenyan eggplant farmers stack their harvest. The use of this method has a number of benefits. First of all, stacking creates additional space for aeration while preventing fruit and foliage from reaching the ground.
Harvesting also becomes considerably simpler. The ideal time to begin stacking eggplants is when they have grown to a height of 40 cm (16 inches). Wooden stakes that are 50–60 inches long and 0.5 cm (1 inch) thick are used by farmers to tie each plant.
Eggplant’s Pruning
While some farmers believe that pruning slows the growth and fruit set of the plant, many growers of eggplant prefer to prune their plants. When a plant is first developing and has three to four stems, the majority of its peripheral stems are removed by those who prune their plants.
Through the two main stems that are fashioned like a V, they force the plant to grow more using this technique. Throughout the entire eggplant growing season, they continue to remove extra foliage that obstructs adequate aeration.
They shield the plant from illnesses that are made more likely by dampness. Additionally, some growers only harvest the most vigorous double blossoms, leaving the majority of the others on the plant. More nutrients are distributed to the remaining blooms by the plant using this technique. These blossoms will eventually produce fruits that are larger.
Water Requirements and Irrigation Systems in Eggplant Farming in Kenya
According to Veg Farms, the proper irrigation plan for eggplants, is to apply 2.5-5cm water (1-2 inches per week).
Depending on the weather and the soil, water requirements can vary greatly. For instance, compared to sandy soils, thick clay soils typically require less irrigation.
Moreover, farmers might not even need watering on days when it's raining or very humid. On the other hand, a hot, dry day can necessitate multiple irrigation treatments. Water requirements vary among various eggplant species.
Plants generally need more water as they progress from pollination to fruit set. In the early stages, many growers in Kenya like to irrigate their eggplant plants with 1 liter of water per plant every 2–3 days.
Due to the plant's high demands during the stages of fruit setting and as the temperature rises significantly (to 35 oC or 95 oF), watering sessions are increased. At this point, farmers irrigate either once day or twice daily, depending on the weather.
If the day is cloudy, farmers irrigate their eggplants early in the morning. During hot weather, they add one extra irrigation session at night. Disease outbreaks have been connected to foliar irrigation. In general, excessive humidity, particularly on leaves, may encourage the spread of illnesses. Conversely, plants under water stress are more prone to illness.
Pests and Diseases Management
Eggplant Pests
Colorado potato beetle – Defoliates plants.
Eggplant Diseases
The soil-borne illness verticillium wilt, which also affects tomatoes and potatoes, can harm eggplant. Crop rotation is the best preventive measure for control. In areas where tomatoes, potatoes, or eggplant have been cultivated within the last three years, do not plant eggplant.
Harvesting Eggplant
Harvesting is possible between 60 and 90 days. Cutting the fruit from the stem is all that is necessary to perform it once to twice a week. For the aim of generating seeds, a brief section of the stem should be left uncut.
The fruits of the eggplant can be picked whenever they are big enough for the market you are targeting.
In any event, make sure to pick fruit before its flesh hardens and its seeds start to turn hard.
By removing the fruit from the trees, the fruit can be collected. But in order to protect the plants, it is recommended to remove fruit with a knife or pruning shears, making sure to keep the calyx (fruit's cap end) connected.
Eggplant Yield per Plant in kg,
About 15–30 tons of eggplant can be produced on one acre of land.
How Profitable Is Eggplant Farming In Kenya?
According to demand, a kilogram of this eggplant vegetable crop sells for between 40 and 70 shillings at retail. Additionally, each fruit may be sold for anywhere from 10 to 30 shillings.
With eggplants, whose seeds only cost 200 shillings, a serious eggplant grower may be earning up to 10,000 shillings each month.
Cost per hectare: Ksh. Income per hectare: Ksh. (15,000 kg times 30/-). 180,000.NET (or 40% of income). (60%) of income is 270,000.
The Market for Eggplant in Kenya
Kenya produces the majority of its eggplant for export. One kilogram of the vegetable costs Ksh 30 in open-air markets and supermarkets in the area.
Eggplant Price per kg in Kenya,
The eggplants are sold by Veg Farms Farmers to Registered Exporter in Kenya, who then export them to Egypt. They buy at Ksh 300 for a carton of eggplant, but the cost might vary; it might be as high as Ksh 600 or Ksh 700.
The manager of Veg Farms stated as he sorted out the eggplant vegetable ready for the export market, "In a week, Veg Farms harvest at least three times a day, and so far they have picked roughly 120 cartons.
The shape and color of the eggplants affect their cost. In the market, the straight purple ones seem to be more popular.
Eggplant Market in Kenya
Conclusion
Producing high-quality eggplants that are in demand by consumers and sell for a fair price in the market should be the goal of eggplant farming in Kenya in order to maximize profitability. By utilizing inexpensive inputs, maximizing irrigation and fertilization techniques, and implementing successful agricultural methods, they should also work to reduce production costs.
The viability of an eggplant farm in Kenya will depend on a variety of elements, including the size of the farm, the local market's demand for eggplants, the price of inputs, and the effectiveness of the agricultural operations. It is crucial for eggplant producers to have a solid marketing plan, a thorough awareness of the regional market, and the ability to sell their produce to consumers.
Related; 30 Profitable Vegetable to Grow in Kenya
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F.A.Q
How long does it take for eggplant to grow in Kenya?
60-100 days, From the time of transplantation till maturity, they require 60 to 100 days. However, there are some information you need to be aware of if you intend to produce eggplant from seed. First, for eggplant seeds to germinate, the soil must be at least 21 °C (70 °F) in temperature.
How many eggplant plants per acre in Kenya?
The ideal soils for its growth are thought to be well-drained sandy loam and clay loam with abundant organic matter and a somewhat acidic level (pH 6.0-6.5). With plant to plant spacing of 24 to 30 inches and row to row spacing of 42 to 48 inches, 6000–7000 seedlings would be needed for an acre of land.
What is the secret for growing eggplant in Kenya?
Rich, nutrient-rich soil is necessary for eggplant to mature and yield a useful harvest. Add a lot of compost to the planting hole before you plant it. This helps the roots retain moisture while also offering a solid base of nutrients. Either transplants or seeds can be used to grow eggplant.
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1 Comments
I learned about eggplant farming in Kenya using this article. Now I am making my own eggplants at home for my family and friends. Eggplant Farming in Kenya is a helpful resource for all interested in eggplant farming.
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