How to Grow Okra in Kenya – A Detailed Guide
In this article, we'll concentrate on how to launch a successful "okra farming business in Kenya".
Keep in touch and read this helpful article to learn how to boost your okra production yield in Kenya
With a maturation period of up to 60 days and a ready local and international market, okra farming is a practical option for vegetable growers.
Okra Farming in Kenya
Okra is sometimes referred to as ladyfingers or the “Queen of Vegetables” since it is long and curled in English-speaking countries. In India, it is referred to as "bhindi," and it is viewed as a magical enabler when it comes to mathematical prowess. Some individuals hold the opinion that eating two ladyfingers daily will prevent back pain.
Okra should be planted for export in Kenya in July because that is when the bulk of the export season runs from October to May.
Health Benefits of Okra
As a vegetable, okra is largely used in cooking. It has a slimy texture and a sticky juice that can be utilized in dishes as a thickener. Okra has a lot of nutrients. It has antioxidant properties as well as the ability to lower blood sugar.
Okra is high in nutrients yet low in calories. Okra contains vitamin C, which supports a strong immune system. Vitamin K, which facilitates blood clotting in the body, is abundant in okra.
Other advantages of okra for health include:
Okra Fight Cancer
Antioxidants; Natural substances called antioxidants support your body's defense mechanisms against chemicals called free radicals that can harm cells. The most well-known effect of free radicals is oxidative damage, which over time might result in cancer.
Vitamins A and C are among the polyphenol antioxidants found in okra. Additionally, it has lectin, a protein that may prevent the development of cancer cells in people. According to studies, concentrated okra chemicals can suppress the growth of breast cancer cells by up to 63%. For certain evidence of okra's ability to prevent cancer, more study is required.
Okra Support Heart and Brain Health
Polyphenols; By avoiding blood clots and minimizing free radical damage, polyphenols lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. Okra's antioxidants might also help your brain by lowering inflammation there.
Mucilage; Okra contains mucilage, a thick, gel-like material that can attach to cholesterol during digestion to help the body expel it. A high-fat meal including okra powder was offered to rats for eight weeks, and the results showed decreased blood cholesterol levels.
Okra Support Prenatal
Okra provides 15% of the recommended daily intake of folate, a nutrient that is beneficial for expectant mothers. Folate helps lower the chance of neural tube abnormalities, which can harm a developing fetus's brain and spine.
Okra Control Blood Sugar
Numerous studies have suggested that okra may aid with blood sugar regulation. Okra, according to researchers, may aid in preventing the absorption of sugar during digestion.
In one experiment, rats given liquid sugar and purified okra saw fewer blood sugar spikes than rats in the control group. The claim that okra helps humans regulate their blood sugar levels still needs more support.
Okra Nutrition
Okra is rich in vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants that help reduce the risk of serious health conditions like cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.
Okra is also a good source of:
• Magnesium
• Folate
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin B6
Nutrients per Serving
A one-cup serving of boiled okra slices contains:
• Calories: 35
• Protein: 3 grams
• Fat: 0 grams
• Carbohydrates: 7 grams
• Fiber: 4 grams
• Sugar: 4 grams
Things to Watch Out For
People with diabetes should be careful when considering adding more okra into their diets. Although okra may be able to help people better control their blood sugar, it can also interfere with metformin, a medication often used to treat Type 2 diabetes.
Types of Okra Varieties in Kenya
Okra varieties available in Kenya include:
Pusa Sawani Okra; A type of Okra with a high yield is Pusa Sawani. Long pods that are 18 to 20 cm long are present on it. It also has silky-feeling, smooth, dark green pods. This cultivar grows between two and five meters tall. It primarily targets the export market.
Clemson Spineless Okra; The main season standard Okra variety Clemson Spineless has a fairly broad adaptability. Fruits are uniform, a lovely shade of green, and they have a long shelf life. Fruit is virtually completely devoid of spines and has a pleasant flavor, making it easier to select. Plants are robust and sturdy, but very simple to harvest. Widely adapted is Clemson Spineless. appropriate for both the fresh and export markets.
Dwarf Green Long Pods Okra - Dwarf Green long pods okra grows to a maximum height of 0.09 meters. Its angular green pods have a form. using 50 days as the ESTIMATED DAYS TO MATURITY Heavy harvests of 8" long by 1 12" wide dark green okra with dwarf long green pods are produced by this cultivar.
White Velvet Okra; This attractive and tasty species can be eaten straight off the vine, cooked, or canned and is loaded with long, white, velvety, and spineless fruits. is a medium-sized cultivar with a 1.5–1.8 meter height range. The pods have a silky texture and a creamy white appearance. The pods range in length from 15 to 18 cm.
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Planting Okra in Kenya
What Are The Best Conditions For Growing Okra?
For okra to thrive, the temperature must be at least 19°C. pH levels between 6 and 8 are ideal for growth. The ideal temperature range is between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius. Kenya's lush, well-drained soils are the best for growing this produce.
What is the average yield of an okra?
In Kenya farming okra, a tree can yield 20–30 kg of fruit annually. The best yield, 12.86 t/ha, can be obtained by spacing your plants 60 by 30 cm apart. Planting high-yielding varieties is recommended. A farmer can harvest 300 kg three times per week from a one-acre farm, which translates to 900 kg per week and sells for Sh70 per kilo to earn Sh63,000 per week. The farmer earns Sh43,000 per week after deducting input and labor expenses on the farm, which total about Sh20,000.
Planting Okra on Prepared Land
The soil needs to be prepared two months prior to planting. This enables crop residues and organic waste to break down before your okra is planted. Before planting, it also enables you to get rid of any young weeds.
Okra Planting
Okra plants can be planted directly into the ground, grown from seedlings in nursery seedbeds, or raised in plastic trays. Okra seed should be soaked in water overnight before sowing in order to promote quick germination. Okra is planted straight in the ground in Kenya. Per hectare, 8 to 10 kg of seed are needed. A 1.5 cm depth is used for planting.
Okra planting nursery preparation
In Kenya, okra is planted straight in the ground. Either nursery seedbeds or plastic trays can be used to grow seedlings. Before planting your okra seeds, immerse them in water for at least one night to speed up germination.
Okra transplanting
In different regions of Kenya, okra is sown 50 by 30 cm between rows and within rows. Considerations related to irrigation are the main cause of the spacing variance. Around 10 kg of seeds can be stored on an acre of soil. The planting holes should be about 1.5 cm deep.
Okra Crop Care and Management
Manure
We must rely on organic management's natural plant nutrient sources, such as compost, manure teas, and plant teas like tithonia for foliar feeding. At planting, 15 to 20 t of well-composted manure should be applied per hectare (17 to 20 g per plant). During the vegetative stage, more compost or manure is required.
To reduce labor requirements, manure and plant teas can be applied to the plants using a drip irrigation system. Agricultural lime is permitted and advised in acidic soils. Additionally, rock phosphate, or "Mijingu," is advised for use in low-phosphorus soils (almost all soils in Kenya).
Okra Fertilization
Before growing okra, it is advised to do a soil analysis to ascertain the appropriate fertility management. Horticultural Crops Development Authority's basic advice for conventional agriculture (non-organic production) in Kenya without a soil test is as follows: It is recommended to apply well-composted manure at the rate of 15 to 20 t/ha (17 to 20 gm/plant) prior to planting. It needs to be fully incorporated into the planting hole's soil.
Okra Irrigation Requirements
The Kenya Ministry of Agriculture states that your okra crop will require 400 mm of water throughout its first three months of growth. The semi-arid areas of Kenya are where okra is primarily grown. 35 liters of water per square meter of your plantation should be made available. You'll need to water frequently from blossom until pod production.
Rotation in Okra Cultivation
Okra should be rotated with small grains, fodder grass, baby corn, maize, peas, onions, and potatoes. Okra shouldn't be planted before or after cotton because it belongs to the same family and has a similar set of pests and illnesses.
Control of Weeds
Over the course of the cropping season, weed control is crucial since okra is harvested over a long period of time. In Kenya, hand hoeing is used by smallholder farmers to manage weeds.
Okra Pest and Diseases
Okra diseases
Fusarium wilt; A fungus called fusarium wilt spreads through the soil. Your growth will appear to be stunted. The leaves on your okra plant start to yellow, droop, and eventually drop off. Considerations include high nitrogen levels, acidic growth, water stress, and warm soil temperatures.
Pests that wreak havoc on okra
Pests such as Thrips, Spider mites, Root-knot nematodes, Aphids, Spiny bollworms, Flea beetles, and Cutworms may attack your Okra plantation.
Thrips;; An bug called a thrip feeds on the underside of plants. If your plants are under environmental stress, they will be more susceptible to thrips attack. Both the adults and larvae of these insects consume the leaves.
There will be wrinkles and curls that eventually dry up. Additionally, thrips consume flowers. This could result in deformed pods. Use insecticides up until the beginning of the flowering cycle.
Control on thrips in okra; Thrips can be easily managed by thoroughly applying contact sprays to the underside of infected leaves, such as horticultural oil, natural pyrethrins (with piperonyl butoxide), or insecticidal soaps. Reapplications can be required.
Spider mites; Spider mites may appear as tiny moving dots or as webs. They primarily target the underside of the leaves. Plants that have been dried out are more prone to this attack.
The plant's leaves will start to turn yellow and eventually drop off.
Control; For the quickest and most efficient control, use miticide. To get rid of these pests, use 10 ml/20 lts of VAPCOMIC 1.8 EC. Combining NIMBECIDINE (100ml/20lts) and VAPCOMIC 1.8 EC (10ml/20lts) will produce excellent results in cases of heavy infestation.
Root-knot nematodes; Soil-dwelling nematodes are responsible for root knots. They mainly inhabit fields with sandy soil. Plants that have been harmed become yellow and develop less quickly. The roots of your plant may have small lumps on them. The lumps are known as galls, or root-knots.
Control; Nematodes, tiny parasitic worms that can live in soil or water, are killed with nemadicides, a type of chemical pesticide.
It is advised that you choose resistant varieties in order to avoid this pest. When producing okra on nematode-infested farms, intercropping with various mustards is essential. The bio-fumigation procedure is aided by this.
Aphids- Aphids: Cotton aphids have been identified as a significant pest of okra in Kenya. They are soft-bodied insects that hide beneath the leaves or stem of your okra plant. Aphids can be found in a range of hues, such as yellow and green. They emit honeydew, which encourages the growth of sooty mold on the plants.
Control; By chopping off the infected leaves or shoots, aphids can be managed. You must also use tolerance varieties to control the bug.
The spiny bollworm is one of okra's most frequent pests. The terminal branches of young plants are a favorite food source for the larvae. The larvae then move on to flower buds after producing pods. You might notice a drop in yield when they invade your crop. Minimum nitrogen fertilizer doses should be used. High doses make the infection of spiny bollworm worse.
To control this bug, you must routinely inspect your crops. The total eradication of the larvae is made easier with early discovery. You should remove old crops and crop waste after harvesting.
Intercropping
Okra and groundnut or cowpeas can be interplanted. You need to allow enough room between each row of 60 by 30 meters. You benefit financially from intercropping. Okra has been used in a number of Kenyan farming combinations with legumes.
Harvesting Okra
Harvest and Post-Harvest Care for Okra (Ladyfingers)
The majority of Kenyan Okra cultivars are ready for harvest 45 to 55 days after planting. About 4 to 6 days after flowering, pods are ready for harvest. Pods are harvested when they reach a length of 7 to 15 cm, depending on the variety and the needs of the market. Under ideal circumstances, the okra crop will continue to produce pods for a number of months, especially if ripe pods are routinely harvested.
Harvesting Okra in Kenya often continues 45 days following the initial harvest. To guarantee that okra pods remain within the size required by the industry, regular picking every one to two days is vital.
It is not advisable to harvest okra while it is raining or extremely moist. On the pods and the cut petioles, too much moisture might encourage the growth of mold. Okra pods decompose quickly, thus they should be gathered the day before they are sold.
Harvesting is done by hand. The okra pods can be removed by cutting or snapping them, leaving a short stalk of no more than one centimeter. The okra pods must be handled carefully to avoid bruising and color fading. To prevent severe pod bending and skin harm, it is better to select pods into a waist bag. When harvesting and handling okra pods, rubber gloves are advised. This will shield the skin from the irritant okra plant sap.
Related; 30 Profitable Vegetable to Grow in Kenya
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Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
How long does it take to grow a okra?
Okra takes 50 to 65 days to attain maturity. For ten to twelve weeks, the plants can produce. Up until the arrival of frost, when they quickly turn black and die, it develops and produces seed pods.
Does okra need a lot of water?
Yes, Okra is a heat-loving plant that can endure a dry spell, but try to give your plants 1 inch of water each week.
Does okra need full sunlight?
Yes, Okra needs full light and grows best in soil with a pH of 7.0 or below, which is close to neutral. Soil with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0 will also work. Don't use too much fertilizer because okra only needs a minimal amount of nutrients. Get a cheap soil test to determine the pH and fertility of the soil.
Is NPK fertilizer good for okra?
Yes, When it comes to the development of okra's fruit, seeds, and quality, both phosphorus and nitrogen are crucial. According to KARLO reports, NPK fertilizer increases okra yield.
Is French bean farming profitable?
During the growing season, reapply the fertilizer every four to six weeks (perhaps more often when growing okra in containers). Each time you apply fertilizer, irrigate the soil.
What is the best fertilizer for okra?
10-10-10 NPK fertilize, According to numerous agricultural extensions, the conventional advice for fertilizing okra is a 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer. One application of granular fertilizer will gradually release an ample amount of nutrients to your okra plants over a number of weeks since it has a balanced balance of nutrients and a high enough level of each macronutrient (the actual numbers refer to the proportion by weight of each nutrient).
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ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to start a Okra Farm, but I had no idea where or how to get started. Then I read the article about Okra farming in Kenya and it was just what I needed. It's a comprehensive guide to starting Sukuma wiki farm anywhere in the world and covers everything from climate and geography, soil types, planting & harvesting times, broccoli recipes (yum!), top market prices for Okra
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