Chilli Farming in Kenya 2023 | Veg Farms Kenya

One of the many profitable farming endeavors we currently have in the nation is the cultivation of chilli peppers in Kenya. Forget the hundreds of millions of Shillings you will make by growing and exporting chillies from Kenya.

Table of Contents

• Pepper Farming in Kenya (Hot Chili Farming in Kenya)
• Suitable Varieties for Chili Farming in Kenya
• Where to Get Chilies Seeds in Kenya
• Climate and Soil Requirements for Chili Farming in Kenya
• How to Start Chili Farming in Kenya
• Crop Care and Management
• Pest and Disease Control in Chili Farming in Kenya
• Harvesting in Chilli Farming in Kenya.
• Yields; Chilli Farming in Kenya.
• Market for Chillies in Kenya; Kenyan market for hot peppers
• F.A.Q - Frequently Asked Question

Chilli cultivation can be your best option if you want to start a profitable Chilli farming business in Kenya. 

Farmers Reaping Good Returns from Chilli Farming in Kenya,

Pepper Farming in Kenya (Hot Chili Farming in Kenya)

BOTANICAL NAME

Capsicum frutenscens- Hot

Capsicum annum- Sweet

Suitable Varieties for Chili Farming in Kenya

(Hot)- Legon 18, Long Red Cayenne, California Wonder, Bird’s eye, M12, Scotch Bonnet, Kpakpo Shito, Jalapeno and Fresno. (Sweet)- King Arthur, Florida Giant, Chinese Wonder, Red Knight, Early Carl Wonder, Yolo Giant.

Where to Get Chilies Seeds in Kenya

Use seeds that have been certified by reliable seed companies.

Climate and Soil Requirements for Chili Farming in Kenya

The ideal climate for chilli peppers is sunny, semi-tropical, or tropical, with an average annual rainfall of 600–1,250 mm. 18 to 32 oC is the optimum range for healthy growth. Low humidity will cause flower buds to fall out, which will lead to poor fruit set.

How to Start Chili Farming in Kenya

Site Selection Chilli Green

Although they may grow on a variety of soils, chilli peppers do best in sandy loams that are rich in organic matter. Choose a site with good drainage, a gradual slope, and pH soils between 5.0 and 7.0. (slightly acidic to neutral). Avoid or sterilise soils that were recently planted with tomato, garden eggs, okra, or papaya when growing chili in Kenya.

Land Preparation for Chili Farming in Kenya

Clearing the area of trees, grass, and root stumps is necessary. In the 4-6 weeks prior to planting, apply 3-10 kg/m2 of well-decomposed manure or compost.

Chili Farming in Kenya Seed Rate

When growing chilies in Kenya, a seed rate of roughly 150g is needed for 1ha at a plant density of 30,000 plants/ha.

Before nursing, test the seeds. If test results show a germination rate of 95–100%, seeds are most acceptable.

Raising Seedlings in Chili Farming in Kenya

One seed should be planted in each cell of the seed tray or lightly dispersed in the seedbed before being covered with a 1 cm layer of soil. Cover the seedbed until the seeds sprout with non-seeded dry grass or palm fronds, then cover it with an insect-proof net or plant the seeds inside a greenhouse or screen house. 

Use a fine sprinkler to thoroughly water the seedlings every morning or as needed after emergence. To avoid damping-off, don't overwater. If this happens, spray an EPA-approved fungicide on the area.

Transplanting in Chili Farming in Kenya

Plant seedlings in the cool of the day or in the late afternoon when they have five true leaves. The soil should have a good tilth and be wet.

Farmers Reaping Good Returns from Chilli Farming in Kenya,

Table below showing Spacing for Chili Farming in Kenya.

Spacing For Some Hot Pepper Varieties.
Varieties.	Spacing Between Plants	Spacing Between Rows
Cayenne(Legon 18)	60x60cm	2×2 feet
Jalapeno	60x30cm	2×1 feet
Fresno	70x50cm	2.5×1.5 feet
Scotch Bonnet	70x50cm	2.5×1.5 feet
Bird’s eye	60x30cm	2×1 feet
Sweet Pepper	60x60cm	2×2 feet

Crop Care and Management

Nutrient Management in Chili Farming in Kenya

Test the soil's fertility level, then modify the rate of application to satisfy the crop's nutrient needs.

Fertilizer Application in Chili Farming in Kenya

Stage 1; Transplanting

When transplanting seedlings, water them with a starter solution containing 3g/L di-Ammonium phosphate, 5g/L NPK 15-15-15, or any other commercial fertilizer that is high in phosphorus and nitrogen.

Stage 2; Week 2 After Transplanting

Apply a solution of 6g (2 crown caps) of NPK 15-15-15 and 3g (1 crown cap) of ammonium sulphate to each plant two weeks after transplanting (WAT).

Stage 3; Flowering Stage

Dress the flowering side with 3g of potassium nitrate and repeat every two weeks. Follow the manufacturer's directions when applying foliar fertilisers with high Boron and Calcium levels every two weeks.

Stage 4; After Each Harvest,

Apply 3g of KNO3/ammonium sulphate and irrigate after each harvest to extend the duration of harvesting.

Mulching in Chili Farming in Kenya

Use no-till techniques to allow the plant debris to act as mulch, preserving moisture, soil, reducing weed competition, erosion, and soil compaction. 

You can also use polyethene sheet, rice straw (5t/ha), other organic material, or a combination of materials. Lay mulch where plastic is used before transplanting.

Irrigation in Chili Farming in Kenya

In order to maintain a good moisture level throughout the growing period, particularly during flowering and fruit development, provide additional irrigation for chilli.

Weed Control in Chili Farming in Kenya

Utilize inter-row cultivators to keep the field free of weeds, as well as legal pre- and post-emergent herbicide applications, hoeing, or hand-picking. Don't hurt plant roots.

Staking in Chili Farming in Kenya

It is possible to stake chilli plants to prevent lodging, especially when they are heavily loaded with fruits. To prevent fruit losses during the production of chillies, this is crucial.

Pest and Disease Control in Chili Farming in Kenya

Major pests are Aphids, Termites, Broad Mites and Thrips.

Anthracnose: Possibly take place in the field or manifest as pepper fruit postharvest deterioration. Utilize pathogen-free seed and rotate your crops to prevent anthracnose. Using fungicides can lower losses.

Bacterial Spot: On leaves, little water spots became necrotic with yellow edges. Rotate pepper with other non-susceptible crops for management. Copper-based fungicide sprays will lessen damage.

Phytophthora Blight: A stem or collar rot followed by an abrupt wilting without foliar yellowing is the most typical sign. Raised beds, crop rotation, resistant cultivars, and fungicides are used to combat this.

Bacterial Wilt: Lower leaves begin to wilt first, then the entire plant will suddenly and permanently wilt without yellowing. Utilize pathogen-free seedbeds to produce transplants free of illness. For plants cultivated in containers, sterilize the planting media and fumigate the seedbeds. To aid drainage, use raised beds.

Root-knot nematode Plants that are infected develop yellowish stunts. Chilli plants that are severely harmed may wilt. Utilize crop rotation for management; flooded fields significantly lower nematode numbers. Nematicides or soil fumigants may be applied. Nematode population can be decreased by sowing African Marigold or Crotalaria during the fallow season and plow it in.

Harvesting in Chilli Farming in Kenya.

Chilli peppers are ready for harvesting 6-8 WAT. Harvest red ripe or green depending on market demand. To harvest, snap the fruit stalk from the stems by hand.

Postharvest Handling ; After-Harvest Chilli Care

Utilize clean buckets and glasses while picking peppers. They require a high level of quality and require a lot of labor. Make sure the pickers wash their hands before and after picking with soap and enough water. Typically, packaging weighs 30 to 40 kg.

It is advisable that you dry your produce outside on raised polysacks. To ensure hygiene, solar cabinets with an enclosure might be employed. Chili fruit should be dried to a moisture content of about 10%.

To keep their pungency after drying, chilies should be kept in a covered basket or gunny sack and maintained in a well-ventilated, dry store with the least amount of movement. High standards should be maintained for the drying and grading processes.

It is advised that the chilies be packed in non-collapsible crates or containers that allow proper air circulation before shipping packaging. To prevent damage, the crates should be stored in a cool location and piled no higher than 10 boxes.

Yields; Chilli Farming in Kenya.

Chilli yields vary according on cultivar and management techniques. 7 to 14 MT/ha are feasible.

Yields of 1,000 kg to 3,000 kg per acre can be reached, depending on management.

At least 600 grams of fresh chili per plant per year or 200 grams of dried chili should be produced by well-managed farms.

Up to 3 tons of chili should be produced per acre by a well-maintained crop.

Market for Chillies in Kenya; Kenyan market for hot peppers

Both domestically and globally, the chili market is prepared. Typically, the market needs a reliable, high-quality product. It is suggested that you get advice from a knowledgeable farmer or specialist. You will gain a better understanding of the market's requirements in terms of quality, quantity, and timeframe.

There are two ways that the rising demand on local and national marketplaces can show up. On the one hand, consumers in Kenya and East Africa can increasingly purchase whole chillies. Whole spicy peppers are known to not meet dietary preferences and are hence not popular. On the other hand, chilies can be combined with other spices and utilized in additional food preparation.

The demand for chili in Kenya is not met by production. The value chain in the Chilean market is significantly shaped by farmers. It is challenging for farmers who want to participate in the value chain yet live in rural areas to get their produce to the collecting centers for export.

Producing challenges in the chili industry

The chilli industry's most labor-intensive process is harvesting. This has made it difficult to produce chili on a wide scale.

Planting fewer bushes than you can easily harvest is advised.

Chilli Farming: Veg Farms Kenya Advice for Aspiring Farmers

The market demands consistently high-quality goods. Operations for drying and grading must be kept to a high quality.

Start small and gradually increase production as you gain experience.

To ensure prompt delivery of the dried produce, it is crucial to schedule production with the buyer.

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F.A.Q - Frequently Asked Question.

How many months does it take to grow chilli in Kenya?

Some require as little as 60 days to produce ripe fruit after sowing, while others might take up to 120 days. Keep in mind that it can take 100 or more days (or 3 1/2 months) for cultivars like Habaneros to reach maturity after being planted.

How many kg of chilli per acre in Kenya?

The yield of dry chillies for crops grown with rainwater is 200–400 kg, and for crops grown with irrigation, it is 1000–3000 kg per acre.

What is the spacing of chilli plant?

90 x 60 x 45 cm Using ropes marked at 60 cm intervals, planting is to be done with a spacing of 90 x 60 x 45 cm in the paired row scheme.