Are you looking for profitable fruits to grow in Kenya? There are multiple fruits you can cultivate to earn big money. Remember, fruits account for a significant proportion of the country’s total exports. The local market also needs to be quenched for its consistent fruit demand.
Anyone with a passion for farming can make big money from fruit farming. However, choosing the right fruit is ultimately daunting for many. Here are the most profitable fruits to grow in Kenya and earn big money.
Most Profitable Fruits to Grow in Kenya
1. Dragon Fruit
In Kenya, dragon fruit has gained massive popularity in recent years. Dragon fruit is a super fruit known for its health benefits. Evidence indicates that dragon fruit offers multiple health benefits due to its high antioxidant and fiber content. It is also packed with a substantial amount of essential nutrients. Many people currently enjoy the dragon fruit not only due to its health benefits but also because of its unique taste and look.
The demand for the dragon fruit is expanding tremendously, not only in local markets, but also in markets worldwide. This makes dragon fruit one of the most profitable fruits to grow in Kenya. As I write this article, the price of a kilo of dragon fruit is approximately Ksh800 and Ksh1,000, depending on the place of purchase.
An acre can fit about 2,000 dragon fruit plants. Each mature and healthy dragon fruit tree yields approximately 15 to 25kg of fruits per year. Let’s do some simple math. Assuming you’ve one acre with 2,000 dragon fruits, and each plant gives you 20 kilos of fruits. That’s 4,000 kilograms, which would easily fetch you well over Ksh2,000,000 per year.
One of the benefits of drug fruit farming is that the trees are highly productive. The trees take 2-3 years to fruit. Once mature, the dragon fruit trees can have up to six fruit cycles per year. That’s not all. Once fully grown, the cactus tree can last up to 20 years. Thus, you can expect to make a substantial profit from growing dragon fruit trees.
Read More: Top Profitable Agribusiness Ideas in Kenya
2. Blueberries
Blueberries make up the list of the most profitable fruits to grow in Kenya. Though native to North America, blueberries are now cultivated across the globe, including Africa. Blueberries have been identified as one of the super fruits with the highest antioxidant levels. An antioxidant-rich diet neutralizes free radicals our bodies, reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as vision loss, heart disease, and cancer.
The demand for blueberries in Kenya is soaring as people become increasingly health conscious. The average price of fresh blueberries in local supermarkets is Ksh2,000 per kilo. A single blueberry plant can produce 5 kilograms of fruit per year. Typically, an acre holds about 1,000 mature blueberry plants. The total yearly yield per acre is about 5,000 kilograms of fruit, which translates to a lucrative income for you as the farmer.
The global blueberry market is exhibiting positive growth, which presents a lucrative opportunity for local farmers. Currently, only a few companies are enjoying a monopoly in the local market. This makes blueberry farming quite profitable for any farmer who grows them.
3. Hass Avocado
Hass avocado remains one of the most profitable fruits to grow in Kenya despite the concerns of price drop as production increases. There is a big demand for Hass avocados in European and Asian markets. In addition, the consumption of avocados in Kenyan homes is high.
The best thing about Hass avocado farming is the lucrative returns that are mainly driven by the export market. The wholesale price of fresh Hass fruits in Kenya ranges from Ksh10 to Ksh30 per fruit, based on the size and quality. With the government’s intensified efforts to open new international markets for the country’s avocados, Kenyan farmers will continue to reap huge returns from Hass avocado farming.
Another key benefit of venturing into Hass avocado farming is that trees exhibit high productivity. On average, Hass avocado trees start producing fruits after 3-5 years after planting. Upon maturity, a single Hass avocado tree can produce between 200 and 500 fruits per year. After 10 years, the annual yield for each treat increases to 1,000 fruits. After a few years, an acre with 120 trees can easily make a multimillionaire.
Read More: Avocado farming in Africa: Lessons from Kenya’s Green Gold
4. Apple
If you’re looking for a profitable venture in agriculture, apple farming offers the best option for you. Apple farming guarantees you handsome returns as the demand for the fruit is high because of current gaps in market supply. Kenyan retailers rely mainly on imported apples to meet local demand, with imports coming from South Africa, Israel, the UK, and the Netherlands. For farmers, this translates into a lucrative opportunity to earn big returns.
Most regions in Kenya have favorable conditions for Apple production. Apples thrive well in both cold and warmer climates. You can grow it in areas with a temperature range of 6°C – 30°C. The yield of apple trees and the fruit’s quality also depend on rainfall amount and soil type.
Optimal yield transpires in regions with an annual rainfall of 800–1100 mm. Well-drained and gravelly loam soils are the best for the soil type. Key regions with high potential for apple farming include Mount Kenya, Central Rift, Western Kenya, and areas around the Aberdare Range.
Let’s now review the profitability of apple farming in Kenya. The returns generated from this venture depend on how well you manage the trees and your fruits’ overall quality. One mature semi-dwarf apple tree can give you over 500 fruits in a single season if well managed.
Thus, a one-acre apple orchard with 500 trees can earn you Ksh2,500,000 per season if you sell each fruit at a wholesale price of Ksh10. Of course, you’ll have to wait 5 to 8 years for the apple trees to mature fully.
5. Passion
Passion fruit farming is another highly profitable venture in Kenya. The high market demand for this fruit drives its high profitability. Passion fruits rank amongst Kenya’s leading export fruits. Top international markets for Kenyan passion fruits include the US, Netherlands, and Middle Eastern countries.
With its delicious citrus and sweet flavor, passion fruit pulp is increasingly used to make fresh juices. Local juice processes are sourcing passion fruits from local farmers for use in juice extraction. The demand for fresh passion fruits is projected to increase even further as many consumers shift from carbonated beverages to fresh juices.
Two varieties of passion fruits are widespread in Kenya: Yellow passion and purple passion. It’s prudent to note that the ecological requirements for the two varieties differ. The yellow fruit thrives well at low altitudes of 0-800m, while the purple passion does well in higher altitudes. For optimal yields, experts recommend planting passion fruit in deep, well-drained soil.
What about the profitability of the passion fruit? Though the capital required to set up a sizeable passion fruit is relatively high, the profit you get is worth the investment. If adequately managed, one acre of passion fruit can give you 15,000kgs per year. Thus, you can easily earn over Ksh1,000,000 from one acre in one year.
6. Tamarillo (Tree Tomato)
Growing tamarillo is another good option for anyone who wants to make money from fruit farming. Also known as tree tomato, tamarillo is an egg-sized oval fruit with a sweet and tangy flavor. Its distinctive nutritional benefits keep its prices high.
Tree tomatoes have an array of uses. They can be eaten raw, served in desserts, and added to fruit salads. Alternatively, the fruit can be processed into products like jams, juices, sweets, gelatins, and concentrates. Thus, tree tomatoes have a substantially high market both locally and internally. You can tap into the local and export markets and earn substantial profits.
Tamarillo occurs in different varieties. The main variers grown in Kenya include Goldmine, Red Oratia and Amber, Ruby red, and Solid gold. Red fruits have an appealing color and are hence used for fresh markets. The yellow tamarillos are good for preservation due to their superior flavor.
The best thing about tamarillo farming is that they are easy to grow. Tamarillo shrubs thrive in regions with temperatures between 15-20◦C. For the soil type, tamarillos achieve optimal yield in well-drained, clay, and sandy soils with PH of 5.0-8.5. Branches of tree tomato’ trees can break easily. Hence, it’s critical to protect the trees against the wind.
Expect an average output of 20-30kgs per tree. An acre can hold approximately 1,200 trees. Thus, you can harvest 20-30 tons of fruits per year from one acre. A kilo of tamarillo fetches Ksh70 and Ksh150, depending on the fruit’s quality. If we do the math, you can easily make well over Ksh1,400,000 per year.
7. Pixie oranges
The next candidate on the list of most profitable fruits to grow in Kenya are pixie oranges. Belonging to the genus Citrus, pixie oranges have become more popular than traditional oranges due to their distinctive sweetness and refreshing flavor. However, the soaring demand for pixie oranges in Kenya and export markets is far from being met.
Pixie oranges perform best in well-drained and fertile soils, preferably sandy, loamy soils with pH levels of 6.5 – 7.3. The ideal temperature for optimal pixie yields is between 10℃ and 30℃. Like other citrus fruits, pixie oranges are grown widely in semi-arid areas, including Machakos, Makueni, Kitui, Voi, and coastal areas.
Pixie farming ranks high in terms of profitability. Experts say a single pixie tree produces approximately 60kgs of fresh orange. With the recommended spacing of 4m by 4m, one acre can hold 250 trees. The gate price for fresh pixel oranges stands at Ksh120. Therefore, one acre of well-managed pixie orange farming gives you Ksh1.8 million.
8. Water Melon (Tikiti Maji)
Water melon is one of the popular fruits in the country. If you choose to venture into watermelon farming, you’ll enjoy a readily available market as consumption of fresh water melon is high locally. Kenya also exports watermelon to countries like Uganda, Somalia, Netherlands, and Ukraine, though in small quantities.
Optimal ecological conditions for watermelon farming include altitude of 0-1,500, temperatures of 400-600mm of annual rainfall, and temperature between 22℃ and 28℃. Maximum productivity is achieved in slightly acidic (pH 6.0 – 6.8) and well-drained sandy loam soils. Semi-arid areas like Makueni, Machakos, Kajiado, Baringo, and Narok are suitable for water melon production.
More than 1,200 water melon varieties are grown globally. However, the main varieties cultivated in Kenya include Sugar Baby, Sukari F1, Zuri F1, Charleston Grey, Sweet Rose F1, and Crimson Sweet. Each variety comes with specific characteristics. Sugar Baby is known for being exceedingly juicy and sweet, while Sukari F1 has an excellent fruit-setting ability.
The outstanding benefit of water melon farming is the short maturity period. Expect to harvest and sell your fruits after 90-120 days, depending on the variety you choose. Sukari F1 has a shorter maturity period of 90 days compared to 120 days for the Sugar Baby variety.
You can get 15,000 to 20,000 water melon from one acre. The average farm gate price of freshwater melon per kilo is approximately Ksh25. If you harvest 20,000kgs/acre, you’ll get Ksh625,000 after a few months.
9. Pawpaw
The list of the most profitable fruits to grow in Kenya would be incomplete without pawpaw. Popular for its medicinal and nutritional values, pawpaw enjoys a steady demand in both local and export markets.
Pawpaw requires an altitude of 0-2100m, temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius, and well-distributed annual rainfall of approximately 1,000mm. It thrives well in well-drained soils. But you’ll need to renew your pawpaw orchard every 4-5 years because the trees have a short economic life of about 4 years.
Pawpaw farming is relatively delicate, and you’ll need to precisely select the right variety for your area. Common varieties include Vega F1, Sunrise, Solo, Mountain, and Red Royale F1. Also, ensure you procure quality seedlings.
And how much can you make from pawpaw farming? On average, farmers get Ksh30 per kilo of pawpaw at the farm gate. An acre can yield more than 30 tons per year with proper management practices. That’s approximately Ksh9,000 every year.
10. Mango
Mango farming remains one of the highly profitable ventures for Kenyan agriprenuers. In 2021, Kenya’s mangoes exports amounted to Ksh1.7 billion, according to the Horticulture Crops Directorate. You can earn lucrative earnings from mango farming by tapping into export markets and local demand.
Kenya’s diverse climate presents a suitable environment for mango farming. The fruit thrives outstandingly well in areas between the altitude of 800-1600m and with temperatures between 24℃ and 30℃. Deep and well-drained alluvial, lateritic, sandy, and sandy loam soils are for optimal mango productivity.
There are diverse varieties of the mangoes. The varieties commonly grown in Kenya include Apple, Tommy, and Ngowe. Make sure you choose the right variety depending on the soil and climate of your area. You can try out Alphonso mangoes in high demand in EU markets if you gain access to seedlings. As of 2024, Kenya only has five known Alphonso mango trees. So, access to the seedlings remains problematic.
What about the profitability of mango farming? An acre can hold up to 70 mango trees, with each mature (5 years) tree yielding over 500 fruits per year. If you access markets that offer Ksh10 per fruit, you can earn Ksh350,000 in a single season.
Tips to Grow Fruits in Kenya
Like any other venture, fruit farming is not without risks. You need to adopt proper farming and marketing practices to maximize your earnings. Here are some important tips to help you enjoy higher returns from fruit farming in Kenya.
- Gather the necessary information about your preferred fruit before you start farming.
- Consider the climate in your area and select fruits or varieties that fit that zone.
- Research and identify markets before planting.
- Select quality seedlings
- Seek professional support from agronomists and other experts.
- Apply proper crop management practices.
- Emphasize quality and tap into export markets.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, fruit farming stands out as the most profitable venture in Kenya as the demand for fruits expands locally and globally. Fruit orchards can generate unprecedented returns when prepared and managed correctly. There’s a caveat: the figures presented in this article are just estimated. Thus, you can earn even higher returns based on the season, the quality of fruits, and how well you market your harvest.
