Are you looking for the fastest growing fruit trees in Kenya? Kenya is among the largest exporters of fruits and fresh produce in the world. Her fruits like Avocadoes makes her farmers billions of foreign income each year. In this list we will give you a list of the 10 most profitable fruit farming types in Kenya today.
To select this list we have considered each fruits’ nutritional value, profitability, and its ease to plant, care and manage. Considering those features, our list of the best types of fruits in Kenya with their pictures are;
Banana
Banana fruit farming in Kenya is majorly under rain-fed conditions. The best banana growing areas in Kenya are Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Kirinyaga, Embu or Kisii counties. The best banana varieties you can grow in Kenya are the cooking (plantain) varieties or the desert (fruit) banana types.
Related: Best 15 Fruit Trees in Kenya to grow in dry areas
Did you know banana is the most consumed fruit in Kenya. Matoke is a basic staple or food crop for many communities, especially in western Kenya. In many urban centers, it is a major fresh fruit consumed by all population groups. Ripe bananas are available for sale throughout the year unlike other fruits like avocado and mango that are seasonal. They have a readily available market and are handled by hawkers, hotels, makeshift kiosks and supermarkets. It is these benefits that make banana tree growing a stable source of farmer’s income.
Apples
An apple fruit a day keeps the doctor away. The old saying portrays the nutrition and health benefits of the apple fruits. You can grow two types of apples in Kenya; the green or red apples.
The other popular apple fruit farming in Kenya are the custard apple and the Wambugu apple trees. Apple tree can do well in semi-arid areas like Laikipia. Since it’s grafted using the local varieties, it can withstand most apple pests and diseases. Besides, the Wambugu apple fruits are comparatively bigger the normal indigenous apple fruits.
Avocado
There is a robust campaign to promote avocado farming in Kenya as a sustainable cash crop. As a result, Kenya is the leading avocado exporter in Africa. Locally, You can sell a single unripe avocado fruit Ksh 20 and above. The grafted avocado trees mature in 3 years’ time. The two main avocado varieties in Kenya for the export market are
To make more money, consider contract farming with an avocado exporting companies in Kenya like the Kakuzi, Vegpro, Sunripe, Kenya Horticultural Exporters or the East African Growers. Contracted farmers get more cash and bonuses from avocado farming.
Citrus fruits (Orange, Lemons)
The citrus fruits family are a rich source of vitamin C. Since the corona virus pandemic, the fruits prices have gone up almost 1000 percent. The most profitable citrus fruits trees in Kenya are lemons, oranges and lime.
Oranges makes the best choice for fruit sellers and farmers. You can grow the seedless, grafted or the pixie oranges. You can either plant them using irrigation or rain reliant agriculture.
Cucurbit fruits (watermelon, pumpkins)
The gourd family fruits like watermelon and pumpkins are one of the most profitable fruits you can grow using irrigation in Kenya. Besides you can use their vines and leaves as vegetables. Others like cucumbers and Courgettes are fast growing and can rely on them for healthy food at home. The full list of cucurbit fruits you can grow in Kenya for self-consumption or market are.
- Pumpkins
- Watermelons
- Cucumbers
- Courgettes or Zucchini
- Butter nuts
- Gourds
Berries (strawberries, gooseberries etc.)
Do you have a small farm and desire to grow high-value fruits? Berries require little space, and you can grow them in containers, hanging gardens or sack gardens. They form the best choice for indoor and urban farming where farming space is little. There are many types of berry fruits you can grow. These are listed below;
- Strawberry
- Raspberry
- Blackberry
- Gooseberry
Passion fruits
Are you looking for the best alternative to maize farming? Passion fruit farming in Kenya is your best bet You can grow, harvest and sell fruits in the first year unlike other commercial fruit trees that take 3-7 years to mature. A kg of passion fruits in open air food markets in Kenya can go for Kes 50. The list of the five (5) passion fruit varieties in Kenya for commercial farming are
- Purple Passion: (Passiflora edulis)
- Yellow Passion: – (Passiflora edulis var flavicarpa)
- Sweet Passion or Sweet granadilla: – (Passiflora ligularis)
- Giant Passion or Granilla:- (Passiflora quadrangularis)
- Banana Passion:- (Passiflora mollissima)
If you intend to grow them in cold highland regions, plant the purple varieties. Yellow varieties are best planted in warm low land areas. If you want higher yields and cheap cost of controlling diseases, plant the yellow passion fruits
Pineapples
Pineapple farming in Kenya used to be common around Thika Town only near the Delmonte fruit fruits farm. Today it has spread across the whole country. Pineapple plant is a survivor crop. It is tolerant to hot weather and dry conditions. You will use little on manure and fertilizers as it does not require high soil fertility. The fruit has a fast payback period and high returns on investment. Once you plant the suckers or the seedlings, the fruits will be ready or mature in 18-24 months.
Pawpaw
Pawpaw farming in Kenya is one of the most profitable today. Papaya fruits require little care and you can propagate one from a fruit you bought in the market. They mature and bear fruits in 2-3 years from transplanting. The pawpaw fruits are a bit resilient to dry conditions and can be farmed in semi-arid areas.
Tree Tomato
Tomato tree farming in Kenya is good for agroforestry practice in tea growing plantations. The fruit looks like a tomato though it’s not a true tomato. It is a many-seeded berry and egg-shaped, when its ripe, it looks like a medium-sized tomato. It has a growing demand as its used to make red juice with a unique salad flavor. Besides it can be eaten fresh by scooping it flesh from cut pieces.
The available cultivars are the red, yellow or dark red/black varieties. The tree mature in 3-6 years and you can harvest fruits from it until its around 12 years old.
Mango
Mangoes are the best fruit of choice from December to early February in Kenya. They are consumed ripe or blended into fruit juice for use at home or sale. You can either grow the traditional or the grafted mango varieties in Kenya like Tommy and Kent that take shorter growing periods of 3-5 years to mature. These type of mango have high demand in the export market that you can grow in Kenya are the Apple, Kent and Ngowe.
Guava
Guava fruit trees are wild in heavy rainfall areas like Western Kenya. Apart from the nutritious fruits, Guava leaves are consumed as a way of managing one’s weight. There are pink/red and white guava fruit varieties.
Where to buy the Best fruit seedlings
To get quality fruits, we recommend you plant quality seedlings from a KEPHIS registered tree nursery. You will get planting trees and vines or cultures that are free of disease or pests. Some of the best fruit tree sellers are:
- Oxfarm
- Gardenscape
- Asepsis
In Conclusion
The list of best and easiest fruits to grow in Kenya is not exhaustive. If you are in the cold highlands, you can farm pears and plums fruit trees. Those in arid and semi-arid areas in Kenya, you can consider the dragon fruits, tamarind and thorn melon among other fruits best for dry areas in Kenya. To learn the best fruit for your region, visit the agriculture office.
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