Ceciliah Maina, a 29-year-old farmer from Kikuyu in Kiambu County, has found success in managu farming, also known as black nightshade. With three-quarters of an acre dedicated to managu, she has leased the farm at an affordable price of Ksh10,000 per year.
She has divided the land into smaller portions to ensure a steady supply of produce throughout the year, with one quarter of the acre hosting the mature crop.
Here is the story of Ceciliah Maina as told by WoK.
From Disappointments to Opportunities
Having experienced challenges with growing cabbages and tomatoes previously, Ceciliah was inspired by a fellow farmer’s success with managu.
She recognized the crop’s ease of cultivation, resilience against pests, and its strong market demand, particularly in urban areas like Nairobi.
Encouraged by the potential, Ceciliah ventured into managu farming about four years ago.
Covid-19 Boosts Demand and Opens Doors for Ceciliah’s Crop
Her initial crop, occupying about an eighth of an acre, earned her Ksh28,000, which was a considerable return on her investment.
The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic further boosted the demand for nutritious vegetables like managu, rich in antioxidants, vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and calories.
This surge in demand allowed Ceciliah to expand her farming operations.
Feeding The Market Demand in Nairobi, Making Over Ksh 15,000 Per Harvest
Ceciliah primarily sells her managu crop to wholesale buyers in markets such as Dagoretti, Kawangware, and Kangemi. To streamline the selling process, she offers portions of the crop rather than selling it by weight.
This approach allows her to receive payment from the buyers in advance, eliminating the need to transport the produce herself. Depending on the performance of the vegetable, she sells each harvest at prices ranging from Ksh15,000 to Ksh20,000.
She told the Daily Nation Seeds of Gold of her journey:
“The traders flock my farm and pay for the produce before I harvest. I don’t sell them in kilos but in portions grown on the land. This season, for instance, I estimate that I have spent Ksh5,000 on each portion to grow the vegetables. I will sell at between Ksh15,000 and Ksh20,000 per harvest depending on how the vegetable has performed,” she told the DN in a 2022 interview.
Fertile Soil, Quality Seeds, and Careful Maintenance for Optimal Growth
The cultivation process involves tilling the land, incorporating livestock manure to create fertile soil, and adding Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer before broadcasting and lightly covering the seeds.
Ceciliah prefers the giant nightshade variety of managu, sourced from Busia, as it is favored by both consumers and buyers. On her quarter-acre plot, she utilizes approximately one-and-a-half kilos of seeds, amounting to a cost of Ksh1,700.
Watering, Weeding, and Pest Control: Ceciliah’s Recipe for Success
Ceciliah carefully tends to her crop, watering it according to the crop’s growth stage and sourcing water from a nearby well.
She places great emphasis on weeding, spraying, and pest control, tackling challenges such as aphids, thrips, whiteflies, blight, rust, nematodes, fusarium and bacterial wilt, powdery and downy mildew, and leaf spots.
Ceciliah’s Other Secret- A Dedicated Workforce in Managu Farming
Employing three workers, especially during weeding and harvesting periods, Ceciliah ensures that her managu farming operations run smoothly. She rotates her crop with slender leaf (mito), jute mallow (mrenda), and dania to optimize the use of her land.
Crop Rotation and Farm Management Techniques for Efficiency
Experts highlight the benefits of the broadcasting method for planting managu seeds, citing time efficiency and the ability to cover larger areas, resulting in bumper harvests.
However, Ceciliah acknowledges the challenge of weed control when the crops mature and become congested on the farm.
How profitable is managu farming?
Managu farming holds significant earnings potential for farmers due to its high demand and market value. With proper cultivation techniques and effective marketing strategies, farmers can generate substantial income from this crop.
By eliminating intermediaries and directly connecting with customers, farmers can maximize their profits.
Additionally, the versatility of managu allows for various packaging options, catering to different customer preferences and price points.
With consistent demand and careful management of production costs, farmers can tap into the profitability of managu farming and achieve financial success in the agricultural industry.
Making Upwards Of Ksh 5,000 Daily
Some farmers have reported weekly earnings of around Ksh5,000 from a quarter-acre of managu cultivation.
By scaling up their operations and implementing efficient marketing techniques, farmers can increase their earnings even further.
It’s important to note that individual results may vary, and factors such as production costs, market fluctuations, and crop quality can influence profitability.
However, with the right approach, managu farming can be a lucrative venture for farmers seeking to maximize their earnings in the agricultural sector.
