By Prudence Minayo
Lifestyle diseases have forced many Kenyans to re-evaluate their food choices. This means people are looking for healthier foods with low calories. With a number of digital platforms in the world today, selling crops, especially those classified as super foods, has become a bit easier. This means farmers have the potential to make millions out of a number of organically grown crops.
Below is a list of top crops which can make and have made farmers millionaires:
Black NightShade
A number of farmers have over the years expressed how they made good money from this vegetable. One such farmer is Henry Kinuthia. He told Bizna Kenya that these traditional veggies planted on a 40*100 can generate up to Sh36,000 per month.
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“I am currently in my fourth year specializing in managu farming and doing an acre. This means in a month I take in Sh144,000,” he said in a 2020 interview with Bizna Kenya. He added that each crop lasts three months earning him Sh432,000. In 2019 after expanding the acreage he made a cool Sh1.7 million.
Gooseberries
Most people are used to the yellow wild gooseberries which are available in the market. However, the best variety are the cape gooseberries. They are a source of Vitamin A, B, C, proteins and phosphorus. The leaves can be used to make medicinal crops and from the berries a number of products can be made including wine, jam, gooseberry cake and juice.
The government of Kenya selected the fruits among the 100 crops for commercializing in the Big Four Agenda.
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The Netherland Gold (a variety of the cape gooseberry) matures in 12 to 14 weeks. It has the ability to yield 5,000 to 8,000 kilos per acre. 10g of the seeds can plant a quarter an acre and goes for Sh1900. An acre can yield up to 25,000kg with each kilo selling at Sh300.
Dragon Fruit
The first thing that comes to mind when one sees the dragon fruit is cactus. What many don’t know is that the fruit can translate to a lot of money. An article by Richfarm showed how lucrative the fruit is. A kilogram of the crop retails for Sh890 at Zucchini Supermarket. Keep in mind that two fruits may translate to a kilo. This makes them one of the most profitable fruits to invest in. The fruit has really grown in popularity within the country and most of what is consumed is imported from Vietnam.
The fruits are considered superfoods due to their nutrient content. They are filled with proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, Vitamin C and Vitamin E and have relatively few calories.
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These fruits will perform well in Semi Arid areas. The pioneer farmers of dragon fruit in Kenya are from Meru. The seedlings are very expensive, requiring up to Sh2000 per seedling.
Red Cowpeas
According to Soko (a digital app), farmers can make Sh7200 per 90kg bag in towns like Eldoret, Malindi and Kisumu. In Nairobi, it is Sh6,000 and Sh5,400 in places like Nakuru and Mombasa.
According to Farmbiz Africa, The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization released a new variety of the crop that is high yielding and more tolerant to diseases. It can produce up to four tons per acre.
