Farmers in Nyandarua are set to reap big from fruit farming, courtesy of the county administration.
Consequently, the county government has launched apple farming, a crop that is viewed to be profitable in terms of fruit production and addressing the negative effects of climate change.
According to Governor Moses Kiarie Badilisha, the county administration seeks to invest Sh26 million to build capacity and promote the apple fruits.
Badilisha has called on farmers in the region to embrace the new venture, which he terms as a green gold in the region that is known as a food basket, especially horticultural crops and vegetables.
Speaking at the Murungaru shopping centre in Kinangop during the launch of a promotion of apple fruit trees, the governor noted that the market demand for the fruits is huge and can hardly be met, while the prices of the fruits are high.
He noted that its production does not match that of crops such as maize, potatoes, and other horticultural crops.
“The county government is using a TBT model (Ten-by-Ten) meter plot, where a farmer can plant at least 26 apple plants and harvest twice or thrice per year, producing over Sh150,000 every year.
“Our climatic conditions for the fruit tree are very conducive, and hence I encourage farmers intending to venture into farming apples to look for the right variety and seedlings,” said Badilisha.
According to studies, there is a huge local and international market for fruits that has been growing steadily over the years. This has challenged many unemployed youths to consider venturing into the trade.
A section of farmers who have undergone training on propagating fruit trees have expressed their optimism in the venture, which they say is encouraging based on its potential turnover.
Apple is an edible fruit of some trees, known for its crunchy-juicy, green, or red fruits. The tree (Malus spp) is grown worldwide and is commonly grown by grafting.
By Antony Mwangi
