Raspberry Farming in Kenya: A Simple Guide to Growing High-Value Berries for Money

Raspberries are not very common in Kenya yet, but more farmers in the cool highland areas are starting to grow them because they earn good money from the fruit. Farmers in Limuru, Molo, and the slopes of Mount Kenya have discovered that raspberries grow very well in their areas because the weather is cool and the soils are good.

The fruit sells for high prices in Nairobi supermarkets, with a small 125 gram punnet going for 250 shillings, which works out to 2,000 shillings per kilogram for good quality berries.

A farmer who plants raspberry seedlings today will wait until the second year to get a significant harvest, but the plants will keep producing for 8 to 10 years.

A well-managed acre in open fields gives 3 to 4 tons of fruit per year, and if you grow the berries in high tunnels to protect them from rain and pests, you can get up to 8 tons per acre. With farm gate prices of 1,000 to 1,500 shillings per kilogram, the revenue from one acre can reach 3 to 12 million shillings per year.

You will learn which varieties to plant, how to prepare your land, how to space the plants, how to build trellises, how to feed them, how to control pests, how to harvest, and how much money you can make. The information comes from farmers who are already growing raspberries successfully and from agricultural research institutions that study fruit farming.

Why Raspberry Farming Is Growing in Kenya

The demand for fresh raspberries in Kenya has grown as more people learn about the health benefits of berries and as hotels and restaurants add them to their menus. Supermarkets like Naivas, Carrefour, and Quickmart now stock raspberries when they are in season, and they pay good prices for quality fruit. The export market to Europe is also opening up, which means farmers can get even better prices for their berries.

Raspberries grow best in cool highland areas with temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. The ideal places for raspberry farming in Kenya are Limuru, Molo, Kinangop, Timau in Meru, and the high parts of Nyeri around Othaya and Karatina. These areas have the cool weather that raspberries need to produce good fruit, and the rainfall is usually enough for the plants to grow well.

The plants need well-drained soils with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5, which is slightly acidic. If your soil is too acidic, you can add lime several months before planting to raise the pH. If your soil is too alkaline, you can add sulfur to lower the pH. A soil test before planting is essential to know what your soil needs.

Raspberries are not as common as other fruits in Kenya, which means there is less competition among farmers. The farmers who start growing raspberries now will establish themselves in the market before many others join, and they will have an advantage when it comes to selling their fruit.

Choosing the Right Raspberry Seedlings

The seedling you plant determines the type of fruit you will get and how much you will harvest, so this decision is very important for commercial farmers. Farmers Trend Ltd sells certified red raspberry seedlings for 500 shillings each, and these plants are grown from cuttings taken from good mother plants. The seedlings are inspected by KEPHIS to make sure they are healthy and true to type, and they are ready for transplanting after several months in the nursery.

The Heritage variety is an everbearing type, which means it produces fruit twice a year, once during the warm season and again during the cool season. This variety is good for farmers who want a steady supply of fruit throughout the year. The berries are medium sized, red, and have good flavor. Heritage grows well at altitudes between 1,500 and 2,500 meters, which covers most of the highland areas where raspberries are grown in Kenya.

The Willamette variety is a one-time bearing type, which means it produces one large harvest during the warm season. This variety is good for farmers who want to process their fruit into juice, jam, or frozen products because the berries are firm and hold up well during processing. Willamette grows best at higher altitudes between 1,800 and 2,800 meters, so it is suitable for areas like Timau and Kinangop.

The Tulameen variety is also a one-time bearing type, but it produces larger berries than Willamette and has better flavor. This variety is preferred by fresh export markets because the berries are big, firm, and have good shelf life. Tulameen is more sensitive to heat than other varieties, so it should only be planted in the coolest areas.

Planting Your Raspberry Farm

Raspberry plants need to be spaced properly to allow air to move between them and to make harvesting easier. The recommended spacing for commercial raspberry farming is 0.5 meters between plants and 2.5 meters between rows, which gives you about 3,200 plants per acre. This spacing allows each plant to get enough sunlight and air, and it also leaves room for workers to walk between the rows during harvest.

Dig holes that are 30 centimeters wide, 30 centimeters deep, and 30 centimeters long. Mix the topsoil with well-rotted manure and a small amount of DAP fertilizer. Fill the holes back up and water them before you plant. The plants should be set at the same depth they were growing in the nursery pot, and the soil should be firmed gently around the roots.

The best time to plant raspberries is March to May during the long rains, because the natural rainfall helps the young plants establish their roots before the dry season comes. If you have drip irrigation, you can plant at any time of year, but you must water the plants regularly during the first year and protect them from dry season heat.

Raspberries need support to keep the canes off the ground, because fruit that touches the soil will rot and be attacked by pests. A V-trellis or T-trellis system works well for raspberries. Install posts at the ends of each row and run wires between them at heights of 60 centimeters and 120 centimeters. Tie the canes to the wires loosely so they do not get damaged.

Feeding Your Raspberry Plants

Raspberries need good nutrition to produce high yields of quality fruit. Before planting, you should have mixed manure into your soil during land preparation, about 5 tons per acre. This manure will feed the plants slowly over the whole season.

About 4 weeks after planting, apply CAN fertilizer at 50 kilograms per acre. You do this by sprinkling the fertilizer along the rows, being careful not to let it touch the leaves because it can burn them. Water the field after applying fertilizer so that the nutrients go down to the roots.

You should do another application of CAN at 8 weeks after planting, and another one at 12 weeks after planting. Do not use too much nitrogen because it will make the plants grow too many leaves and not enough fruit. Too much nitrogen also makes the plants more susceptible to diseases.

Potassium is very important for fruit quality because it makes the berries sweeter and improves their color. Apply potassium sulphate at 100 kilograms per acre when the flowers appear, and again when the fruit starts to develop. Without enough potassium, the berries will be small and sour, and they will not sell well.

Mulching is essential for raspberries because it keeps the soil moist, suppresses weeds, and adds organic matter to the soil. Apply a thick layer of dry grass, straw, or wood chips around the base of the plants, being careful not to cover the crowns. The mulch should be 10 to 15 centimeters deep.

Pruning Your Raspberry Plants

Pruning is very important for raspberries because it determines how much fruit you will get. Different varieties need different pruning methods, so you need to know what type you have planted.

For everbearing varieties like Heritage, the canes produce fruit on the tips in the first year and on the lower parts in the second year. After the second year, the canes die and should be cut down to the ground. Remove the dead canes in late winter, leaving only the new canes that will produce fruit in the coming season.

For one-time bearing varieties like Willamette and Tulameen, the canes grow in the first year, fruit in the second year, and then die. After harvest, cut the dead canes down to the ground and leave the new canes that will fruit next year. Thin the new canes so that there are only 4 to 6 strong canes per meter of row.

Prune during the dormant season, which is June to July in Kenya, when the plants have no leaves and are not actively growing. Use sharp, clean pruning shears, and make clean cuts close to the ground. Remove any weak, diseased, or damaged canes as soon as you see them.

Pests and Diseases That Attack Raspberries

Aphids are the most common pest on raspberries, and they cluster on the undersides of young leaves and growing tips, sucking plant sap and causing the leaves to curl and distort. Heavy aphid infestations can reduce yields and also transmit viruses that stunt plant growth. Control aphids with neem oil or insecticidal soap, sprayed on the undersides of the leaves where the aphids hide.

Fruit flies are another pest that can damage raspberries. The female fly lays eggs inside the developing fruit, and the maggots feed on the flesh, causing the fruit to rot. Hang pheromone traps to catch the male flies, using 4 to 6 traps per acre, and apply protein bait sprays mixed with insecticide when trap catches are high.

Anthracnose is a fungal disease that causes purple spots on the canes and leaves, and it can weaken the plants and reduce yields. The disease spreads during wet weather, so good air circulation is important for prevention. Prune to keep the canopy open, and remove any infected canes as soon as you see them. Copper-based fungicides can control anthracnose if applied early.

Root rot is caused by waterlogged soil, and it is a serious problem in areas with heavy rainfall or poor drainage. The roots rot, the plants wilt, and they eventually die. Prevention is the best cure, so plant your raspberries in well-drained soil or on raised beds. Do not overwater, and make sure your irrigation system is not putting too much water on the plants.

Harvesting Your Raspberries

Raspberries ripen over a period of several weeks, and you need to pick them every 2 to 3 days to get the fruit at the right stage. The berries are ready to harvest when they have turned fully red and come off the plant easily when you pull them gently. If you have to pull hard, the berry is not ready yet.

Harvest in the morning when the berries are cool, and handle them gently because raspberries are very delicate and bruise easily. Place the berries in shallow containers, no more than 3 layers deep, to prevent the ones at the bottom from getting crushed. Do not wash the berries before packing because moisture will cause them to rot faster.

Sort the berries by size, color, and quality, and remove any that are damaged, diseased, or overripe. For supermarket sales, pack the berries in 125 gram or 250 gram punnets with clear lids so customers can see the fruit. For processing, you can pack the berries in larger containers or freeze them immediately after harvest.

Raspberries do not store well at room temperature, so you need to cool them as soon as possible after picking. Store the berries at 0 to 2 degrees Celsius with high humidity, and under these conditions, they can be stored for 3 to 5 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the berries, which will keep for 6 to 12 months.

How Much Money You Can Make from Raspberry Farming

The first year of growing raspberries on one acre costs about 1.82 million shillings for seedlings, land preparation, manure, fertilizer, irrigation, trellising, and labor. If you add a high tunnel to protect the plants from rain and pests, the cost goes up to about 2.32 million shillings. You will get a small harvest in the first year, about 500 kilograms per acre, which will give you 500,000 shillings at 1,000 shillings per kilogram. You will still have a loss of about 1.32 million shillings.

From year 2 onward, the plants produce more fruit. A 2 year old planting gives about 2,000 kilograms per acre, and at 1,200 shillings per kilogram, you get 2.4 million shillings. Your profit is about 583,000 shillings after subtracting your costs.

By year 3, the plants are fully established and give about 3,000 kilograms per acre. At 1,500 shillings per kilogram, you get 4.5 million shillings, and your profit is about 2.68 million shillings.

By year 4, the plants give 3,500 kilograms per acre. At 1,500 shillings per kilogram, you get 5.25 million shillings, and your profit is about 3.43 million shillings.

By year 5 and beyond, the plants give 4,000 kilograms per acre. At 1,500 shillings per kilogram, you get 6 million shillings, and your profit is about 4.18 million shillings per acre every year.

Next Step for Raspberry Farming in Kenya

Raspberry farming in Kenya requires a large investment at the start, but the returns are very good for farmers who have the right land and water. Heritage, Willamette, and Tulameen are the best varieties for Kenyan conditions, and certified seedlings from Farmers Trend cost 500 shillings each. A well-managed acre with 3,200 plants yields 3 to 4 tons of fruit per year in open fields, and up to 8 tons per year in high tunnels. The farm gate price ranges from 1,000 to 1,500 shillings per kilogram, and by year 5, you can earn over 4 million shillings per acre.

The best time to plant is March to May when the rains start, and you should prepare your land, put in drip irrigation, build trellises, and test your soil before you order seedlings. The plants need cool highland areas like Limuru, Molo, Kinangop, Timau, and Nyeri to grow well.

For certified raspberry seedlings at 500 shillings, site checks, and the 2026 Raspberry farming in Kenya PDF guide, contact Farmers Trend Ltd at 0790509684. The farmers who started growing raspberries a few years ago are now earning millions every season, and their plants will keep producing for another 5 to 7 years. The time to start is now.

https://farmerstrend.co.ke/fruits/raspberry-farming/raspberry-farming-in-kenya-guide/https://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/raspberry-farming-1024x536.webphttps://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/raspberry-farming-150x150.webp2026-04-17T20:48:58+00:00FarmersTrendRaspberry farming# TrendingRaspberry Farming in Kenya: A Simple Guide to Growing High-Value Berries for Money Raspberries are not very common in Kenya yet, but more farmers in the cool highland areas are starting to grow them because they earn good money from the fruit. Farmers in Limuru, Molo, and the slopes of...FarmersTrendjohn doefarmerstrend@gmail.comAdministratorFarmers Trend Ltd.