Apricot is a fruit and belongs to the ‘Rosaceae’ family and genus ‘Prunus’. The apricot tree is small (between 26 and 39 feet tall), with a trunk up to 16 inches in diameter and a dense, spreading canopy.
The fruit is a drupe similar to a small peach, 0.6 to 1.0 inches diameter, from yellow to orange, often tinged red on the side most exposed to the sun. Surface of the fruits can be smooth or velvety with very short hairs.
The flesh is generally firm and not very juicy. Taste of the fruits can range from sweet to tart. The single seed is enclosed in a hard, stony shell, often called a “stone” or “kernel”, with a grainy, smooth texture except for three ridges running down one side.
History
Apricot farming is a very old business. Currently it is a very familiar and popular fruit in many countries throughout the world. Actually, it has been planted and cultivated for many centuries.
Apricot actually first appeared in English in the sixteenth century as abrecock from the Middle French, aubercot, or later from Portuguese, albricoque.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, total world production of apricots was 4.3 million tones in the year of 2017. Top producer was Turkey with 23% of total production. And other major apricot producing countries were Uzbekistan, Italy, Algeria and Iran.
However, commercial apricot farming is a very good and profitable business in Kenya.
Why Apricot Farming In Kenya
Apricot farming is a very easy and simple business if you can do everything perfectly. Commercial business has many benefits or advantages.
You can start commercial dates farming for making good amount of profits. You can start this business, even if you are a beginner. Here we are shortly describing about the top advantages of starting commercial apricot farming business.
- Commercial apricot farming is not a new business. It is an established business and many people are already doing this for making money.
- Caring the apricot trees is relatively easy. So, you can take this opportunity for making good profits.
- Currently, apricots are available in many countries throughout the world.
- Demand and price of apricots are increasing gradually.
- The plants can grow almost everywhere.
- As commercial production is profitable, so you can take this opportunity for making an employment source. Especially, the educated unemployed young people can start such agribusiness instead of seeking for jobs.
- Production cost is not too high and the return is very good.
- Marketing apricots will be relatively easy, because it has already established it’s market.
- Consuming apricots on a regular basis has many health benefits. And you can enjoy fresh apricots if you start growing of your own.
Apricot Varieties In Kenya
There are several apricot varieties suitable for Kenya, such as the
- Moorpark,
- Tilton,
- Gold Cot,
- Rival.
Consult with a local agricultural expert or contact us to determine which variety is best for your region.
Suitable Regions To Grow Apricot In Kenya
Apricots thrive in warm, dry climates and require well-drained soil. In Kenya, areas such as Machakos, Kajiado, Meru, Embu, Kitui, and Murang’a are suitable for apricot farming.
Here in this guide, we are trying to describe more information about apricot farming business from planting, caring to harvesting and marketing.
Select Good Location
First of all, select a very good location for growing apricot plants. Very fertile, well drained soil with exposure to full sun will be good for apricot farming.
Well drained soil is a must, because the apricot plants don’t like moist roots. Right pH level between 6.7 and 7.5 will be very good for growing apricot plants.
Prepare the Soil
You have to prepare the soil perfectly before planting the apricot plants. Well-drained, fertile soil is generally good for good growth of the plants.
Dig the pits size of 2 x 2 x 2 feet 1 month before planting. Fill every pit with a mixture of soil and around 50- 60 kg of well rotted farm yard manure.
Prepare or Purchase Plants
Apricots are generally propagated by grafting or budding and T-budding, Tongue grafting and chip budding.
For raising rootstock, seeds should be collected from ripen wild apricots. These seeds require stratification for a duration of 45 days at 4°C to break dormancy.
Soak the seeds after stratification in 5 ppm Kinetin or 500 ppm GA3 solution for 24 hours before sowing.
Then sow the seeds 5 to 10 cm deep on nursery beds at a seed to seed spacing of 15 to 20 cm and the row to row distance should be between 25 and 30 cm.
Mulch the nursery beds after sowing and also water slightly. The seedlings will be ready with graftable size in one year after sowing. The seedlings of pencil thickness should be grafted with tongue method.
You can avoid all these steps mentioned above, if you purchase the ready plants from nurseries.
Planting
Prepare the land perfectly by following the steps mentioned above. Prepare the planting area in early spring.
The standard spacing should be between 5 x 5m. The spacing is generally based on the height of a standard apricot tree, which can grow anywhere between 20 and 30 feet tall depending on variety.
Irrigate immediately after planting the small plants. And it is always recommended to plant the plants in the afternoon.
Caring
Apricot plants generally require less caring. Although, taking additional caring is very important for good growth of the plants and better production.
Caring the apricot plants is generally easy. Here we are trying to describe about the caring process of apricot farming business.
Fertilizing
Prepare the soil before planting in the above mentioned ways. Try to add as much organic contents as you can.
Watering
Adequate watering is required especially during fruit development stage in the month of April to May.
Frequency of irrigation depends on the soil type, age of the tree and weather conditions.
Provide irrigation at 8 to 10 days intervals during extreme hot and dry periods. Make good drainage system to avoid water logging in case of heavy rains.
Mulching
Mulching is very important, especially immediately after planting. Mulching not only helps to retain moisture into the soil, but also helps to prevent weeds.
Training & Pruning
Apricot trees are trained on modified center leader and ope vase system. 1 year old whip should be headed back at 70cm above the ground and 4 to 5 well spaced shoots should be allowed to grow in all directions, at the time of plantation.
Pruning is also required to give the tree a good shape. So, pruning should be carried out in first dormant season.
Pests & Diseases of apricot
Like other commercial crops, apricot plants are susceptible to various diseases whose relative importance is different in the major production regions as a consequence of their climatic differences.
For example, hot weather as experienced in Kenya often causes pit burn, a condition of soft and brown fruit around the pit.
Bacterial diseases include bacterial spot and crown gall. And fungal diseases include brown rot.
Dieback of branches in the summer is attributed to the fungus Eutypa lata, where examination of the base of the dead branch reveals a canker surrounding a pruning wound.
Other fungal diseases of the apricot plants are black knot, Alternaria spot and fruit rot, and powdery mildew.
Consult with an expert in your area for controlling all the diseases and pests.
Harvesting
Generally, the apricot fruits become mature in first week of May-June end depending upon the variety. The trees generally start bearing fruits from 3rd year and attain maximum fruit bearing stage at 8 to 10 years of age. And the trees continue producing fruits up to their 35 years of age.
You can harvest the fruits manually. The fruits should be plucked after they change the surface color from green to yellowish, for fresh marketing.
Fully ripen apricot fruits can be harvested for drying, freezing and canning purposes.
These fruits are perishable, so extreme care should be taken after harvesting. And grade the fruits based on their size after harvesting, and pack in the wooden or plastic boxes. Apricots can be stored at 0°C for 1 to 2 weeks by maintaining 85% to 95% relative humidity.
Apricot Yield Per Acre Per Tree
It’s not possible to tell the exact yield. Exact yield depends on many factors. But average yield is 50 to 85 kg fruits per tree.
Marketing
Marketing apricots is relatively easy. Hope you will be able to easily sell your products in the local market. Although, you should set your marketing strategies before starting this business.
Conclusion
Apricot farming is a viable venture in Kenya, especially in regions with warm and dry climates. Here are some key points to consider if you are interested in apricot farming in Kenya:
- Climate and Soil: Apricots thrive in warm, dry climates and require well-drained soil. In Kenya, areas such as Machakos, Kajiado, Meru, Embu, Kitui, and Murang’a are suitable for apricot farming.
- Varieties: There are several apricot varieties suitable for Kenya, such as the Moorpark, Tilton, Gold Cot, and Rival. Consult with a local agricultural expert to determine which variety is best for your region.
- Planting: Apricot trees should be planted in well-drained soil, and the planting holes should be deep enough to accommodate the entire root system. The recommended spacing between trees is 6-8 meters.
- Care and Maintenance: Apricot trees require regular watering, especially during the dry season. Pruning should be done to remove dead or diseased branches, and to control the tree’s size and shape. Fertilizer application is also necessary to ensure healthy growth and fruit production.
- Harvesting: Apricots are ready for harvest when the fruit is fully ripe and has a deep orange color. Harvesting should be done carefully to avoid damaging the fruit.
- Marketing: Apricots can be sold fresh, dried, or processed into juice or jam. You can market your apricots to local markets, supermarkets, and processing companies.
Overall, apricot farming in Kenya can be profitable if done correctly. Consult with local agricultural experts to get more information on specific requirements for your region.
These are the common steps and ways for staring and operating a successful apricot farming business in Kenya.
It’s really easy.
Hope this guide has helped you! Good luck & may God bless you!
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