Pigeon Pea (Mbaazi) Farming In Kenya: A Complete Cultivation Guide

Pigeon pea is a drought-tolerant crop primarily grown by small-scale farmers in arid and semi-arid lands mostly for income generation and food security. Despite its importance in drought-prone environments, its production remains low. It has very slow initial development (up to 2 months after planting). With a deep taproot, pigeon peas are able to take up nutrients and water from lower subsoil layers. Therefore, in crop mixes they hardly compete with the companion crops. This crop grows and yields well under conditions of low rainfall and poor soil.

The government has been working on new strategies to boost pigeon peas production across the country with the introduction of varieties that are resistant to vagaries of climate change and diseases.

Currently the country produces about 275,000 tons of pigeon peas against a demand that exceeds over one million tons with the crop mainly cultivated in Eastern area of Ukambani and the Coastal area.

History Of Pigeon Pea Farming In Kenya

The history of pigeon pea farming in Kenya dates back to ancient times, tracing its origins to the Indian subcontinent. Pigeon pea, scientifically known as Cajanus cajan, is believed to have been introduced to East Africa, including Kenya, through trade and cultural exchanges with Asian and Arab communities.

During the early years of colonization, British settlers recognized the potential of pigeon pea as a drought-tolerant and soil-improving crop. Consequently, they introduced the cultivation of pigeon pea in parts of Kenya, particularly in regions with semi-arid and arid climates. The crop quickly gained popularity among local farmers due to its ability to thrive in challenging environmental conditions and its diverse uses.

As time progressed, pigeon pea became an integral component of indigenous farming practices in Kenya. Small-scale farmers, especially those in drought-prone areas, embraced pigeon pea farming as a means to diversify their crops and enhance food security. Its nutritional value, particularly its protein-rich seeds, further contributed to its significance in the local diet.

In the 1970s, pigeon pea farming received renewed attention from agricultural researchers and development organizations as part of efforts to improve food production and alleviate poverty in Kenya. Research institutions and non-governmental organizations focused on developing improved pigeon pea varieties that exhibited greater disease resistance, higher yields, and better nutritional content.

The promotion of pigeon pea as a cash crop gained momentum in the late 20th century. Export opportunities and demand from international markets, including India and the Middle East, prompted farmers to expand their pigeon pea cultivation to meet the growing market needs.

Today, pigeon pea farming continues to play a vital role in Kenya’s agriculture sector, contributing to rural livelihoods and sustainable farming practices. The crop is cultivated in various regions across the country, with notable production in semi-arid areas like Eastern, Coast, and North Eastern regions.

The Kenyan government, in collaboration with agricultural research institutions and international organizations, continues to support pigeon pea farming through various initiatives. These efforts include the dissemination of improved farming practices, the introduction of high-yielding varieties, and the establishment of value chains to enhance market access for farmers.

As a result of these endeavors, pigeon pea farming in Kenya has evolved from a traditional crop grown for subsistence into a commercially viable and economically significant agricultural activity. Its resilience to climatic challenges, its role in soil fertility improvement, and its nutritional benefits make it a crucial component of Kenya’s agricultural landscape, supporting food security, income generation, and sustainable agricultural practices in the country.

Benefits of Growing Pigeon Pea

There are some advantages or benefits of growing pigeon pea. Here we are describing about the most important advantages or benefits of growing pigeon pea.

• The pigeon pea plants are very strong and hardy. They can even survive in poor soil conditions and they are able to tolerate dry weather.
• It is a nutritious and high-protein pulse crop. The plants are perennial for up to 5 years.
• You can use all the parts of pigeon pea plants. The leaves can be used as animal feed for feeding livestock animals. And the woody parts can be used for firewood.
• The pigeon pea plants grow relatively faster and they make good shade for other crops.
• The pigeon pea plants have deep taproot. And they can take nutrients and water from deep in the soil. And for their deep taproot, the pigeon pea plants can be used for controlling soil erosion.
• In commercial production, the pigeon peas can make good profits.

Pigeon Pea Varieties In Kenya

Note that these are just a few of the many pigeon pea varieties that are grown in Kenya. The yield per acre and maturity of a particular variety will vary depending on the growing conditions.

Climate for Pigeon Pea Farming In Kenya

Here are the key climate requirements for pigeon pea production:

• Temperature: Pigeon Pea prefers temperatures between 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F). It can tolerate higher temperatures but is sensitive to frost. The crop requires warm conditions for germination and growth, making it unsuitable for regions with cold winters.
• Rainfall: Pigeon Pea is primarily a rainfed crop and requires an annual rainfall of 600 to 1200 mm (24 to 47 inches) for optimal growth. It can tolerate periods of drought once established, but extended dry spells can adversely affect yield and overall performance.
• Sunlight: Pigeon Pea is a sun-loving crop and requires full sunlight for most of the day. Adequate sunlight promotes flowering, pod development, and overall plant productivity.
• Soil: The crop can adapt to a wide range of soil types, from sandy to clayey soils. However, it thrives best in well-drained, loamy soils with good organic matter content. The pH range of the soil should ideally be between 6.0 to 7.5 for optimal growth.
• Altitude: Pigeon Pea can be grown at different altitudes, typically ranging from sea level up to 2,000 meters (6,500 feet). However, it is more commonly grown in lowland and mid-altitude regions.
• Growing Season: Pigeon Pea requires a growing season of approximately 120 to 240 days, depending on the variety and environmental conditions. Early-maturing varieties may have a shorter growing season, making them suitable for regions with a shorter growing window.
• Humidity: While pigeon pea can tolerate some humidity, excessively high humidity levels can lead to increased disease pressure, especially fungal diseases.

Land Preparation for Pigeon Pea Farming In Kenya

1. Selecting the Site: Choose a suitable site for pigeon pea cultivation. The site should have good sunlight exposure and well-drained soil. Avoid low-lying areas prone to waterlogging.
2. Clearing the Land: Remove any existing vegetation, weeds, or debris from the land. This can be done manually or using machinery, depending on the size of the plot.
3. Plowing: Use a tractor or plow to turn over the soil to a depth of about 15-20 cm (6-8 inches). Plowing helps break up compacted soil, improves aeration, and facilitates root penetration.
4. Harrowing: After plowing, use a harrow to further break down clods of soil, level the surface, and create a fine seedbed. Harrowing also helps in incorporating any organic matter or compost into the soil.
5. Soil Testing and Amendment: Conduct a soil test to determine the nutrient status of the soil. Based on the soil test results, apply any necessary soil amendments such as lime to adjust pH or fertilizers to address nutrient deficiencies. Mix the amendments thoroughly into the soil during harrowing.
6. Creating Raised Beds (Optional): In areas with heavy rainfall or poor drainage, consider creating raised beds to improve water drainage. Raised beds also help in weed control and facilitate better root growth.
7. Marking Rows: Use stakes and strings to mark rows for planting. The spacing between rows depends on the variety and the available resources, but it’s generally recommended to keep rows at least 60-90 cm (2-3 feet) apart.
8. Furrow Preparation: For rainfed cultivation, create furrows along the marked rows. These furrows will help in conserving water and directing it to the root zone of the plants during irrigation or rainfall.
9. Applying Organic Matter (Optional): If available, add well-rotted compost or organic matter to the furrows before sowing the seeds. Organic matter improves soil fertility and moisture retention.
10. Sowing Seeds: Place the pigeon pea seeds at regular intervals along the furrows. The recommended spacing between seeds is around 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) within the furrow.
11. Covering the Seeds: Gently cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil or compost, ensuring they are adequately buried but not too deep. Press down the soil gently to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
12. Irrigation: After sowing the seeds, irrigate the field to promote germination. For rainfed cultivation, time the sowing with the onset of the rainy season for natural irrigation.
13. Weed Control: Keep the field free from weeds during the initial growth stages of the crop. Manual weeding or mechanical weeders can be used for weed control.
14. Thinning (Optional): If the seeds were sown close together, thinning can be done once the seedlings are 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) tall. Remove weaker seedlings, leaving the healthiest and most vigorous plants at the desired spacing.

Preparing Soil For Pigeon Pea Farming In Kenya

The pigeon pea plants can be grown in almost all types of soil, even in very poor soil. But preparing the soil by tilling and adding fertilizers into it will ensure good growth of the plants and will increase total yield.

The pigeon pea plants are deep rooted crop, and they responds well to proper soil preparation.

So, till the soil at least 8 inches deep during the dry season, followed by 2 or3 harrowings and disc ploughing. Remove all types of weeds during this stage.

After properly tilling the soil, add organic materials into it. You should apply organic materials 2-4 weeks before sowing seeds. And level the soil perfectly after adding organic materials into the soil.

For commercial pigeon pea cultivation, apply 10-13 kg urea and 40-45 kg super phosphate per acre. Apply all these fertilizers when you add organic fertilizers into the soil.

Planting

The pigeon pea seeds can be planted either directly into the soil or in rows. We recommend planting the seeds in rows, because it will make the caring process much easier.

At the beginning of the rainy season, plant 2-4 seeds per hole, spaced 1 m (3 ft) apart, in rows 1 m (3 ft) apart. Thin seedlings to 1 per hole. Pigeon Peas are often interplanted one row for 3-5 rows of primary crops. Remove competing weeds while plants are small. Later, the Pigeon Peas provide their own weed control by shading out competitors. The first harvest of green peas for shelling can be expected 4-6 months after sowing just before the pods lose their bright green color.

There is no standard spacing – spacing depends on variety, soil type and production system. In dry areas, and especially in coarse-textured, infertile soils, farmers use wide spacing between plants to limit competition.

Plants are fairly slow to start and weed control for the first two months is important in crop establishment. Once plants are established they grow vigorously.

Depth of sowing the seeds play a very important role in the germination of the seeds. Don’t sow the seeds more than 1 inch deep.

Light watering after sowing the seeds will help to germinate the seeds better. And if you can keep the soil moist consistently, then the seedlings will appear within 1 or 2 weeks.

Treating the seeds before sowing will help to grow better and healthy plants. So, treat the seeds with Thiram or Carbendazim at the rate of 2 grams per kg of seed, 24 hours before sowing the seeds.

Caring

Taking additional care of the pigeon pea plants will result in good growth of the plants which will ultimately maximize the total yield. Here we are describing more about the caring steps for growing pigeon pea.

Fertilizing: Applying additional fertilizers is not required if you already have prepared the soil by following the methods mentioned above.

Watering: For small scale production, you can lightly water the plants on a regular basis. But for large scale or commercial production, the first irrigation should be done within 3-4 weeks after sowing the seeds. And remaining irrigation depend upon rainfall intensity. Further irrigation during flowering stage is essential for good yield.

Mulching: Mulching will help to retain moisture into the soil and it will also help to reduce weeds from the field. Use grass clippings, dried leaves, straw, hay or compost as mulch.

Controlling Weeds: Try to control weeds while preparing the soil. If you notice additional weeds, try hoeing about 3 weeks after sowing the seeds. And another hoeing is required after about 6 weeks. Hand controlling weeds is always a good idea.

Intercropping 

In intercropping, the crop performs well with 2 rows of cereals (e.g. sorghum, millets), cotton or groundnut. After harvest of the intercrop, long-duration pigeon pea continues to grow and protects the soil.

Pigeon pea is regarded as a good plant for restoration of fertility and is used in a rotation with crops such as maize-groundnut-tobacco-pigeon pea for three to four years.

One of the advantages of pigeon pea is the increased growth of the grass interplanted with it. In Uganda, it is usually sown in alternate rows with sesame or African finger millet (Eleusine coracana), and in Malawi with maize. In Tanzania, the main intercrop is cassava. In Kenya, sorghum and maize are the most common intercrops with pigeon pea. However, due to its high demand, there is a tendency to move away from traditional intercropping to monocropping. In Ukambani and Coastal strip, Kenya, the crop is grown commercially in large plots.

Production Per Acre

Please keep in mind that these figures are approximate and may not reflect the current situation. For the most up-to-date and accurate information, it’s essential to consult local agricultural authorities or farmers with recent experience in pigeon pea cultivation.

• Production: The average production of pigeon peas per acre per year in Kenya is around 1,500-2,000 kilograms. However, the yield can vary depending on the variety of pigeon pea, the growing conditions, and the management practices used.
• Cost of production: The cost of production for pigeon pea farming in Kenya can vary depending on the factors mentioned above, but it is typically around 50,000-70,000 Kenya shillings per acre. The main costs include the cost of seeds, fertilizer, labor, and pesticides.
• Profits: The profits from pigeon pea farming in Kenya can vary depending on the yield and the cost of production, but they are typically around 20,000-30,000 Kenya shillings per acre.

Here is an example of the profit calculation for pigeon pea farming in Kenya:

• Yield: 1,500 kilograms per acre
• Price per kilogram: 100 Kenya shillings
• Total revenue: 150,000 Kenya shillings
• Cost of production: 50,000 Kenya shillings
• Profit: 100,000 Kenya shillings

Of course, the actual profits will vary depending on the specific circumstances. However, this example shows that pigeon pea farming can be a profitable business in Kenya.

Here are some tips for increasing profits from pigeon pea farming in Kenya:

• Choose a high-yielding variety of pigeon pea.
• Use good quality seeds.
• Apply the right amount of fertilizer.
• Manage pests and diseases effectively.
• Harvest at the right time.
• Market your produce effectively.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of success in pigeon pea farming in Kenya.

Harvesting

Both mature and immature pigeon peas can be harvested. For using as vegetable, you can start to harvest when the plants have green colored leaves and pods.

And for grain purpose, start harvesting when 75 to 80 percent pods turn brown and dry. Don’t delay for harvesting the grains. Because, delaying can result in damage of the seeds.

The crop is usually cut near the ground when most pods are mature, or mature pods are picked individually. Green pods are picked over a long period in home gardens or hedge crops. Ratoon cropping is mostly practised in pigeon pea producing areas in Kenya.

After harvest the stems are cut back to facilitate re-growth and a second crop is harvested in the subsequent season. Entire air-dried plants or pods are threshed, usually by hand or with cattle, and seed is cleaned. Clean bins prevent insect attack, which can be considerable. Storage as split peas reduces bruchid attacks. Processing includes dhal making, either wet (after sprinkling heaps of seed) or dry, by milling.

Uses of Pigeon Pea

The value of raising Pigeon Peas is that they will produce a vegetable crop of green peas in edible pods as well as a pulse (dry bean) when other garden plants won’t. It also functions as a nitrogen-fixing cover/forage crop, as erosion control, as shade for other vegetables and herbs and the dry stalks can be burned or used as thatch or in weaving baskets.

• Pigeon pea seed is very nutritious, and it is an excellent source of protein.
• The pigeon pea bush has many uses in the sustainable landscape. The plants are also used to reduce soil erosion.
• Some people use the shrub as a living hedge around fruit trees due to it’s ability to fix nitrogen.
• The pods, leaves, flowers or the entire plants are used as an excellent animal fodder.

Market

The market for pigeon pea farming in Kenya is growing. Pigeon peas are a drought-tolerant crop that can be grown in a variety of soils, making them a good option for farmers in semi-arid areas. They are also a nutritious crop, high in protein and fiber.

In Kenya, pigeon peas are mainly grown in the lower eastern and coastal regions. The main markets for pigeon peas in Kenya are local markets, export markets, and the feed market.

Local markets are the most important market for pigeon peas in Kenya. The demand for pigeon peas in local markets is driven by the high population density in Kenya. Pigeon peas are a staple food in Kenya, and they are also used to make a variety of dishes.

Export markets are another important market for pigeon peas in Kenya. Kenya exports pigeon peas to a number of countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. The demand for pigeon peas in export markets is driven by the growing global population and the increasing awareness of the health benefits of pigeon peas.

The feed market is also an important market for pigeon peas in Kenya. Pigeon peas are a good source of protein and fiber, making them a valuable feed for livestock. The demand for pigeon peas in the feed market is driven by the growing livestock sector in Kenya.

The market for pigeon pea farming in Kenya is expected to grow in the coming years. The growing population in Kenya and the increasing awareness of the health benefits of pigeon peas are expected to drive the growth of the market.

FAQs

1. What are the best varieties of pigeon peas to grow in Kenya?

Some of the best varieties of pigeon peas to grow in Kenya include Egerton Mbaazi 1, Egerton Mbaazi 2, Egerton Mbaazi 3, KAT 60/8, 81/3/3, 777, and ICPL 89091. These varieties are all drought-tolerant and resistant to pests and diseases.

2. When is the best time to plant pigeon peas in Kenya?

The best time to plant pigeon peas in Kenya is during the long rains, which typically fall from March to May. However, pigeon peas can also be planted during the short rains, which typically fall from October to December.

3. How much land do I need to grow pigeon peas in Kenya?

The amount of land you need to grow pigeon peas in Kenya depends on the variety you are planting and your desired yield. However, you will typically need at least 0.5 acres to grow a profitable crop.

4. How much does it cost to start a pigeon pea farm in Kenya?

The cost of starting a pigeon pea farm in Kenya depends on a number of factors, including the size of the farm, the variety you are planting, and the cost of inputs. However, you can expect to spend between 50,000 and 100,000 Kenya shillings to start a small farm.

5. How much can I earn from a pigeon pea farm in Kenya?

The amount you can earn from a pigeon pea farm in Kenya depends on a number of factors, including the yield, the price you are able to get for your crop, and the cost of production. However, you can expect to earn between 20,000 and 30,000 Kenya shillings per acre per year.

6. What are the major pests and diseases that affect pigeon peas in Kenya?

The major pests and diseases that affect pigeon peas in Kenya include aphids, beetles, borers, birds, diseases, and nematodes.

7. How do I control pests and diseases in my pigeon pea crop?

There are a number of ways to control pests and diseases in your pigeon pea crop. These include cultural control methods, biological control methods, and chemical control methods.

8. How do I harvest my pigeon pea crop?

The best time to harvest your pigeon pea crop is when the pods are fully mature and the seeds are hard. You can harvest the crop by hand or by using a combine harvester.

9. How do I store my pigeon pea crop?

The best way to store your pigeon pea crop is in a cool, dry place. You can store the crop in bags, bins, or silos.

10. How do I market my pigeon pea crop?

You can market your pigeon pea crop to local markets, export markets, or the feed market. You can also sell your crop directly to consumers.

11. What are the nutritional benefits of pigeon peas?

Pigeon peas are a good source of protein, fiber, and iron. They are also a good source of vitamins A and C.

12. What are the economic benefits of pigeon pea farming in Kenya?

Pigeon pea farming can be a profitable business in Kenya. The crop is drought-tolerant and can be grown in a variety of soils. Pigeon peas are also a good source of protein and fiber, which are in high demand in Kenya.

13. What are the environmental benefits of pigeon pea farming in Kenya?

Pigeon pea farming can have a number of environmental benefits. The crop helps to improve soil fertility and can help to reduce erosion. Pigeon peas also fix nitrogen in the soil, which can benefit other crops.

14. Where can I get more information about pigeon pea farming in Kenya?

There are a number of resources available to help you learn more about pigeon pea farming in Kenya. These include the following:

• The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI)
• The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries
• The Kenya Seed Company
• The Kenya Farmers’ Association