Kiwi being a high value crop makes its farming in Kenya such a potential high income business opportunity. With the necessary structures, you are good to go.
While Kenya has an ideal tropical climate for kiwi fruit farming, many people do not have the information necessary for the successful growing of this fruit. Even up to the year 2022, the ones that we buy today here in Kenya are mostly imported from Italy, India and China.
There is a wide market for kiwi fruit farmers in Kenya as the fruit can be consumed raw by those who buy for self or family consumption, juice processing companies can also buy in bulk, and in baking plants for foods baking. Farmers can also sell to local markets or approach the supermarkets.
Kiwi fruits have longer shelf life of over six months after harvesting when stored in a cool place. It can stay for weeks out of refrigeration before sent to the market. Therefore a farmer does not need a refrigerator to keep the fruit fresh.
Where do kiwi fruits grow best?
Kiwi thrives in cool or cold climates of the Kenyan highlands where temperatures sometime fall below 10o celsius. So, if you are in the central highlands Kiambu, Nyandarua, Meru and Nyeri, Rift Valley highlands Eldoret, Kericho, Bomet and Nandi hills) or the western highlands Kisii and areas near Kakamega forest you are in the ideal zone.
In case of dry season the plants should be irrigated regularly especially through drip irrigation.
Where can one buy Kiwi Seedlings
Kiwi seedlings can be sourced from various fruit propagators, it is advisable to go for a certified nursery. You can contact 0724-559286 or 0790-509684 to obtain the best kiwi fruit seedlings in Kenya
How many kiwi plants can I plant in an acre?
You can plant 400 plants in one acre. The spacing required to achieve that is 2 meters between the lines and 5 meters from plant to plant. Remember to make your lines run from east to west to ensure all the vines get sufficient sunlight throughout the day.
How long does it take for a kiwi plant to produce fruits?
It should take you at most 2 years from the date of planting to harvest your first fruit if you develop your seedlings from cuttings. However, seedlings developed from seeds take very long as mentioned above; up to 5 years.
How can I tell if a kiwi plant is male of female?
Kiwi can be propagated either from seed or stem cuttings though cuttings are preferred because it enables the plant to establish faster hence early maturity.
Some varieties have separate male and female plants and you can distinguish them by looking at the flowers. If all the parts at the center of the flower are yellow and covered with tiny grains of pollen, then that is a male plant.
If the center of the flower has a white part called stigma, then that is a female plant. The stigma at the center of the flower is sometimes surrounded by parts that look like the anthers of a male flower but without pollen. Remember, if the variety you have has separate male and female plants, you will need at least 1 male for every 6 to 9 female plants in order to have a good fruit setting.
It is nearly impossible to tell from the cuttings or seeds which one could grow into male or female kiwi fruit plant until at a certain stage.
Kiwi is dioecious-it is hard to identify if a plant is either male or female until they start flowering, so one has to grow several plants to increase the probability of having both
What are the best soil types to grow kiwi fruits in Kenya?
Kiwi needs a well drained soil with a high amount of organic matter. Like most fruit trees, kiwi plants do not tolerate too much water in the soil.
If the soil is compact and water takes a time to drain off, you must plant the vines on raised beds to direct excess water away from the roots of the plant.
Draining the soil can also be improved by digging a large hole (about 3 by 3 feet wide and 2 feet deep), mixing the top soil with a bit of sand and well composted farmyard manure then fill the hole with the mixture and plant your Kiwi seedling in it.
Storage of kiwi fruits
Fruits harvested when firm will ripen when stored properly for long periods. This allows fruit to be sent to market up to 8 weeks after harvest. Firm kiwifruit ripen after a few days to a week when stored at room temperature, but should not be kept in direct sunlight.
Faster ripening occurs when placed in a paper bag with an apple, pear, or banana. Once a kiwifruit is ripe, however, it is preserved optimally when stored far from other fruits, as it is very sensitive to the ethylene gas they may emit, thereby tending to over-ripen even in the refrigerator. If stored appropriately, ripe kiwifruit normally keep for about one to two weeks.
Nutrition value of kiwi fruits
A medium size kiwifruit (76 grams) provides 46 calories, 0.3 g fat, 1 g protein, 11 g carbohydrates, and 2.6 g dietary fiber found partly in the edible skin. Kiwifruit is a rich source of vitamin C (112% of the Daily Value per 100 grams) and vitamin K, and a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin E (nutrient tables, right). Kiwifruit seed oil contains on average 62% alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid. Kiwifruit pulp contains carotenoids, such as provitamin A beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin.