Watermelon farming is among the common crops grown by Kenyan farmers. Before one starts farming, it is essential to have enough capital for good production. For watermelon farming to produce good yields, you need to budget for it to know the cost of farming. This article discusses the cost of farming watermelons in Kenya.
Watermelon farming in Kenya is estimated to cost Ksh 40,000. For example, as a farmer, a 500-gram packet of seeds costs Ksh 3,500 for an acre of land. The other costs involve ploughing and weeding, which cost Ksh 3,000 per month, which translates to Ksh 12,000 for four monthly growing periods for varieties that take the longest to mature.
Breakdown of the Cost of Watermelon Farming
You will also need one 50 kg bag of DAP fertilizer, which costs Ksh 2500. Pesticides and fungicides are meant to be used to stop diseases and pests that can hurt crops and lower yields. This will cost you Ksh 5,000 or less, depending on the situation at your farm.
It is best to estimate the cost of labor at around Ksh 10,000, and any other expenses such as transportation costs would be Kshs 2000, and the use of growth hormones such as Citishooter to encourage consistent growth would be Kshs 4000. Therefore, to cover the cost of watermelon production, a farmer will need an average of Kshs 40000 per acre.
Cost of Watermelon Seeds in Kenya
The cost of watermelon seeds in Kenya depends on the brand and variety of watermelons. Therefore, 1 kg of watermelon seeds goes for between Ksh. 3000 and Ksh. 4000. For instance, the Sukari F1 variety costs an average of Ksh. 3500 per kilo.
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