Beans are popularly grown almost everywhere in Kenya by both small-scale and large-scale farmers. But how much does it cost to plant beans in Kenya? This article shows the cost of planting beans depending on the type of bean and season in Kenya.
The cost of beans ranges between Ksh. 7,000 and Ksh. 12,000 per bag of 90 kg, depending on the quality and type of beans and the price of beans at a particular season in Kenya.
Cost of Planting Beans Per Acre
When planting beans on an acre piece of land, a farmer can spend approximately Ksh. 6000 to Ksh. 7,000 on buying seeds, fertilizer and other costs like labour and herbicides.
The price of bean seeds in Kenya depends on the demand and type of beans, as well as the place you are selling and buying.
For instance, the price of 2 kg of bean seeds is between Ksh. 80 and Ksh. 120 when the demand is low, and when the demand is high, the price is between Ksh. 150 and Ksh. 200. Also, the wholesale price of beans is Ksh. 160 per kilo.
How Beans Are Planted in Kenya
Beans are planted on fertile land using their seeds in well-harrowed land free from weeds and hardpans. Small holes are dug on land at the onset of rainfall in uniform rows to a depth of one inch for heavy seeds and two inches for light seeds, with 30cm to 15cm between holes.
One to two bean seeds are placed in each hole, and the farmyard manure or DAP fertilizer is also placed, and the soil is covered slightly.
Beans are planted on fertile soil in a particular space in Kenya to get more yields and for easy management. They are planted in rows at a space of 45cm, 20cm between one seed and another, and 5cm deep to secure them from being washed away or eaten.
After planting bean seeds, it takes four to seven days to germinate depending on the variety and environmental factors, and it will take 70 to 120 days to grow and be ready to be harvested after sowing.
The Production of Beans Per Acre in Kenya
Production of beans in Kenya will be good if a farmer chooses the best bean variety, knows the appropriate planting season and uses proper farming practices.
In Kenya, beans are harvested after 70 days to 120 days depending on the type of beans and environmental factors. They are harvested green and when dry.
Dry harvesting is done when pods are completely dry; thereafter, they are picked or uprooted and sun-dried to remove moisture for one to two weeks. Harvested beans can be placed on sacks and grounded to expose beans from pods. Beans are stored in sacks and kept for storage, ready to be used or taken to the market.
If a farmer applied all the conditions required for the growth of beans accordingly, production could be about 20 bags of 90 kg.
When a farmer has a one-hectare piece of land, one is required to have between 60kg and 100kg of bean seeds depending on the grade and type of beans, either light or heavy seeds. For light seeds, more seeds will be required than for heavy seeds.
Production of yellow beans is based on the proper farming practices to get higher yields. On an acre of land, a farmer can harvest 500 kg to 900 kg of yellow beans, or between 15 to 18 bags of 90 kg.
