The growing of butternuts is one of the most important agricultural activities in Kenya. The plant is cultivated for the purpose of harvesting its edible fruits, which can either be consumed by people or fed to animals. But does it make financial sense to do so? This article describes the profitability of butternut farming in Kenya.
Yes, butternut farming is profitable in Kenya because one kilo is sold for Ksh. 50 to Ksh. 100 when there is a low supply and Ksh. 20 when there is an excess of butternut. Also, when you plant butternut on an acre of land, you will be able to get 6,000 fruits and then take them to the market; you will get Ksh. 180,000 since each fruit is sold at Ksh. 30 per season.
Why Butternut Farming Is Profitable in Kenya
The following are five reasons that make butternut farming profitable in Kenya:
1. Highly in Demand
Butternut is in high demand because it can be prepared in a variety of ways: boiled, roasted, and eaten as a snack in place of bread; mashed with potatoes and served with rice; and crushed to make vegetable soup.
2. Short Time to Maturity
Due to its quick maturation period and excellent yields, butternut is a crop that can be grown profitably on both small and large scales. If you are looking for a quick return investment, then you should consider growing butternut.
3. Delicious and Highly Nutritious
Butternut is a tasty and healthy fleshy fruit that is high in vitamins A and C, potassium, manganese, and fiber. It is also a good investment because it is delicious, nutritious, and has health benefits.
4. Simple to Grow
Growing butternut does not require a lot of expertise. You just need to find a piece of land and buy the required seeds. You can then follow the beginner’s guide on how to plant butternuts in Kenya. As a result, butternut farming is profitable.
Additionally, it does not require a lot of farm maintenance practices, and thus the production does not cost much because it is a good crop that is easy for beginners to grow because it doesn’t cost much to make.
5. Ready Market
Butternut fruits have a local and international market. This prevents the farmer from experiencing losses due to a lack of market.
The price of butternut fruit in Kenya varies with the season. On average, a kilo is sold for between Ksh. 50 and 110.
Atlas F1 hybrid butternut is sold for Kshs 40 to Kshs 70 per fruit.
How to Plant Butternut: 9 Easy Steps
Butternut seeds are planted directly on the prepared land. Below are nine steps to guide you when planting butternut seeds:
Step 1: Select the Land for Planting
The first step is to select suitable land for planting your butternut. The ground should receive adequate sunshine. The area should be warm, with a temperature of 18 to 24 degrees Celsius, and the soil should be well-drained and fertile loam soil.
Step 2: Prepare the Land
You prepare the land by plowing and harrowing it to ensure it is level, the hardpan is broken, and the soil has a fine tilth. Also, incorporate farmyard manure on a farm in the preparation process.
After preparing, make mounds by gathering soil about 18 inches tall before sowing seeds.
Step 3: Choose the Best Variety
Various butternut varieties are planted in Kenya, like Waltham, Atlas F1, Early Butternut F1, Jupiter hybrid, and Autumn Glow. As a result, before you begin farming, you should consider whether market demand is high.
Step 4: Planting
Soak the seeds for at least 24 hours before planting them. This will break the seeds’ dormancy and make it easy for them to grow. After that, dig holes 2 cm deep at a spacing of 40 cm between plants and 1.5 m in rows. Sow two to three seeds into holes and lightly cover them with a thin layer of soil.
Water the land until plants sprout after 7 to 10 days of sowing, depending on climatic conditions.
Step 5: Practice Irrigation
In dry and drought conditions, irrigation should be done frequently for better output. Furrow irrigation should be carried out every ten days, especially during planting, vegetative growth, flowering, and fruit set stages.
Step 6: Weed Control
Weeding is essential to reduce competition and should be done regularly to get good yields. Carry out shallow cultivation when butternut plants are in two weeks to control weed growth. Also, you can remove weeds with a hand to avoid uprooting butternut plants.
Step 7: Application of Fertilizer
To get a good product, using fertilizers like DAP when planting, CAN during top dressing, and foliar fertilizer when the plants start flowering is good.
When the vines are 30 cm long, topdress with CAN fertilizer, one tablespoon per plant. Again, topdress later in the month when they start to flower.
Step 8: Pest and Disease Control
You can control pests and diseases that affect butternut, like cutworms, squash bugs, aphids, powdery mildew, and anthracnose. Pesticides are sprayed on butternut plants seven days after germination to kill cub cutworms that cut roots. During the fruiting stage, you remove and isolate fruits that have developed black rots due to a fungal infection.
In the cold season, powder mildew may attack the leaves; therefore, you can use plant-based neem and garlic extracts to control it.
Step 9: Harvesting and Storage
Butternuts are ready to be harvested 75 to 100 days after germination, depending on the variety and climatic conditions. A ripe butternut fruit turns from green to yellow. The skin should be challenging and not scratch easily. Harvesting is done by cutting the mature butternut stem a few centimeters from the fruit.
After harvesting, the butternut fruits are washed and stored in a cool, dry place until ready for the market.
Butternut Market in Kenya
Butternut has a ready market in Kenya, including local open-air markets, grocery stores, supermarkets, hotels, and export companies.
The five most common buyers of butternut in Kenya are:
1. Hotels.
2. Selina Wamucii Limited for export.
3. Mkulima Young.
4. Farmbiz Africa.
5. Farmers Market Kenya is an online marketplace where buyers and sellers meet to trade farm produce.
