Pumpkin farming is among the common crops that are practiced in Kenya. Pumpkins are very nutritious, and they have many health benefits. But is it profitable? This blog post explores the question of whether pumpkin farming in Kenya is profitable.
Yes. Pumpkin is highly profitable in Kenya, mainly for pumpkin farmers, because it is delicious and has health benefits for consumers. Therefore, the demand is always high, making it a lucrative farming activity for farmers.
5 Reasons Why Pumpkin is Profitable
Pumpkin farming is a profitable business because of the following five reasons:
1. High Demand
The huge demand for pumpkin in Kenya is attributed to its multiple health benefits. As a result, pumpkin has a high market value and a ready-made worldwide and domestic market.
2. Pumpkin Farming is Simple
Starting a pumpkin farm is straightforward since it requires less capital to get started.
3. Low Production Costs
Pumpkin is profitable because production costs are not higher, like irrigation, which is not necessary since pumpkin plants do not need too much water, which will affect the fruit.
4. Pumpkin Leaves Can Be Eaten
Its leaves are used as vegetables when cooked, and the seeds are considered a superfood due to their nutritional properties, making it highly profitable.
5. High Consumption Locally
Pumpkin is profitable since it is used as a breakfast snack and can be cooked with other ingredients and consumed with any meal.
How Profitable is Pumpkin Farming in Kenya
Farming pumpkin is profitable, as one can get five to six tonnes of pumpkin fruits on an acre of land per season, and when you sell them, you get Kshs 20,000 per tonne.
Pumpkins in Kenya are sold between Kshs 50 to Kshs 80 per kilo depending on the variety, and a mature giant Israel pumpkin variety weighing between 20kg to 30kg is sold at Kshs 500 to Kshs 700 while weighing between 10kg to 15kg ranges from Kshs 200 to Kshs 500. This makes one gains good money when farming pumpkins.
Also, from six tonnes of the crop, the farmer can get up to 1000kilos of pumpkin powder when crushed and sell it as packed flour. Five kilos of the product can get 250ml of pumpkin oil when extracted, and each 250m bottle of oil is sold at Kshs 500 and can make up to 15 bottles daily.
Alternatively, pumpkin seeds are sold at Kshs 1000 per kilo, and roasted seeds are at Kshs 400 per 100g. Moreover, green pumpkin leaves have had a high demand for a long time since you can make Kshs 40000 in a month.
Pumpkin Profit Per Acre in Kenya
The profit of pumpkins per acre of land will depend on the spacing during planting and the variety of pumpkins planted. However, on a well-managed piece of land, you get up to five tonnes of pumpkin per acre in Kenya.
The price of a pumpkin in Kenya depends on the size and type of pumpkin. For instance a mature pumpkin costs between Kshs 200 to Kshs 500, depending on their weight in kilograms.
