The growing demand for pawpaw fruits has created opportunities for farmers to enjoy handsome profits as the venture remains less exploited.
Many farmers across the country have ditched the venture with the belief that it’s not worth the effort. However, few farmers who are carrying out the agribusiness have proved that pawpaw farming is worth it, given the little maintenance required.
Robert Muriithi, a farmer in the semi-arid Ciangera area of Embu County, is among the few farmers in the country reaping big from pawpaw farming.
Murithi’s journey began over three decades ago after completing his high school studies, helped by a Sh1,000 loan from a relative and a small plot of land from his parents.
“I would draw water from a 100ft well and haul with my hands on two jerricans up to the farm. It was an energy-sapping toil, but you have to start somewhere,” he recalled.
As he continued to grind hard, he developed a savings culture and joined a savings group where he managed to save Sh20,000.
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He used the funds to expand his venture, including acquiring a water pump, a crucial tool in farming.
Muriithi started with various crops, including maize, watermelons, capsicum, tomatoes, butternuts, and long chili, before finally settling on pawpaw farming.
“Eventually, I settled for pawpaw, mangoes, and oranges. They do not require a lot of farm inputs. This means the cost of production is lower. Moreover, they do not suffer from price fluctuations,” he recalled.
His 12-acre piece of land hosts 1,000 pawpaw trees, specifically the Vega F1 and Red Royale varieties. The farmer says he makes up to Sh50,000 per week from pawpaw sales.
Asked about production cost, he explained that an acre of pawpaws, which accommodates 600 trees, is approximately Sh100,000.
After planting, the trees take around 7 months to start producing fruits, with each tree capable of yielding up to 30 kilograms of pawpaw.
Being in a drought-stricken area, Muriithi faces many challenges, among them intense sunlight, which he says reduces the trees’ lifespan from four years to two years.
He adds that pests such as mealy bugs, spider mites, and common pests are a threat to pawpaw fruits as they cause damage and recur even after spraying.
