Passion fruit farming is considered a highly profitable venture, with the potential to yield substantial returns for farmers.
Cyrus Kiprotich from Eldoret is one of the farmers reaping big from the venture despite lacking a formal agricultural background.
The 28-year-old says he was drawn to passion farming because of the availability of markets, motivation from existing passion farmers in the area, and his parents, who were small-scale farmers.
On his farm in Kaptagat, in Eldoret, he grows black wonder purple passion fruits, as it is the only variety that performs well in the area, thanks to a ready market from Kenyan Originals (KO), a Kenyan brewer that specialises in craft beers.
Being one of the leading suppliers of passion fruits to KO, Kiprotich says the supply is dependent on various factors, including production and season, noting that his supply is almost done daily.
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He adds that the fruits must also meet some standards, including having a sweet taste, being large in size, and being dark and ripe.
Asked about how he landed the supply deal, the farmer said he was referred by Mkulima Mdogo seedlings in Thika.
He would then start supplying the products to the firm through a middleman to African Original. The farmer explains that one tree of passion fruit yields one kilogramme of passion per season.
Therefore, 300 trees is equivalent to 300 kilos at Sh130 per kg. But KO buys from him for Sh140, dependent on quality.
Like any other venture, Kiprotich pointed out some challenges in passion fruit farming, among them poor harvests due to viruses and expensive insecticides.
He advises individuals looking to supply to KO or others to tour local farms and learn farming and seek advice from those in business, among others.
“Be trustworthy in dealing with your customers. Be consistent in your farming journey,” he advised as quoted by Capital FM.
