Pixie oranges continue to become very popular among Kenyan consumers owing to their sweetness than the ordinary large oranges.
This has presented an opportunity to Kenyan farmers especially in the Eastern region where pixie oranges farming is popular.
Currently, Makueni County leads in the production of this fruit, followed by the other Ukambani counties of Machakos and Kitui.
Haron Muthini is one of the farmers who has found success in this juicy fruit. The Makueni County farmer revealed he started farming in 2011 after completing high school, growing Kale, lemons, and other crops.
He joined University in 2015 to pursue General Agriculture, honing his farming skills. Unlike other graduates who embark on job search after school, Muthini’s zero desire for employment led him to farm in his rural home after completing his degree in 2019.
Today, he owns eight acres of land that hosts 1,400 pixie plants planted in 2020. He sells his produce off-season because the prices are very good.
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He sells a kilogram at Sh150, with each tree producing up to 80kgs. Muthini says a well-managed tree can produce up to 120 kilograms.
His farm produces more than 150 tonnes, with a tonne selling for more than Sh100,000. He notes that the demand for the fruit is so high locally that he and other farmers are unable to get a surplus for export.
The farmer says the venture broke even after 3.5 years, adding that nurturing the plants requires a lot of money. Besides fruit farming, Muthini offers planting services to farmers intending to venture into pixie oranges farming and charges Sh102,000 per acre.
The services include manure, planting and taking care of the plants until they are four months old. He then guides the farmer on what to be sprayed at different stages.
According to Rich Farm Kenya, grafted pixie oranges mature faster than ordinary ones. They start producing fruits in the second year and mature after 3-5 years, depending on how well they are cared for.
At first, each tree will give a few fruits, about 30 to 50 fruits. This production increases every year as the branches grow wider. Further, the more the plant matures the more it will give fruits.