Passion Fruit Farming: A farmer in Siaya County has broken the norm to start growing passion fruit. Farmers in the region have predominantly planted maize as the main crop. Mr Clement Odongo has seen his income triple compared to the time he used to plant maize.
“I adopted farming tactics from Lessos, Rift Valley. After my retirement, I visited the area in 2011 and admired what passion fruit farmers in the region were doing. I vowed to borrow the idea,” said the retired ink maker.
Mr Odongo cannot hide his joy as he surveys his four-acre farm that has 425 vines, all promising to give good returns.
“This earns me my daily bread. I harvest the fruits every week. About 275 vines fetch me at least Sh30,000 a week,” he said.
Out of the 425 vines on his farm, about 150 were planted recently and are yet to mature.
“I started with 150 vines only and increase them every year,” he revealed. Mr Odongo encourages other farmers in the county to join the business as passion fruit farming does not entail a lot of work save for weeding, pruning, and harvesting.
Once one starts harvesting, he says, each vine produces at least two kilogrammes of fruits every week. A kilogramme fetches between Sh100 and Sh120. Compared to maize, he says, passion fruit farming is better because it earns good money and also requires less labour.
“An acre of maize produces 20 to 30 bags of grain while an acre of 670 vines gives two kilogrammes of passion fruits each vine on a weekly basis,” he says.
Mr Odongo has joined hands with other passion fruit farmers in the area in the Siaya Passion Growers Association. Through the group, he has benefited from several tours to other farming regions in Kenya to gain more skills. A Dutch firm, Simon Navy Veronica (SNV), and Millennium Management Consultant (MMC) have also been helpful in boosting his skills.
The group has more than 150 members who plant the fruits on large-scale spreads all over the county.
The 65-year-old farmer says he has never regretted his decision two years down the line as the business has brought him greater fortune than he expected.
The harvesting of the fruits starts six months after planting and goes on every week for five years with two-week intervals in between for pruning.
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i would like to get in touch with this farmer 0724466973.and the owner of this article please text me your contact
Am quite encouraged and impressed by Mr. Odongo’s passion fruit venture as l have an interest in the crop. I would like to get in touch with him as well as visit his farm for a practical experience. Pamela Abuya: 0722 234 064.
Dear Pamela, did you manage to get in contact with mr Odongo?
0721831734 I need to be contacted with Mr. Odango
I am so much impressed by the work of this passion farmer who actually works with alot of passion to achieve maximum production. Kindly l could like to get in touch with him 0726635559 is my contact
I am encouraged and would like to venture into passion fruit farming. Kindly share Mr. Odongos contacts, would like to visit his farm.
This is wonderful, most people from this region don’t like farming and am greatly encouraged. I wish to visit this farm and learn from him more about passion fruit farming. Kindly my contact is 0732509409
I would like to get in touch with Mr Odongo my contact is 0720565526
Very encouraging. I did passion fruit farming years back and gave up due to poor supervision as I was in employment. Now am retired at age 54 and I know what yo venture in. Market is readily available
Please link me with Mr. Odongo, 0725 818 552
Please Mr odongo I need your help in getting market of my passion fruits 0712207676
Very interested in urban spinach farming. Link me with that farmer from this plz
I have good quality passion fruit seedlings…text me no. 0738366770 #Eldoret
Please link me with Mr. Odongo too, Lucas 0722310875 Siaya
i need passion fruit seedlings how do i get them 0724720730 is my number
Hi Ronny i have healthy passion fruits seedlings ….i do farm passion as well
It’s a amazing Mr.Ondongo how can I get your contact number.Im mr.samwel onderi practicing 10acre in kisii , Mwongori settlements schems need your advise