“Once a tendril has been fully exhausted, we prune it and give it two weeks to produce more fruits, otherwise the tendrils will just grow without fruits,” he explains.
The pruned tendrils decompose into manure that is used to improve the productivity of the land. The fruits can be harvested at three stages — the almost-ripe, the ripe, and the falling. During harvesting, the farmer picks the falling and the ripe, leaving the almost-ripe fruits for the next harvesting during which they will either have fallen or become ripe.
Mr Odongo has harvested over 1.9 tonnes of the fruits from the 150 stems that he started with. All his expenses, including land preparation, inputs, seedlings, and labour, are slightly over Sh60,000.
The father-of-five said he employs five casual labourers to help him prepare the land, plant, weed, and spray the vines to prevent diseases. His children are adults and have moved to the city for formal jobs since “they do not want to get themselves dirty in the shamba”.
Apart from the free training, Mr Odongo has also got help from USAID. The organisation visited his farm, bringing him a wheelbarrow, a foot pump, and pipes to sprinkle water on the farm during the dry season.
Another firm, Green Zone Agencies, has also prepared for him a water pond that supplies his crop with a reliable source of water.
Kisumu and Busia provide the passion fruit farmers with a ready market. “The hot sun ripens the fruits to a sweeter taste than those from cold regions,” Mr Odongo says. They have received orders from abroad but have not honoured them due to low production volumes.
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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