Lower Murang’a: Mango farmers in Lower Murang’a County are expecting a bumper harvest, amid indications that they will surpass what they harvested and sold over the last two years. In the year 2023, the Lower Murang’a mango farmers’ cooperative society managed to harvest 310 tonnes, while in January/February 2024, they managed to sell 839 tonnes of the produce.
According to Kenya News Agency, in the selling window opening from December 15 to February 2024, the cooperative society anticipates harvesting and selling 1,500 to 2,000 tonnes of mangoes from their 1,200 members drawn from across 10 wards in Lower Murang’a. Consequently, the farmers will benefit as the county government has partnered with three leading fruit processing companies, which will buy the fruits at Sh18 per kilo. The fruit processing companies that have an agreement with the county include Sunny Mango, Kevian Limited, and the latest partnership has seen Machakos Vert Limited come on board.
The cooperatives chairperson, Fredrick Kinyanjui,
expressed optimism, saying, “As you can see, the trees are unable to hold the fruits owing to the abundance, and that is why we have to support them to avoid breaking the branches.” He noted that last season he managed to harvest 10 tonnes, but all indicators show that this season he will harvest not less than 30 tonnes from his 800 mango trees. This scenario is replicated in all farms, making the season’s produce phenomenal compared to the last two seasons, added Kinyanjui.
Kinyanjui, who started growing mangoes 10 years ago, shared that he has gained expertise and experience over the years. His dedication and passion were recognized in 2023 when the county government of Murang’a awarded him the best subsidy in mango farming during the Madaraka Day celebrations. He observes that growing mangoes (Mangifera indica) is lucrative and easy since they require less management and will produce the first fruit in 3 to 5 years depending on the soil and the ecological conditions of the area.
Kinyanjui provides insigh
ts into mango farming, stating that in red soil, one can harvest mangoes in just 3 years, whereas it will take 5 years to harvest fruits grown in sandy and black cotton soil. He emphasizes the importance of selecting market-required varieties, mentioning both local varieties like Dodo, Boribo, and Batawi, and exotic varieties like Apple mango, Tommy, and Kent. On his farm, he grows 12 mango varieties but highlights that only four are in high demand: dodo, apple mango, ngoe, and kent.
He addresses the susceptibility of mangoes to pests and diseases, such as anthracnose, mango weevil, and fruit fly, advising farmers to apply pesticides timely. He also advises on planting techniques, including spacing of 7m by 7m and ensuring soil fertility with compost manure. Kinyanjui encourages other farmers to consider mango farming due to the market gap and suggests integrating technology into farming practices.
In conclusion, he calls on young people to leverage technology to explore more markets and farming techniques,
enhancing their livelihoods through mango farming.