The Lucrative Business Opportunity in Passion Fruit Farming in Kenya

Passion fruit farming is a highly lucrative enterprise in Kenya with high and regular income. The crop is adaptable to a wide agro-ecological zone from low lands to the highlands. The demand for the fruit on both export and domestic market keeps on growing.

Large quantities of passion fruits are eaten fresh locally and at the same time, they are also exported. Kenya is a large supplier of fresh purple passion fruits to the European market followed by Brazil, Colombia, Zambia and Zimbabwe of which the United Kingdom is the largest importer. Other importers include Holland, France, United Arab Emirates, German and Belgium.

There are two varieties of Passion fruits widely grown in Kenya; Yellow and purple. Purple varieties do better at higher altitudes than the yellow types. Yellow types, on the other hand, tend to yield higher and are more resistant to diseases.

The purple variety is acidic, varies in taste and juiciness with intense aromatic scent and round in shape. The yellow variety is bigger, with similar taste but possibly less aromatic, more acidic and is also round in shape.

The fruit can be eaten fresh or consumed after extracting the pulp and making juice. The juice is used in a variety of products and the pulp may be added to different dishes. A wide range of cosmetic products and food flavors are derived from the fruit that is rich in Vitamins A and C and carotene.

Most Kenyan farmers have the fear of trying out some new crop as they are not always sure of the amount of profits or losses to be incurred in the whole process. Fact is that, in passion fruit farming, yields of over 15-20 tonnes are attainable. In one year, a farmer may earn up to Sh1 million per acre as compared to 35,000-60,000 shillings earned from wheat or maize farming.

It is about time that more farmers ventured into passion fruit farming. This is one area that without any doubt, one will be in a position to reap big during harvest season.

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