Tapping into Investment Opportunities in Kilifi’s Agricultural Sector

When the name Kilifi County is mentioned, most people tend to relate it with drought and poverty. The perception of many is that this is an area full of the desert-like plantation, a place where human beings live in extreme poverty.

Is this the real picture of Kilifi County? Is the situation as bad as it is portrayed by many? Of course, this Is not correct. People need to tour the county and have a glimpse of how the place is.

It is important to understand that Kilifi County is located on the North and Northeast of Mombasa with Kilifi as its capital and Malindi as its largest town.  The county is made up of seven constituencies namely; Kilifi North, Kilifi South, Kaloleni, Rabai, Ganze, Malindi, and Magarini.  

This is one county with a lot of different investment opportunities for investors. Just to start off with some of them, one that without a doubt can bring about lots of returns is in agriculture, particularly dairy and crop farming, all thanks to fertile soils and a good weather pattern.

The county is rich in coconuts, cashew nuts which present some of the greatest opportunities for agri-business for both local and export markets, sisal, mangoes, bird eye chilies, neem trees, watermelons and commercial crafts.

Farmers can grow four varieties of grafted cashew nuts namely A100, A81, A82, and A8.

Kenya is said to produce about 10,000 metric tonnes of the nuts valued at Sh264.9 million, most of which comes from the coastal region, and Kilifi being among the producing areas. This is an area in which investors can tap into and use the needed resources to generate returns. A processing plant needs to be in place, which will not only create employment but improve the lives of people of Kilifi county.

With ready markets to export cashew nut produce, investors do not need to think twice about this investment opportunity before them. Ready markets include India, Netherlands, Israel, Pakistan, Tanzania, Angola, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

The county also boasts of high production of large chunks of sisal and bird eye chilies are currently being exported are also exported to international markets.

Other products already being exported from the county are ornamental fish such as the seahorse, and natural juices from processed fruits. 

Mangoes are being processed into pulp by a company which is currently selling it to local companies as it prepares for export.  Grafted mango varieties, on the other hand, take two-and-a-half years to produce, unlike five to six years when planted from a seed.

Ngoe and apple varieties are highly recommended for the region as well as the local variety known as kitovu, which, however, is low-yielding.