Fresh Watermelon Fruit Now Sells at Ksh. 100 and Below

Single fresh watermelon fruit is selling between 10 and 100 shillings in major towns such as Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, Makueni, Machakos, and Kajiado.

Across the country, the fruit averages 118.54 shillings per kilogram. The average price for a tone is 1088.24 US dollars (approximately 121,447 shillings) in Mombasa and Nairobi.

In high-end grocery stores such as Zucchini and Chandarana Food Plus, the price of the commodity can go for up to 500 shillings.

Across the borders, the fruits sell for between 100 and 300 shillings in Uganda and Tanzania.

Watermelon farming in Kenya is one of the most profitable farming activities that one can venture into. It is a low investment but extremely high-yielding.

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Production Trends of Fresh Watermelon in Kenya

Watermelon farmers in Kenya have easy access to watermelon seeds since they are sold in most local Agro Vets countrywide. A 1kg bag of watermelon seeds goes for between 3000 and 4000 shillings, depending on the watermelon variety also commonly known as accessions.

The fruit which is now produced on large scale acts as a stable source of revenue for the country by employing thousands of people in the farms, retail shops, groceries, and the whole market chain that ensures fresh watermelon reaches the customers.

Apart from employment opportunities, the total values in export for watermelon in Kenya were 1.04 million shillings in 2016; 11.49 million in 2017 and 2018.

Health benefits and nutritional value of watermelons

1. High in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that is effective in preventing some forms of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
2. High in Vitamin A, C, and B6.
3. Rich in Potassium which helps in controlling blood pressure and preventing strokes.
4. Rich in folate and amino acids.
5. Low in calories
6. Very nutritious.

In Kenya, watermelon farming is mostly done in hot regions like Makueni, Machakos, Kajiado, and the coastal regions. It can also be grown in highland regions, although the quality of the fruits is inferior compared to those grown in hot regions