Making Millions: Kenyan Couple’s Dragon Fruit Farming

Amnon Jakony
3 Min Read

The dragon fruit, a unique and sought-after fruit, thrives in specific climate and soil conditions, making it a valuable commodity in the market. This has allowed farmers who cultivate dragon fruit to command premium prices due to its scarcity.

Dragon fruit is sold between Ksh1,000 and Ksh1,500 per kilogram or at Ksh300 per fruit, depending on the supplier. Priscilla Nyairia and her husband, a couple with a thriving dragon fruit farm located 60 kilometers from Nyeri Town along the Nyeri-Nyahururu road, are capitalizing on this lucrative potential.




Mrs. Nyairia mentioned that her husband introduced the concept of dragon fruit farming, and their venture into it has proven to be highly profitable, allowing them to make millions. They initially started with 100 trees, propagated their own cuttings, and carefully transplanted them onto their farm. Their first harvest in 2021 brought in a substantial profit, with each fruit fetching Ksh1,000. After deducting the initial setup cost of Ksh200,000, they made a profit of Ksh800,000.




They now enjoy four harvests each year, with each tree producing up to 50 fruits per harvest. Their journey began with importing fruit cuttings from The Philippines, costing $10 per cutting, along with an additional $10 for shipping.




Priscilla and her husband plan to expand their farm to 10 acres, accommodating around 10,000 trees. Despite facing skepticism from an agronomist about the suitability of dragon fruit in Kenyan soil and climate, their determination has paid off, as they now claim that dragon fruit is the most expensive fruit globally.

However, they also face challenges due to the exclusivity of dragon fruit. To achieve a flourishing harvest, they emphasize the application of organic manure (10 kg per pole) and a dedicated focus on dragon fruit rearing. A minimum of 10 liters of water per pole per week is crucial for optimal growth. They’ve also implemented a pest control strategy by surrounding their farm with a natural mulberry fence, which diverts pests away from the dragon fruits.

Dragon fruit is not only known for its unique taste but also for its health benefits, particularly its high vitamin C content, which enhances immunity and offers anti-cancer properties, lowering the risk of colon cancer. Additionally, it serves as a potent antioxidant, guarding against chronic illnesses like diabetes.




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In an era where news can be a bit too serious, Amnon fearlessly dives into the bizarre, the hilarious, and the downright unbelievable. He's a news publisher with a mission: to bring joy, laughter, and a side of raised eyebrows to the news readers every where. So, if you find yourself chuckling at a news article about a goat elected as the local mayor, you can bet your last shilling that he is behind it.
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