It is also protected by a fence, in order to ensure security for goods and people. Basic Requirements for Onion Farming in Kenya? lyinder company limited is a tanzania based comapt that growscommercial crops i.e ginger, red onions, garlic, fruits andgroceries. Different regions in Tanzania produce onions during different months. Log into your account. Farming onion plants requires lot of water as they initially grow. This is no longer the case: an onion collection centre was built with support from GRET in the village of Malolo B, in the district of Kilosa. There is the small, thin and firmly layered onion that has a strong pungent smell from Tanzania. It is part of the Malimbichi project (Support for the production and marketing of horticultural products in the Uluguru Mountains and the Ruaha river basin), funded by the European Union and implemented by the Tanzanian federation of Farming  Organisations – Mviwata (Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania), with support from GRET. latest Onions, which are usually harvested between May and November, have been affected by border restrictions with Tanzania, where a majority of the imports are sourced. Onion is one of the most favorite vegetables for most of the people all over the world. developments and special offers! Partly because it is not only affordable to start but its returns are high. Kenyan onion farmers often complain that Tanzania onions flood the market leading to losses. Varieties: Although many varieties of onion are found in Tanzania, two varieties are of particular importance in term of volume of production .These varieties are Bombey red and Red creole. Regina Muthoni, a Nyeri resident, said the price of onions had become too high for her, so she had opted to use spring onions, which are cheaper and readily available. To personalise content, tailor ads and provide best user experience, we use cookies. Today, he is a farmer supplying much of the onions to to markets as far as Nairobi. your password More information on GRET’s activities in Tanzania. By Joram Reuben Mbiha ` A Dissertation Submitted in Partial fulfilment of the Requirement for the However, the farmers are experiencing losses due to the ongoing rains, making it more difficult to cure the onions. The management committee of this collection centre – trained and supported by Mviwata – is made up of representatives from among farmers, retailers and the district authorities. […] Daniel Gakuo, an onion farmer from Kieni, said the price of the commodity was likely to remain high as demand outstrips supply with the slowdown in imports from Tanzania. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. » The common dry onions (Allium cepa), a member of the Amarylli-daceae family, originated in central Asia (Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) where it is widely used. Onion farming can be done over a wide variety of soil including sandy loam soils to clayed loam soils with the facility of good drainage. Kung'u Mwangi, a trader at Kiawara, a key trading stations for Kieni onions, said he was seeing an increase in demand, but supplies remain low. letters,small letters, The country is the number six onion grower in Africa regarding production levels. By using our site, you agree to use our cookies. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. offers! This is no longer the case: an onion collection centre was built with support from GRET in the village of … special characters and numbers. THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Farmer seed experts and their knowledge on seeds, forest food products and medicinal plants By O.K.K. Her two-acre farm of onions produced 50,000kgs of onions, which she cured in a greenhouse. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. It provides a covered area for exchanges, including short term storage space, handling & measuring equipment, and offices for management. Growing onions is very easy and profitable. They are preferred over the local onions in markets even by consumers. He noted that while farmers have increased the prices of the commodity, most of the produce they were selling was not well cured, leading to losses on the wholesalers' side. It is harvest time at his farm and he opines that he expects to harvest up to 15 tons of onions per acre which is 15,000 Kilograms. The cost of production per acre was Sh16 per kg, she said. Your passowrd must have atleast 8 character with a mixture of capital Bulb onions take 3 to 4 months to reach maturity. Singida produces from January to May, Mang’ola produces from May to October and Moshi from October to January. And yet, up to very recently, there was no collection point available to stakeholders in this value chain. Conditions for Onion Farming Onions perform well in well drained, fertile, sandy loam, non-compacted soils. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Both farms have been organically certified since they were established and our certifying body is ECOCERT. Sometimes you can just depend on rainwater but make sure that the plants absorb the right amount every 5-7 days. The ideal pH is 5.8 to 6.8. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Most regions in Tanzania have the best conditions for onion growth and optimal yield. “I sell a kilo for Ksh. Success in bulb onion farming is dependent on proper market identification, proper planning for labour especially during transplanting and weeding, and good post-harvest handling procedures. How technology has eased business for poultry farmers. The second one is the big loosely held variety that is grown locally, in Kenya. Local farmers are trying their best to address the demand and close the gap, although the demand is always higher than the supply. Ideally, onions do well in fertile, well-drained, sandy loam soil. Mponda, E.M Kafiriti, Wembah-Rashid, M.G. Projected Profit Of Onion Farming In Kenya. Note that this information and related analysis is based on the statistics of HS code 070310 ( Onions and shallots, fresh or chilled ) . According to Food and Agriculture Organization’s report, half of red onions sold in Kenyan markets are grown in Tanzania. My budget is tight and with the current economic situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, I must cut costs, so I've opted for spring onions which cost Sh30 for several stalks,” Ms Muthoni said. Welcome! Ce site utilise des cookies pour assurer son bon fonctionnement technique et pour réaliser des mesures d’audience. “Usually in the month of May till June, local farmers are planting while the local market is fed by imports from Tanzania," Gakuo said. With the curfew reducing the amount of time available to trade, most merchants are incurring losses from holding on to onions that were not properly cured. There’s a reason Tanzania is the biggest producer of onions in East Africa. Gret - Professionals for Fair Development, A new onion collection centre in Tanzania. Explore detailed information about the exports and imports of Onion for Tanzania. In deed, Farm Concern International (FCI)6reported that 65% of onions grown in Tanzania are consumed in domestic markets. Prolonged drought hurts milk production, 3. Kajimbwa, E. Ndedya, L. Kinyunyu, H. Hamza, and A. Mwijage This demand makes the red bulb onion investment a very attractive commercial investment. Being that many people have studied agriculture and several research studies about farming are being done, the young people are being encouraged to venture into agriculture as a way of creating self-employment. Onion Farming Techniques, Tips, and Ideas. your username. “The most affected onions are the red bulb types because they require high heat to cure, failure to which they rot,” said Mr Gakuo. A Beginners Guide to Onion Farming in Kenya Jul 22nd 2016 50 percent of the red onions in Kenya are imported from Tanzania, as indicated by Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) 2014 report.... Continue reading → He began farming in Oloitoktok and later on relocated to Nguu scheme, Makueni County for proximity to Nairobi where he majorly sells his farm produce. He added that many farmers lacked the capacity to cure their produce indoors due to the cost implications. More information on the Malimbichi project   (in French only) And yet, up to very recently, there was no collection point available to stakeholders in this value chain. Most Kenyan farmers produce onions from January to march and August to October. Report of the AfriVeg project, giving an overview of the vegetable sector in Tanzania. Mulching can help reduce the weeds and at the same time maintain the soil moisture level. However, red loam soils to black soils, sandy loam soils, with good organic content are considered as the best suitable for onion farming for optimum production. Growing onions in Kenya. “I cannot spend Sh150 on a kilo of red onions. » Dry onions are a crop that lends itself well to small scale and part-time farming operations. everything grown 100% organic and in perfectcondition. Local farmers are trying their best to address the demand and close the gap, although the demand is always higher than the supply. This new collection centre, which is now operational, will be officially launched in the near future. Kenyan Farmers have been doing their best to address the demand and close the gap, but there is still more supply to be achieved. This place for exchanges, which is secure and adapted to suit the needs expressed by all involved, was built in collaboration with the local authorities, farmers, retailers and transporters. Most of the harvest rots in stalls and is disposed of. This is a cost that I transfer to the customer,” he said. Agribusiness in Kenya is gradually becoming an in thing today. Kenya farmers have been trying to address this but with little success. The price of onions has skyrocketed in the last two months, with farmers in Nyeri selling their produce for as much as Sh100 per kilo at the farm gate, and consumers paying as much as Sh150 for this in local markets. Investment required for growing onions on a commercial scale is very less and plant care of onions are also very minimal. Kieni is considerably hot and dry and has black cotton soil, conditions which favour tolerant crops such as onions. 40 which translates to ksh 600,000. Short rains are great for bulb onions since they can be harvested between January and February. Tanzania onions sell like hot cake in Kenya and are often referred to as the “red gold” by traders. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. But Mercy Kimaru, an onion farmer in Mweiga, said she has had a good month. You can discover details including export/import trends, prices, top partner countries, products, and suppliers. As much as onion, particularly bulb onion, is a profitable crop, it also requires a lot of labour during transplanting and weeding, according to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture. The profitability of onion farming will depend on the time of the year, when you get your produce to the market. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the » The term “dry onion” is used to distinguish them from green onions The colors range from creamy white to stark yellow. A beginners guide to onion farming in kenya Jul 22nd 2016 50 percent of the red onions in Kenya are imported from Tanzania, as indicated by Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) 2014 report. 1. This joint management will make it possible over the long term to ensure development of this infrastructure that will include the vision of the various categories of stakeholders that make up this value chain. Though Tanzania has lower production costs than neighboring Kenya for this type of onion, it produces as little as 2.9 tons per hectare far from the world mean of 29 tons per hectare due to pests. According to Food and Agriculture Organization’s report, half of red onions sold in Kenyan markets are grown in Tanzania. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This demand makes farming onions investment a very attractive commercial investment. Small scale onion farming is gaining popularity in Kenya. But with the current situation, the only source of onions is from local farmers who lack the capacity to meet demand,” Mr Mwangi said. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. ¬ Although onions are among the most consumed vegetable across the region, diets are generally heavy on starchy staple food (Maize, rice etc). Onions are the most widely grown horticultural product in the Morogoro region of Tanzania. "But due to the coronavirus pandemic and the border restrictions Kenya has with Tanzania, there is a low supply of onions in the market from our neighbours.". But what is so special with Tanzania onions? In partnership with companies, Find, the endowment fund dedicated to innovation for development, supports processes of social, technical and institutional innovation for development. NCPB depots open gates to low farmer turnout, 2. special Onions, which are usually harvested between May and November, have been affected by border restrictions with Tanzania, where a majority of the imports are sourced. Onions are the most widely grown horticultural product in the Morogoro region of Tanzania. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest developments and It is used in cooked meals or raw salads as a flavour additive, and also used in making pickles and chutneys. “If the onion bulbs are not dry, they will rot from the inside and with the heavy rains you cannot cure them at the market, so most end up as waste,” Mwangi said. More information on the Malimbichi project, More information on GRET’s activities in Tanzania. Moses Karimi Githaiga has been farming garlic for about six years now in Kiawara, a hamlet in Kieni Sub County, about 35 kilometres from Nyeri town. In its countries of operation, GRET works within civil society organisation (CSO) collectives, contributes to sectoral networks and to forums of consultation coordinated by public authorities. Tan­zania, Egypt and other onion pro­du­cing coun­tries have taken over the Kenyan onion mar­ket with re­ports in­dic­at­ing Tan­zania is sup­ply­ing Kenya with more than 50 per cent of the product. However, as the plants mature, thy do not need much of water. The Kimango Farms – Mbuyuni Farm and Wami River Farm. "Previously I would sell my onions for as little as Sh30 for a kilo, but this year I have sold each kilo at a minimum of Sh90 at the farm gate,” she said. In fact most farmers in the area grow onions. “Most traders rely on middlemen, a majority of whom source their onions from Tanzania. Impoverished tea pluckers seek solace in sanitiser-making projects, 4. K imango Farm Enterprises Ltd. operates two farms, Mbuyuni Farm close to the town of Morogoro, and Wami River Farm on the Mkata Plains about one hour from Morogoro.. Local farmers are able to benefit during this time period, since there is low supply of onions from Tanzania at this time of the year. Onion Farming In Kenya According to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) 2014 report 50 percent of the red onions in Kenya are imported from Tanzania, making the red bulb onion one of the most attractive commercial farming practices that a farmer can do. 2013 POTENTIALITY OF ONION PRODUCTION TO POVERTY REDUCTION: THE CASE OF RUANGWA DISTRICT, TANZANIA. below is a breakdown giving you the price estimates for onion farming. These cookies do not store any personal information. “If I buy a kilo of onions for Sh90 from the farmer, I incur the cost of transport to the trading centre and this means I sell the onions for Sh120. Onion is an important vegetable crop, which has produced worldwide including of Ethiopia for its daily uses and economic benefits. Bulb onions, also known as Kitunguu Maji in Kenya, is one of the most used vegetables in the world. 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