Top 10 Loan Apps In Kenya

Have you ever been in a situation when you need an instant loan and you don’t have any collateral to present? Do you need a personal loan,  student loan or business loan and you don’t want to go through the hassle of filling endless forms and meeting up with unrealistic requirements?

Then this post is for you as I will be showing you some of the loan apps in Kenya where you can get instant loans online with or without presenting any collateral.

Few years ago getting a loan in Kenya was almost impossible especially getting one without a collateral. The only way you can get an instant loan without collateral then is by approaching your loved ones.

The commercial and microfinance banks make matter worse as they will demand unrealistic documents and collateral from you to give you paltry sum which cannot fully cater for your urgent need and in most cases it takes between 4 weeks to 12 weeks before they will approve and disburse the loan.

So without wasting much of your time I will be showing you the top loan apps in Kenya where you can get instant loans with or without collaterals.

LOAN APPS IN KENYA

1. TALA LOAN APP:

Tala loan is one of the foremost and best instant loan apps in Kenya. They have been around for some years now and they have shown tremendous growth. Tala loan is one of the most popular and most used quick loan app in the kenya currently.

You can get loans from KSH1000 above depending on the amount you want and if your loan is approved it will be disbursed to your account within a specific time.

To access loan from Carbon just download the Tala Loan applicationn, register and fill in your correct information. You will be shown how much they are willing to offer you for a start after that. Note that you can always increase your loan limit by paying back on time.

2. OKASH LOAN APP:

Okash loan  is relatively new, they have made a name for themselves and grown large user base due to the flexibility of their app and loan structure.

Okash offers loan of up to KSH8000 to individuals instantly with or without any collateral or paperwork. Their interest rate is equally friendly.

To access loan from Okash Loan just download the Okash Loan app, register and fill in your correct information. You will be shown how much they are willing to offer you for a start after that. 

3. BRANCH LOAN APP:

Branch is another popular app that offers loan to individuals and small businesses at a reduced interest rate. Branch makes accessing personal loans to individuals very easy as it takes few mins to register with them and apply for loan. Loans are usually disbursed within few minutes.

Branch offers loans of up to KSH20000 for just about 20% interest rate. Branch has disbursed over KSH1billion in loans in the recent years. 
      
4. IPESA LOAN APP:

Ipesa is relatively one of the latest loan apps In Kenya. Ipesa loan app do not require collateral or guarantor before giving you loan they only rely on your creditworthiness.

Ipesa loan app provides quick cash for personal finance, business etc. Your approved loan is disbursed within a specific duration. Ipesa Loan can give you a loan of up to KSH20,000.

5. MSHWARI LOAN:

Mshwari  is a digital bank in partnership with the Commercial Bank Of Africa.

The minimum loan of Mshwari is KSH100.

Mshwari loans repayment duration is approximately 30 days and attract an interest rate of 7.5%. Their Loan disbursement is done through Mpesa and processed within a specific duration.

6. ZENKA LOAN:

Zenka is one of the popular and foremost instant loan apps in Kenya. Zenka offers individual personal loan up to KSH10000. They also offer loans for salary earners. Their interest rate is equally friendly and you can increase your loan amount and reduce your rate by repaying your loan on time.

7. TIMIZA:

Timiza loan app is sponsored by barclay bank. Something unique about Timiza Loan app is that it is available to all Kenyans and not only to the bank customers only.

8. HARAKA LOAN:

Haraka which means “ quick” in Swahili language is one of the fastest means to get instant personal and business loans in Kenya.

With Haraka loan app you can get up to KSH 500 - KSH5000.

9. JAZIKA LOAN APP:

This app guarantees immediate loan for kenyans. You are provided information on how to get quick loans in your country with this app. The minimum cash you can receive is KSH500 - KSH100000 with a friendly interest rate.

10. KCB MPESA LOAN:

This is a lending and credit system app developed for business enterprises and private individuals. 

The minimum loan limit is Ksh 50 and a maximum of up to Ksh 1,000,000. With the interest rate of 1.16% per month. 

So that’s the list of the 10 loan apps in Kenya. Do you have any experience using any of the apps? kindly share your experience below the comment box.

Top Investment Banks In Ghana

There are quite a number of investment banks in Ghana, but which of them know their onions? Indeed the question is- which of them have a track record off being trustworthy, effective and accountable? This blog post will tell you all you need to know.

Investment is all about putting aside finances for the purpose of reaping out certain benefits in the nearest or in a long run future term. It is all about achieving profit. Putting your finances to work for a better tomorrow is all what it is about.

Investments hovers around finance, real estate, security allocation as well as construction of portfolio and having to handle and manage risk on the side.

Lists Of the Best investment Banks In Ghana

1. Access Bank Ghana

2. Agricultural Development Bank of Ghana

3. Ecobank Ghana

4.Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited

5. First Atlantic Merchant Bank

6. Guaranty Trust Bank Ghana LAimited

7. HFC Bank Ghana

8. National Investment Bank Ghana

9. Prudential Bank Limited

10. Stanbic Bank Ghana

11. Standard Chartered Bank

12. The Trust Bank

13. United Bank for Africa

14. UT Bank

15. Zenith Bank Ghana

16. Barclays Bank Ghana

17. UniBank Ghana Limited

18. Bank Of Ghana

How To Start Profitable Snail Farming In Ghana

Snail farming in Ghana is one of the most lucrative agri-business ideas for young farmers in Ghana. Snail farming is a practical and viable business venture that is yet to be fully explored in Ghana.

Snail farming may not be the first thing that jumps to mind when thinking of profitable businesses to start in Ghana. This post will open your eyes to the amount of hidden-wealth that can be realized by starting a profitable snail farming in Ghana.

Why Snail Farming?

The market opportunity for snail farming in Ghana is huge but grossly underrated. Snails are a huge part of the diet in many parts of Ghana, although they are not always affordable and available all year round. If you rear snail in commercial quantity, hotels, and fast food restaurants will be your regular customers.

In Ghana, the prices of raw, matured snails go for $1 to $2 depending on the size. However, the annual demand for snail in Ghana cannot be overemphasized. The international trade in snails is flourishing. The USA imports more than $4million worth of snails annually from all over the world, including Ghana.

For many years now, snails handpicked from the farm or bush has been the only way to get snails to the market and dinner table. Currently, the demand for snail is higher than the supplies, an indication that the market potential of snail is inexhaustible, locally and internationally. Starting both small and large scale snail farming businesses in the only way to fill up the spaces between the demand for snail and its supply in Africa.

How To Start Snail Farming In Ghana

If it has worked elsewhere, it will work in Ghana.  Below are the five basic steps you need to follow to start a profitable snail farming business in Ghana.

Step 1 – Decide which species of snail to farm.

When creating a snail farm, you’ll have to use a single species of snail. Research has shown that snail species such as Achatina achatina are the best for warm climate regions like Ghana.

Step 2 – Set-up your housing.

Your snail housing must have enough space for your snails to graze freely. Overcrowding your snailery impedes the development of snails and therefore should be avoided. A well-spaced snail housing reduces the risk of disease outbreak caused by overcrowding.

Snails are good at escaping from where they are kept, so you should endeavour to construct escape proof housing. You can use a pen house that will be spacious and accessible with a soil depth of 10 inches and trees around it.

Step 3 – Purchase your snails

If you want to start a snail farm, you’ll need to get snails. After setting-up proper housing and farmland for the snails, it’s time to buy some fresh quality snails from the market or any farm. It’s always best to be able to examine the snails before you buy them so that you know they are healthy.

When you first start your snail farm, you’ll want to get healthy, fully grown snails that will lay eggs and help populate your farm. Look at the shell of the snail. If there is a lip, that means they are a fully grown snail.

Step 4 – Feeding and rearing of the snails

Snails are vegetarians and can be fed with wide varieties of foods such as cabbage, cucumber, mango, banana, eggplant, pear, tomato and paw-paw, cassava, okra leaves or lettuce. However, you can as well feed snails with pineapple, banana or paw paw.

Mating and laying eggs are a vital part of snail farming. Typically, mating occurs during spring and summer. As hermaphrodites, snails can fertilize each other as soon as they are mature enough. In order for the egg laying to go over smoothly, you should use high-quality soil with the right temperature and humidity.

Step 5 – Harvesting and selling of the snails

It is not economically wise to harvest your snails before it’s maturity, it has to be mature before harvesting. Do not harvest all the matured snails at once to sell in the market. It is important to keep few for breeding and to serve as base stock for your snail farm.

Snail has good market demand and price. You can easily sell the snails in the local market. Snail meat consuming rate is growing very fast around the globe. So, exporting in the international market can make you more money.

Cost of Starting A Snail Farming In Ghana

The mandatory expenses you need to account for if you’re wondering how to set up a snail farm include: housing, buying fresh snails, feeding, handling and processing the snails, marketing, and transportation.

You can start the business with $200 or $1000 depending on how large you want your snail farm to be. Asides the amount of your investment, it is possible to produce 1,000,000 snails now worth more than $100,000 twice a year.

This is made possible because of the availability of very highly prolific Achatina achatina species of snails, which lay 200 – 400 in one batch two-three times a year. If you produce 100,000 snails that sell for  $1 each, which is $1 X 100,000, you will be making $100,000. You will be making $100,000 per annum or more than that if you produce 1,000,000 snails.

For beginners, creating a snail farming business plan is a crucial step that needs to be accomplished before starting. This will give you a deep understanding of everything that needs to be done.

Conclusion

In terms of cost and time, snail farming in Ghana is a low-risk business. Unlike many other livestock businesses, snail farming requires very little startup and operating costs. You can even set up your snail farm at the backyard of your house to save cost on the purchase of farmland.

The best time to start up a snail farming in Ghana is the rainy season especially from July to October because that is the time snails normally start to breed. You should also note that prices of snails multiply during scarcity between March and December, which is the dry season.

How To Make Money Online In Ghana

If you are looking for ways to make money online in Ghana, you are in the right place. On this page we will be regularly updating the top ways that you can make money online in Ghana. If you are looking to make extra income or to make a financial breaking through, making money on the internet is a good option.

There are many reasons that you should consider making money online. You can make extra money to take care of yourself while in school. If you are looking for a job, you can become your own boss on the internet. If you want to become rich, you can do it on the internet. The possibility is endless.

How To Make Money Online in Ghana

Here are the best ways to make money online in Ghana:

1. Blogging

There is no doubt that blogging is still the number one opportunity to make money online in Ghana. This is the best and hottest online business in Ghana currently and anyone can do it.

Blogging is all about sharing information. It could be about anything. From news, politics, sports, animals, jokes, local stories, anything at all. You can start a blog about anything.

Once you start a blog, you get traffic to your blog. Then you can use Google AdSense, affiliate marketing and other methods to make money from your blog.

The good thing about blogging is that if you work hard and build your blog, you will be making money while you sleep. You will wake up and see dollars in your AdSense account. Even while you play, travel or eat, your blog is making money.

It can make you rich. It can make you a millionaire. But the challenge is doing things right and building your audience.

2. Affiliate marketing

This is a very good and reliable way to make money online in Ghana. If you are good with marketing or you are a good sales person, you should consider this. If you have charisma and you are the type of person that is good with conversation, you should seriously think about affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing is all about recommending products to to people  online, if they buy through you, you get a commission. It is that easy. All you need to do is find an affiliate network and join. Then pick products to promote. You can promote them on your Facebook, Instagram, any other social media or blog. .

So let’s imagine you promote a product that is worth Ghc100 with a commission of 20%. Now you have about 5000 friends on Facebook, 5000 on Twitter, 5000 on Instagram and some via your blog, WhatsApp and other social media networks. You promote the product to them and about 2000 of them purchase through your link. That means your total sales will be N100 X 2000 = N2million. And your commission will be 20%.

The truth is a lot of people buy products online these days. You can key into it and make money via affiliate marketing. The most popular affiliate networks are: Commission Junction, Impact Radius, Linkshare, Jumia Affiliate.

3. Vlogging

If you love making videos on your Phone or with a camera, you can make money uploading those videos on YouTube. YouTube is a video sharing platform. It can make you rich and it can also make you a star!.

You can make videos about anything. You can talk about anything. Just upload them to YouTube and share across your social network. Build your brand. As you get views, use Google AdSense, affiliate marketing and other methods to make money from your videos.

4. Buy and Sell Bitcoin

Quidex is an online platform that has made Bitcoin trading very easy. As at today, Bitcoin is one of the most lucrative businesses the world over. More and more countries are accepting bitcoin.

The good news is that it is never too late to key into bitcoin. Even if you have never traded before, you can start today and share in the $94 billion worth Bitcoin market. All you have to do is join Quidax. They make it easy and secure to trade bitcoin.

5. Freelancing

Freelancing is all about applying your skills online to make money. If you are looking at how to make money online in Ghana as a student, then this should be a good option.

All you need is your skills and talent. You could be a writer, programmer, graphic designer, typist, proof reader, any skill at all. Just register with a freelancing website. And you will find people that are looking for people with your skill. Apply and you may get the work.

As a freelancer, you work from the comfort of your home. All you need is your computer and internet. It is a very big industry worth billions of dollars.

If you are skilled, you should consider this. You can actually do it full time and you will be making far more than the average salary in Ghana.

The most popular Freelancing websites are Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, and Guru.

6. Taking Online Surveys

Have you ever heard of online Surveys? Where you are paid to give your opinion on issues by answering some questions? That is what ySense does and more. You get paid on ySense to take online surveys, to do small tasks, to play games and more. You are also paid to refer people.

Among all the survey websites, ySense is one of the few that pay to Ghanaians without excuse. I have made some dollars from there taking few surveys. I got the money! No story.

They pay up to $1.50 dollars per survey, it could be lower or higher but that is the average when you get survey invite. The good thing about ySense is, even when there is no Survey, you can complete tasks to make money.

Among all Survey and task website, we recommend ySense because they pay. And they accept Ghanaians. To make good money, you need to regularly login to take surveys and complete tasks. Also invite your friends with your affiliate link to join.

To join and make money on ySense click here

If you are looking at how to make money online in Ghana as a student or with your free time, consider this.

7. E-Commerce

E-Commerce business is a business that can make you a billionaire. The richest man Jeff Bezos in the world is into eCommerce business. Am sure you have heard of Amazon, he owns that.

eCommerce is about buying and selling products online. You can create your own online store and sell products online. You could be the next richest person in your city.

If you do not have money to build a warehouse and store products, you can still do this business without having the products. There is something called dropshipping. All you have to do is create an online shop. Copy inventories for leading manufacturers around the world. When someone comes to your online store to buy, it will be forwarded to the manufacturer or supplier, they will ship the goods to the buyer, get the money and you keep your percentage. You do nothing!

8. Social Media Marketing

Social Media marketing is all about helping businesses, individuals or organizations find their audience on social media. The truth is, most Ghanaians now spend their time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms. This has open up a new opportunities for businesses to reach people and make more sales.

To be a social media marketer, you need to understand the algorithm of your target social media platform and how you can use it to convert for businesses or individuals.

As more businesses embrace the internet, social media marketing will keep shinning as one of the best ways to make money online in Ghana.

9. Social media networks

If you spend a lot of time on social media platforms. Why not make some money off it? Whether it is Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, you can always make money. There are many ways to do this. You can use Affiliate marketing, sponsored contents and more.

10. Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is still on the rise. After Bitcoin burst into the scene, a lot of other Cryptocurrencies have emerged. Gradually, so many businesses are accepting Cryptocurrency as a form of payment. There are opinions that it will someday replace the money we have now. Whether that is true or not, you should consider investing and making money from Cryptocurrency.

All you need is study and understand the market. Buy when it is low and sell when it is high. There are many ways you can make money with Cryptocurrency.

11. Create online course

Online course makes it to our list of top ways to make money online in Ghana. This is because of one factor: It has the potential to make anyone rich but it takes a lot of job.

Online course is all about teaching people skills or strategy online for income. Let’s assume you are good at Graphics design, Web development, Business management and so on. You can create a course and teach to people around the world. These people buy your course.

There many millions of people around the world that are learning online everyday. The internet is currently the number one class room. You can key into it and make money.

There are many platform that makes teaching online easy. Platforms like Teachable, Udemy, Skillshare and more.

12. Trade Forex and binary options

Forex is all about currencies exchange. You can make good money dealing in forex. As long as the world does not use one currency, Forex will continue to be a big income stream.

Binary options is like forex trading but easier. You have options basically, to predict if the price of a particular currency or commodity will go up or come down. And you make money from it.

With a platform like IQ Options, you can trade forex and Binary Options easily.

These are everything you need to know on they different ways to make money online in ghana.

Requirement To Start Cabbage Farming In Kenya

Cabbage farming in Kenya is not yet very popular  because of the belief that it will not do well except in a place like certain parts.

But quite recently a group of aggressive farmers have come out to prove this notion wrong.

There are few farmers that have actually experimented on it and have proven it to be true, cabbage farming can be planted anywhere in Kenya with optimum success.

Cabbage is a leafy vegetable from the family of Brassica. It is the head that is mostly eaten while the leaves are either cut out (dispose), use for compost manure, use in the feeding of animals etc. It grows better in a cool moist environment; the temperature is between 55-60 F. They are some species that accepts temperature within 20-25F.

In Kenya, for you to find out or know exactly if cabbage consumption is high, is during festive periods such Christmas, Sallah etc.

Cabbage is mostly used in salad preparation, food decoration, vegetables for soup/pottage and can as well be eaten raw. It contains calcium which is very good for human health. They are very helpful in the development of snails.

How To Start Cabbage Farming In Kenya

In this article we shall be looking at the kind of soil good for cabbage farming in Kenya, when to irrigate, pest and disease control, weeding, harvesting and marketability.

Techniques Of Cabbage Farming In Kenya

1. Chose sandy-loam soil rich in organic matter.

2. Plant when the weather is favourable mostly during raining season.

3. First of all plant them in a nursery before transferring to the main field.

4. Use a very good variety as this can make or break your success.

5. At best plant hybrid cabbage for better yield, quick maturity and disease/pest resistance.

6. Apply fertilizer at every stage of their development, organic manure is preferable.

7. Harvest early to avoid yellowing or botching of the leaves

Land Preparation

Cabbage can be grow on any soil but a well compost sandy-loam is preferable for their utmost performance. Get a land and clear it from every weed and shrub that are not needed.

Use tractor to loosen the land (for a large farm, otherwise shovel can be used on a small farm) if the soil is very hard it can be ploughed for about 3 times during the third ploughing animal dung should be added to the soil in readiness for planting.

Prepare bed for the seedlings by missing equal amount of soil with the organic manure to be used.

Planting The Cabbage

Dig a hole of 2-3cm deep and insert 2 seeds inside and cover lightly. You can use nursery bags, sack bags and surface rubbers in raising the seedlings. Transplant the seedlings to the main field you are using for cabbage after 3-4 weeks. They should be 14-16cm high at this time or when they show 4-5 leaves.

The spacing should be 45cm apart and the rows 45-60cm apart. Their spacing also depends on the type of variety you are planting.

Early cabbage takes 50-70 days, mid-season cabbage takes 70-90 days while late season takes 90-125 days.

Prior to when you should plant the crop, water the beds vigorously to ensure that, there is enough moisture in the soil to establish the plant.

Transplant the seedlings in the evening or when the weather is cold in other to prevent them from scotch and shock from the heat.

The soil P.H should be between 6.5-7.5. Cabbage seed takes about 5-17 days to germinate, the germination days varies for different varieties.

Irrigation And Mulching Of The Cabbage Farm

Irrigation should be done on a regular basis as cabbage requires a minimum of 3.8cm of water on a weekly basis. Drip irrigation is highly recommended. Cabbage cannot withstand drought so if you cannot water the farm especially during shortage of rain or during dry season don’t bother starting cabbage farming in Kenya at all.

During the time of intense heat water them morning and evening every day. But you can select days to water them during raining season except it rains every day. When the plants are matured you stop watering in other to prevent botching.

Use compost to mulch the farm in other to keep the soil moist and to avoid excessive loss of water. It will also help in weed control and in the addition of nutrients to the soil.

Fertilizer Application

Cabbage plants are heavy feeders just like garden egg and onions as such manure should be applied at every stage of their development while being careful on the kind of manure to apply in those stages.

The first manure you applied during soil preparation should be heavy (plenty). After 3 weeks of transplanting you apply and also apply again when the start bringing out new leaves.

Finally, apply manure when the start developing heads so that they can form well such that will carry them until harvest. The manure to apply at this time should have more of potassium because they are good in plant formations.

Pests And Disease Of Cabbage

The commonest pests are cabbage white, flea beetles, maggots, imported cabbage worms, loopers etc.

While the commonest diseases are Fusarium yellows, club root, black speck, rot; fungal disease that builds in the soil.

Solution To Control Cabbage Pests And Disease

Plant resistant variety and practice crop rotation.Splitting; this can occur after heavy down pour or when irrigation is done immediately after serious stress from drought. To salvage the situation cut some of the roots from one side about 25cm into the soil from the base of the plant using a spade.

Another reason for splitting is when they are overcrowded, so, by all means, give good spacing to the plant.

Varieties Of Cabbage In Kenya

We have the early season varieties, mid-season varieties and the late season varieties.

Most importantly are the hybrid varieties such as Thai cabbage, F1 cabbage from Technism etc. They can be harvested in a shorter time some 2 months or so, can withstand harsh conditions and can resist some diseases like the Fusarium etc.

Others Are:

Kaitlin; it forms smallish green heads.
Danish ball head; it is for all-purpose
Storage No. H; it has beautiful deep green heads.
Chinese (Napa) cabbage 50-70 days
Speciality cabbage etc.

They all need a good amount of sunlight to grow, at least 6 hours in a day. Cabbage can be planted alongside cucumbers, beans, carrot but not with cauliflower, strawberries, broccoli or tomatoes.

Harvesting Of Your Cabbage

Cabbage is harvested when they are fully matured in other to stay longer in storage. They are not like pepper, eggplant and tomatoes that can be harvested before fully attaining formation. It is ready for harvest in about 2-5 months. The yield will depend on variety but a hectare can yield 70-80 tonnes or more if all agronomic conditions are fully applied.

Harvest them when the heads are fully matured and firm. Or when the heads are closed up and the leaves wrapped around them are still in good shape.

You can press the fruit with your hands to know if it is strong; a loose and soft head is yet to mature. If you allow the leaves to become yellowish or blotch it can’t stay long in the storage.

Use a knife to cut the head from the base of the plant and leave about 3 leaves that will help protect the head from bruises, abrasions or damage of any kind.

The remaining stem in the soil will continue developing while you keep on harvesting them just like in lettuce and waterleaf.

Wash them after harvest in other to remove insects and dirt before putting them away for storage.

Marketing The Cabbage In Kenya

Locate market men and women and sell to them. Let people around you know that you are into cabbage farming and you will see them coming down on their own to buy.

Sell to salad shops, supermarkets and shopping malls that are into foodstuff selling, hotels, restaurants etc.

Why You Should Venture Into Cabbage Farming In Kenya

1.It is very easy to plant and manage

2. It does not require huge capital to start, it can be planted anywhere; in the garden, backyard and in the field

3.You can lease land to cultivate them since it can be harvested within a year, you can then source for another place.

4. The demand for cabbage is high as such there is need to breach the gap

5. People are not many that are into farming cabbage for a commercial purpose.

6. cabbage farming In Kenya is highly profitable and lucrative. It is sold at a higher price than any other vegetable.

These are the step by step guide on how to start cabbage farming In Kenya, Drop Your Questions In The Comment Section Below.

How To Start Strawberry Farming In Kenya: Everything You Need To Know

Strawberry farming in Kenya is currently an untapped goldmine that few farmers and agribusiness investors are aware of. Although strawberry farming is not popular in Kenya the major set back is the poor knowledge of the farming process in Kenya. Many Kenyan farmers have no idea of how to cultivate strawberries for cash.

The purpose of this article is to help provide you with the needed information and guidance on how to succesfully start strawberry farming in Kenya.

Every bit of information about strawberry farming will be provided you via this article so continue reading.

In Kenya, starting strawberry farming business requires experience, and capital. You have to understand that it is not a walk in the park; therefore you need to be prepare.

Business Opportunities in Strawberry Farming In Kenya

The consumption of strawberries has been on the increase in Kenya unlike what we have seen in time past. Strawberry farming is gradually getting the attention needed to make it a very popular agribusiness venture. The strawberry fruit is greatly loved for its unique aroma, bright red color, juice texture, and sweetener. It can be consumed raw and fresh or as juice, pies, ice creams, milkshakes, and chocolates.

The artificial strawberry flavoring is also used as a component of lip gloss, candy, perfume, and lots of other things. This tells you that the value chain in strawberry farming in Kenya has huge profit potential in it. On the average, one kilogram of strawberry cost about ksh1000 and each packaged carton can weigh up to 5-6 kg.

Requirements for Starting Your Strawberry Farming in Kenya

Strawberry farming in Kenya is not something you can without a good plan. There are certain things you need to put in place if you want to be successful in your strawberry farming business. Below are the major things you need to have in place before starting your strawberry farming business:

1. Business Plan

The number one requirement before starting your strawberry farming business in Kenya is a well-detailed business plan. You stand a better chance to be successful in this agribusiness venture if you have a plan in hand. There is need for a marketing strategy, SWOT analysis, market survey, financial projections, and lots more. Your strawberry business plan is a guide that will help you position the business in good light.

The business plan will also improve your chances of accessing government loans or investors. Without a good business plan, there is no right thinking business investor that will consider your business.

2. Land Location

Land is another important requirement for starting your strawberry farming business. When selecting the land for your strawberry farming in Kenya, make sure it is accessible to a good water source. Good and proper irrigation system assures improved productivity of your strawberry fruits. You also need to make sure that the land has adequate exposure to sunlight. This is because strawberries need about 6-8 hours of sunlight daily.

The land needs to be properly tilled and cleared for the cultivation of your strawberry fruits.

Variety Of Strawberry To Plant In Kenya

These strawberry varieties are the most popular strawberries sold in Kenya.

1. Honeoye
2. Earliglow
3. Allstar
4. Ozark Beauty
5. Chandler
6. Jewel
7. Seascape
8. Tristar
9. Sparkle
10. Surecrop

But then, there are two major varieties of strawberry fruits you can grow in Kenya. Before starting your strawberry farming in Kenya you need to decide on a particular variety to cultivate in your farm. We have the June-bearing variety as well as the ever-bearing variety. Both varieties are capable of giving you a good profit in your strawberry farming business.

You need to make sure you purchased a disease resistant variety from a reputable nursery. The planting hole should be deep and wide enough to accommodate the whole root system without bending it. Once you have planted the strawberry, ensure the root is covered while the crown should be at the soil surface.

When considering how to grow strawberries in Kenya, you can see that it is very easy to do. Ensure that you don’t plant in lands that were previously cultivated with tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and potatoes.

Strawberry planting spacing should be 30cm apart between the rows. You can make use of the runners from the parent plant as seeds for another planting season. There is no need to buy another seedling once you have cultivated your first plot of land.

How To Care For Your Strawberry Vines

Irrigation is very important for optimal growth and development of strawberry fruits due to the shallow roots. During your strawberry farming in Kenya, you need to water very well once the runners and flowers start to develop. Once the plants have attained maturation, then you must reduce your irrigation process.

It is very important that you mulch the beds in order to reduce water loss and weed proliferation. You should weed with your hand during the first months of planting your strawberries.

Harvesting Your Strawberries

It is very important for you to harvest your ripe strawberry fruits as soon as possible. The strawberry fruits attain maturation and are ripe for harvest as soon as they turn red.

You can harvest the same plant for up to 2 years. During storage, you need to ensure that the strawberries are not stacked to a height of five inches. This prevents damaging the fruits at the bottom of the pile.

You can see that strawberry farming in Kenya is very viable. All you need to do is get the proper knowledge to set up your farm in a favorable location in Kenya.

If you have any questions regarding strawberry farming in Nigeria, kindly drop it in the comment section below.

How To Start Goat Farming In Kenya (Best Guide)

Goat farming in Kenya is a good agricultural business, they are less expensive than cattle to maintain and can bring you lots of money if you know your markets very well.

They are highly strong resistant animals that can withstand any climate. Since they are ruminants like cattle, the feed mostly on roughages examples are grasses, brouse plant, and fodder plants. A full market size goat can be sold from ksh20,000 and above.

This, however, depends on your location and festive seasons. Goats reproduce twin or triplets twice a year which is good for business.

Therefore if you are looking for an animal rearing business in Kenya which can fetch you good cash without much stress, then take a look at Goat Farming.

Goats are mainly reared for meat, milk and hide and skin. The milk from the goat is the richest of all milk produced. Breeds of goats that can be found include:

1. Nnadi
2.  Angora
3. west African long-legged goat
4. West African dwarf goat
5. Bantu anglo-nubian
6. Alphine
7. Toggenburg
8. Nubian
9. Boer

Cost Of Starting A Goat Farm In Kenya?

Compared to rearing other livestock, goat farming business requires little or less capital .

You don’t need millions of Kenyan shillings to set up a goat farm, unless if you want to make it larger. But nevertheless , you can set up your goat farming business with not so much amount.

Just bear in mind that you are setting up a commercial goat farming. When you’re in the business, as profits flows in, you can then put in more goats.

Common Terms Used In Goat Farming In Kenya                    
A. Buck (Billy) – Adult male goat

B. Doe (Nanny) – Adult female goat

C. Wether – A castrated male goat

D. Chevon – Meat of goat

Benefits Of Goat Farming In Kenya:

1. Used for meat production;
2. Used for skin production
3. Used for milk production
4. Creates employment
5. Serves as an income generation

Thing To Consider Vefore Venturing Into Goat Farming In Kenya

1. The Management of Goat:

Management is very important. The management of goat from breeding to market weight or size is grouped into three phases these are;

2. Breeding:

Buck and doe are meant for breeding, they are kept in a building which is well ventilated. The buck and doe should be at least 12 months of age before they are used for breeding. Seven to 10 days before mating, the doe should be given a high plane of nutrition in order to increase the number of eggs ovulated, and consequently, increase the number of kids to be given birth to.

3. Kidding To Weaning:

When the kid is born the mucus membrane should is wiped off from their nose to enhance normal breathing and prevent suffocation. The navel cord which can break off on its own is dipped into iodine solution to prevent infection and promote fast healing. The kids where possible should be helped to suck colostrum produced from the doe for the first three days after birth.

Weaning To Finishing:

The kids are weaned and separated from the doe about eight weeks of age. They are kept in the growing house from where they can go out to browse and graze on grasses and legumes. With housing, feeding and proper healthcare, the goat will be matured for the market.

System of Goat Farming In Kenya

You need to decide on the rearing system; they are three major systems

1. Extensive system:

Under this system, the goat is allowed to roam about in search of pasture and water. A goat can thrive on any edible material and browses even in extreme condition of drought and rain.

2. Semi-intensive system:

Under this system, goats are provided with the house which protects them against adverse weather conditions like heat, cold, rain etc.

3. Intensive System:

Under this system, goats are confined within the stall in a building with limited access to grazing. Grasses, water, medications are supplied daily to the goats.

How To Start A Goat Farming Business In Kenya

1. Set Your Goat Farming Business Plan:

 A good business should have a business plan. These assist you to pinpoint things you should do to improve your goat farm. Alongside, you should have record keeping if need maybe, it should document what has been sold, purchased. To know when you are gaining or losing.

2. Make Your Research:

When setting up your goat rearing business, you should determine the main reason why you are rearing goat; are you rearing them for meat, for milk, or for their skin?

Make a market research of the one that has a high demand and will also profit you more and go into it.

3. Location Of The Goat Farm:

When you want to get a land for your goat farming, select a location that is good for pasture or grazing.

Make sure the land is not far from town or market for easy access. If possible, let there be a market near the farm land, so you can have easy access to get any types of equipments you might need.

4. Housing;

When building a pen for your goat, build one that will shed them from rain and the sun. You can put electricity if need may be. The shed should be well fenced to prevent thief and burglaries.

Also, the pen should be clean, should be free from dampness and well it should be well ventilated.

The goat pens should also be free from pest and rodents. You should always use fresh hay or straw for bedding. Initiate activities like introducing toys or so your goats can move around. This also helps in making them healthy and active.

5. Feeding:

If you want a healthy goat, you need to give it quality feed, goats mainly feed on roughages that is grasses, bruise plants and fodder plants.

6. Health Care And Sanitation Of The Goats

Proper routine measures should be done for the healthy living of the goats. The stalls and pens of the goat should be cleaned regularly.

Common diseases: anthrax, brucellosis, tuberculosis, rinderpest and red water fever. Drugs and vaccine should be administered at the appropriate time to prevent the outbreak of these diseases.

7. Employ Assistants:

Goat farming on a large scale cannot be looked by one person alone, employ people to help in the management if need be.

8. Always Visit a Vertinary:

In the event of the goats being sick, a veterinary doctor can always be of great help.

With the help of a veterinary, you will know the right nutrient, mineral or medicine that will be administered to your goat that will maximum your profit and also you can learn new tips from them.

If you want to do it yourself be cautioned that you might lose quite a number of goats in the process.

9. Goats Maturation:

This is the process of goats becoming mature. In goat, puberty age is between six and 12 month, some breeds maybe more than or maybe less.

Sometimes, nutrients can also contribute to this. You should note that female goats (doe) go into estrus every 21 days for three to 50 hours.

At this stage, some enough natural mating can begin. But since the advance of technology, some modern farmers practices artificial insemination. It is said that it allocates straight forward entrance to a wide variety of bloodlines.

10. Marketing Your Goats:

Before you fully start your own goat farming in Kenya, you should make a market research to know how much others are selling in the market so you’ll have a better understanding of goat business in your area and so that you won’t sell your goat below the market price.

These are everything you need to know on how to start a profitable goat farming business in Kenya, if you have a question kindly drop it in the comment section below.

How To Start Passion Fruit Farming In Kenya: A-Z Guide

Passion fruit farming In Kenya is expanding every day because of its numerous benefits and awareness. The world is gradually coming to one place due to internet activities we can now plant crops that were alien to us but very beneficial in health, nutrition and economy. Passion fruit is one of the top three exporting fruits in Kenya. This fruit has high value in the international market which are amongst the high juice consuming countries uses passion fruit for flavouring.

So far in Kenya many people including companies have already started panting passion fruits. We need more investors in this area to reduce the rate of importing the fruits into the country.

These plants are vine crops and need support to perform well, the vines can climb anything on its part to grow. And can grow up to 13ft, it is a perennial crop that can produce fruits up to 6 years.

Passion fruit can be used in the preparation of juice for flavouring cakes, pies, ice cream etc. The plant can be planted in a very small space. An acre can accommodate more than 500 stands depending on the spacing used. A step by step guide is provided in this post on how you can start a successful passion fruit farming in Kenya ranging from; soil preparation, planting, varieties, management practices, harvest and marketing.

Different Variety Of Passion Fruits In Kenya

There are more than 500 edible variety but the most commonly planted commercial passion fruits are; the yellow variety, purple variety and hybrid variety.

1. The Purple Passion Fruit:

Purple passion fruit weighs between 35-50g and are purple in colour when ripe. It contends high level of nutrients and flavour. It has a high amount of juice.

2. The Yellow Passion Fruit:

Yellow passion fruit weighs about 50-60g it has a round oval shape. The fruit has yellow spots colour when unripe but becomes golden brown when ripe. This variety is known for their ability to tolerate pests and diseases but very sensitive to low temperature.

3. The Hybrid Passion Fruit:

Hybrid passion fruit came to be from the cross breeding of yellow passion fruit with the purple variety. It took the dominant factors in both cultivar as its characteristic. And therefore produces more yield than those two cultivars. It weighs between 90-100g. The colour of s purple it shares the same quality as the purple passion fruit. Hybrid passion fruit has a high tolerance to pests and diseases with high amount of juice.

Land Preparation For Passion Fruit Farming In Kenya

The best soil for optimum growth is a well-drained sandy loam rich in organic matter with a PH of 5.5-6.5. Prepare the land by clearing grasses which can be kept for mulching, and trees that can be kept for staking. Use tractor and harrow for a hard soil in other to lose them for root and water penetration.

Dig holes of 45×45cm or 60×60cm. Mix manure with the soil on a ratio of 50:50 apply it in the hole up to 30cm.

Planting And Propagation Of The Passion Fruit

Passion fruit can be propagated through seeds, cuttings and root grafting,. Sowing should be between March-April.

Planting through seed is very simple while grafting requires expertise. Extracts the seeds from a healthy high yielding plant fruit. Keep the pulp for 3 days to ferment; prepare the beds and sow the seeds.

Transfer the germinated seeds inside poly bags when the leaves emergence is about 5 or 6; mix soil and compost together and fill the poly bag . Transplant them to the main field when they are 3 months old and trellis them to a stand for good yield.

For vegetative propagation: cut a healthy place from a matured passion fruit about 30cm in size with 3 nodes for the planting. You can buy seedlings from recognised nursery companies. A seedling will cost between ksh100-200.

Inter-cropping The Passion Fruit

Plant crops you can harvest within a year for additional income. Do this again the next year but in the third year plant only crops that can grow under shade such as ginger, turmeric etc.

Irrigation

Irrigation is very important only when there is need for it. Irrigate your passion fruit seedlings after transplanting them from nursery to the main field. During raining season don’t bother watering except there is drought or shortage of rain. The soil should be kept moist through mulching by the use of compost or green manure. Make sure there is no waterlog on the soil use drainage for excess water.

Weeding

Weeding is very important for the health of plants. It should be done when necessary. Three times a year is ideal to carry out weeding in any farm. Passion fruit orchard can be weeded manually or by the use of herbicides. Care must be taken when applying herbicides so as not to damage the plants. They are shallow rooted crops the more reason weeds should not be allowed in the orchard.

Pruning is also necessary to keep plants healthy and clean. Systematic pruning should be use because it encourages new growth of vines. This will promote higher fruit yield. Prune passion fruit after every harvest. Cut the laterite to about 4-5 buds.

Fertilizer Application

Apply farmyard manure 10kg in the first year of planting and 15kg in the second year. You can apply other manure such as bean cake, oil cake etc. They grow well in a Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus nutrients. After the initial application of manure before planting apply again a month after planting; and again after 3 months.

Pest Control

The commonest pests are fruit flies, mealy bug, and mite. While disease are root rot, collar rot, brown spot, die back and wilt. Prune affected part by cutting and burning. Use 1% Bordeaux mixture to treat root rot disease. And use pesticide for pest control. Plant resistant varieties.

Harvesting

Passion fruit has two seasons, that means they fruits twice in a year; August-December and March-May. The fruit matures between 80-90 days but starts fruiting 10 months after planting. The fruit should be harvested with a little stem attached to it. The fruits will naturally drop on the ground when ripe without damage. Use basket to pick them for sale or storage.

The yield depends on cultivar, good agronomy management and climate. But with good practices 10 tonnes of purple passion fruit can be harvested in a hectare. While 16-20 tonnes can harvested in a hybrid cultivar. A vine can produce 200-250 passion fruit every year. Passion fruit can be preserve for about a month when stored in a cold dry place with room temperature.

Marketing

Passion fruit should be sold immediately after harvest in other to prevent them from weight loss and appearance fading. Sell to hotels, malls, supermarkets, restaurants, traders and individuals. Negotiate with juice company for constant suppliers.

Advertise online for a wider coverage.

Health Benefits Of Passion Fruit

1. It treats insomnia
2. Prevents cancer
3. Reduces anxiety
4. A good antioxidant
5. Relieves anaemia
6. Controls blood pressure
7. Improves blood circulation
8. Good for the eye
9. Treats cardiovascular and respiratory condition.

Advantages Of Passion Fruit Farming In Kenya

1. It is profitable
2. It is less competitive
3. It is highly demanded especially by expatriates who have been consuming back at home.
4. It does not require much space less than an acre will give you good money.

Profitability Of Passion Fruit Farming In Kenya

A tree can yield about 15kg in a year and 1kg can be sold for ksh80.

These are everything you need to know About Passion Fruit Farming In Kenya, Drop your questions in the comment section below.