10 Most Profitable Farming Business In Kenya 2022
Agriculture is the backbone of Kenya’s economy, contributing about 75% of the GDP. The major agricultural products in Kenya include tea, coffee, dairy products, horticulture, maize, wheat, sugarcane, beef, pork, and poultry. To be successful in the agribusiness industry, you need to be sharp, creative and fully aware of the upsides and downsides of the stock you want to produce before you start investing. Ensure that your product fills the present market gap.
While agribusiness in Kenya is on a fast growth, the following farming business have an even greater advantage in 2022:
1. Vegetable Farming
This is undoubtedly one of the most lucrative agribusiness ventures in Kenya. This is ideally profitable farming business in Kenya because Kenyans consume vegetables on a daily basis. The demand for vegetables keeps on growing each and every day. Some of the vegetables you can grow and commercialise include onions, tomatoes, cabbages, spinach, kale and traditional vegetables such as managu. Markets for vegetables are readily available. You can directly supply to homesteads, institutions or sell in open-air markets.
2. Fruit Farming
Kenya’s fruit production has received a great deal of attention over the past decade due to the rapid and sustained growth of its exports to Europe.
Avocado and passion fruit farming is a common practice in Kenya, with local varieties of avocado dominating the markets. Things have rapidly shifted to Hass avocado farming which is in high demand in the European market.
Passion fruit farming in Kenya is one of the biggest fruit exports by Kenya. The local market demand is also quite high. They are consumed fresh or the pulp is used for making juice and other products e.g. yogurt. Passion fruit is a perennial vigorous plant that produces fruits within a year after planting. It is shallow-rooted, woody and climbs by means of tendrils. Passion fruit contains an acidic juice that is full of flavour. They can be processed for juice or eaten fresh. Common varieties of passion fruit are purple, yellow, giant and banana. Like other citrus fruits, it is rich in antioxidants, fibre and low in calories.
3. Mushroom Farming
This is another lucrative agribusiness venture in Kenya. Mushrooms (organic mushrooms) have high demand, especially in high-end restaurants and domestic households. They do not require a huge piece of land compared to other crops.Mushrooms take a period of fewer than two months to mature and be ready for the markets. With a capital of just Kshs. 50,000 you are good to start off.With proper marketing this is one profitable venture and you’ll require less capital in comparison to others.
4. Bee Keeping
The high demand for honey in the Kenyan market makes beekeeping one of the most profitable businesses today. Not many people are brave enough to keep bees even when they think of investing in agriculture in Kenya. This is due to the lack of knowledge and general fear of bees. One great thing about cracking into this business is the little starting costs compared to the returns at the end. The first task in beekeeping is getting an appropriate land. Once the area is set, you should acquire essential items like bee suits, smokers and veils.
5. Fish Farming
Kenyans used to depend on the lakes and rivers for fish, but not anymore. Commercial fish farming has taken off and this time fish are reared in ponds. The African cat fish, nile tilapia and the rainbow trout are very popular. It is not hard to start a fish farm if you have the right information. All you need to start off is a constant supply of water for the ponds and fish feeds. Some of the best breeds of fish to rear include Tilapia, Catfish and Nile perch.By use of modern fish farming techniques, production can be maximized.
6. Pig Farming
Pigs generally reproduce and grow fast. All you need to do is to choose the best breeds which will earn you profits within a short period of time. Pigs are largely used for pork production in Kenya. Therefore it is advisable that you select the best breeds that grow fast to earn you profits within a short period.
7. Poultry Farming
Poultry involves keeping of chicken, which can be; Indigenous(Kienyeji), layers, or broilers. Improved indigenous breeds are also available to farmers. Other birds can also be reared like quail and guinea fowl but chicken is more popular in Kenya taking 98%. Chicken eggs are consumed more than meat in Kenya. Chicken meat has hotels as their biggest market.When doing poultry farming, attention to details and proper knowledge is a must for a successful venture.
8. Dairy Farming
Now, dairy farming can be very profitable farming business in Kenya ,which is for the long term production of milk can be sold directly to domestic households or dairy firms for processing. It is a lucrative venture as Kenyans ideally rely on milk for making tea which is a typical Kenyan beverage. Kenyans can’t do without tea. What you need is patience with your cows, a good setup, good feeds, proper cow management and technical support from a good vet and nutritionist.
9. Animal Feed Production
Poultry, dairy, pig, goat and sheep farmers need feeds for their animals. Producing animal feeds is easy and one of the most profitable agribusiness ideas in Kenya, especially if you have your materials like bean barns, silage, lucerne, hay, maize stalks, and napier grass. But it requires time and great marketing skills to pick up. This is a venture that can earn you a good amount of cash as animals cannot survive without basic feeds such as marsh.
10. Fertilizer Distribution
It is mainly the responsibility of the government to distribute fertilizers to farmers across the country. However, you can still outsource the fertilizers from various agencies and distribute them to farmers in remote areas at affordable prices. It is a venture that requires a minimum investment to grow.
Conclusion oF Profitable Farming Business In Kenya
Some other farming business also can make money for you ,like agricultural consultancy services,farm machinery dealing,food processing and packaging,farm transportation,or setting up an agro-processing plant to process fruits and vegetables for commercial purposes.
Agriculture is one of the major sectors in Kenya. This is mainly because the economy of Kenya is agri-based. Gone are the days when agriculture was seen as an old folk activity. Today the young generation actively participates in the growth of agricultural products and expansion of industries.
Like many other sectors, agricultural businesses have their challenges. Before your business starts running, get to acquire a few entrepreneurial skills and draft a plan to help you analyze the market. The good news is that most agribusiness ideas in Kenya rarely fail even for rookies.