A young female farmer in Laikipia County is making a fortune from an apple farming venture. Kate Wambugu of the Wambugu Apples' Farm said her father ventured into apple farming in 1985, and 45 years later, she is following in his footsteps. She has christened the apple variety she grows, the Wambugu Apple, after her father.
Currently, Kenya imports a huge percentage of apples from South Africa, Egypt, and the Middle East, but Ms Wambugu is optimistic that the country will soon have its own local apples as farmers in Kenya are exploiting alternative ways to grow the products. According to her, apple farming is one of the most lucrative ventures. "Once you plant the seedlings, it takes nine months only for the trees to start producing fruits," Wambugu explained. "One acre can accommodate 600 seedlings. However, you can start with a few seedlings. One tree can also produce close to 200 fruits at the bare minimum per harvest.”
She stressed that another very positive thing about apple trees is that you can harvest them for 100 years. An acre of apples can fetch about KSh10 million (€82,000) per harvest. A farmer can also make three harvests in a year, depending on the plantation season. Currently, local farmers sell their products in Karen, with some exporting them to the United Kingdom.
The apples are scrutinized by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and other relevant agencies to ascertain whether they meet the quality standards before being sold or exported.
Source: tuko.co.ke