Mango Farming in Kenya.

Mango Farming In Kenya:


Mango farming in Kenya has grown considerably in recent years, both in size and in the geographic location of commercial and domestic plantations. Mango farming in kenya in Kenya is not only practiced in the coastal region but also in other parts of the country such as the central region, east among other regions. Almost all regions of the country produce mangoes, but the eastern arid region produces 61% of all mangoes, the Rift Valley 30% and the coast 28%.

With the expansion, the mango becomes the local people's favorite fruit. More and more people are embracing mango farming in Kenya, despite this growing popularity, only a few potential consumers and growers are aware of the characteristics of the many mango cultivars grown and available in the country. These include Ngowe, Apple, Kent, Tommy Artkins, Van Dyke, Keitt, Haden, Boribo, Sensation, Sabine, among other varieties.

Mango is not native to Kenya; it has been grown in the Coast Province for centuries. The crop was introduced to the country in the 14th century by traders who came to the coast of Kenya. The mango tree is one of the most important fruit trees in the tropical and subtropical lowlands. The mango is native to Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Malaysia, although it grows in over sixty countries around the world.

Is Mango Farming Profitable In Kenya - Mango Farming In Kenya

Absolutely…

Mango farming in Kenya is a very profitable business.

Because?

Mango farming in Kenya have the ability for increasing an investment by 100, 200, or even 1500 percent over time.

Today I am writing this article to show you how to make unimaginable profit by mango farming in Kenya.

This will make this message quite long.

It's long because I put here all the details of the production of the mango... so when you're done reading this...

Mango Varieties in Kenya - Mango Farming In Kenya

Mango farming in Kenya has several varieties are propagated in commercial orchards and nurseries. Differences appear in color, shape, texture, seed size, and resistance to pests and diseases.

If you want good produce, selecting the best mango cultivar in Kenya should consider the following criteria:

• Designated use and market requirements

• Good adaptation to local climatic conditions.

• Modification of flowering and fruiting.

• Tolerance to pests and diseases.

Kenyan mango varieties also referred to as mango cultivars, are divided into 3 categories.  

There are:-

Early Maturing – these mango cultivars mature from November to mid-January.  In this category, we have Haden Mangoes, Ngowe Mangoes, Dodo Mangoes, Kensington Mangoes, Zill, and Apple Mangoes.   

Midseason – These mature between mid-January and late February. Under this mango cultivar category, we have Sabine Mangoes, Peach Mangoes, Sabre Mangoes, Tommy Atkins Mangoes, Matthias Mangoes, Irwin Mangoes, Van Dyke Mangoes, Boribo Mangoes, and Smith Mangoes

Late Maturing – There mature between Late February and April. They include Kent Mangoes, Sensation Mangoes, Zillate Mangoes and Keitt Mangoes. 

In some parts of Kenya, especially on the coast, there is a second harvest, which takes place between May and August.

The ripening months of different cultivar categories may vary from region to region. For example, the Ukambani mango season may differ from the central province mango season or the coastal mango season.

You should also keep in mind that most mango varieties tend to have biennial characteristics, producing bountiful harvests every other year. This means that you will have a good harvest one year and fewer mangoes the next.

How Long Does It Take For A Mango Tree To Bear Fruit - Mango Farming In Kenya

If you are growing grafted varieties, expect to see the first fruits in 2 1/2 to 3 years.

Break-even occurs in the fifth year, but may occur earlier if the mango orchard is intercropped with corn or other crops.

However, if you are growing mangoes from seed, it may take 5-7 years before you get your first harvest.

That's why it's a good idea to grow grafted mango plants!

How Many Days Does It Take To Grow A Mango Tree - Mango Farming In Kenya

If you are growing grafted varieties, expect to see the first fruits in 2 1/2 to 3 years.

Break-even occurs in the fifth year, but may occur earlier if the mango orchard is intercropped with corn or other crops.

However, if you are growing mangoes from seed, it may take 5-7 years before you get your first harvest.

That's why it's a good idea to grow grafted mango plants!

How Many Mangoes Can You Grow In An Acre - Mango Farming In Kenya

Well, the answer depends on the age of the trees.

Of course, young trees will produce fewer tons per acre than older trees.

That said, one hectare can produce from 500 kilos to 8 tons/ha.

However, there are new planting systems that produce up to 40 tons per acre.

What Is The Lifespan of The Mango Tree In Kenya -Mango Farming In Kenya

Mango Farming In Kenya productivity varies greatly depending on the variability and Agro-climatic conditions that are extremely prevalent in a region. Grafted mango trees begin to produce from the second year. However, most trees can take 5 to 8 years. At the start of production at two or three years, the yield is also as low as 10-20 fruits (2-3 kg) per tree, increasing to 50-75 fruits (10-15 kg) in subsequent years. . Already about five hundred fruits (100 kg) in its tenth year. In the age range of 20-40 years, a tree produces 1000-3000 fruits (200-600 kg) per year. The productive age of a grafted fruit tree is sometimes 40-50 years, when the yield decreases.

How Many Mangoes Trees Can Be Planted In An Acre - Mango Farming In Kenya

The ideal space for mango in an orchard is 10 x 10 meters. With this distance, about 82 trees can be planted per hectare. In the ultra-high density planting technique, the mango is planted at 3m x 2m, which accommodates 674 plants per acre.

What Fertilizer Is Best For The Mango Farming In Kenya -Mango Farming In Kenya

During flowering, mangoes need high amounts of potassium to trigger flowering, flower retention and proper fruit development. Insufficient potassium leads to profuse flower abortions and unhealthy fruiting and development.

• Potassium Deficiency -Mango Farming In Kenya

It is characterized by scraping the edge of the sheet from top to bottom. Fruit quality is very low.

• Boron Deficiency - Mango Farming In Kenya

It is characterized by the abortion of the flowers and also by the breakage of the fruits. Brown areas can also be observed on the pulp of the yellow fruit.

• Zinc Deficiency - Mango Farming In Kenya

Zinc-deficient mango plants develop small leaves with up or down curved margins.

For good growth, development and appearance, mangoes require the following climatic conditions:

What Type Of Rain Is Best For Mango Farming In Kenya?

An annual rainfall of 850 to 1000 mm is sufficient for growing mango. It should be noted that rains during the flowering season reduce fruit set. Once the plant is well established, it can tolerate drought, especially when its root reaches the water table.

What Type Of Soil Is Best For Mango Farming In Kenya?

Mango trees adapt to many types of soil, but prefer deep (at least 3 m), fertile, well-drained soils with an optimum pH of 5.5 to 7.5.

Areas Suitable For Mango Farming in Kenya

Mango Faming does well in low to mid-high ground. The most suitable areas in Kenya include coastal areas, Murang'a, Thika, Taveta, Lower Embu, Machakos, Makueni and Kitui.

Mango Farming in Kenya; Pests and Diseases.

Pests in Mango Farming In Kenya

Mango Seed Weevil; Adults are dark brown with gray markings. They are 6 to 9 cm long and have typical weevil characteristics with a strong exoskeleton. The female weevil lays her eggs on young fruit. After hatching from the egg, the larvae penetrate the fruit through the pulp and reach the seeds where they complete their life cycle.

Mango Fly; The pest causes the leaf to produce wart-like galls, which reduce photosynthesis. Severe infestation can lead to complete defoliation. The adult fly lays its eggs in the tissues of young leaves. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the leaf and gall formation begins within 7 days.

Mealybugs; They are tiny, soft-bodied insects that tend to clump together in a fluffy-looking mass in mango trees. They suck up pests and their feeding activities slow plant growth and can kill new branches and leaves. Heavy infestations cause soot on leaves, fruits and twigs from the honeydew produced.

Mango Scales; They are limpet-like insects with a waxy, shell-like coating that hides their bodies. They feed by sucking plant sap, depriving the plants of essential nutrients. They weaken or even kill the plant, especially in the early stages.

Thrips; Thrips are tiny, slender insects with fringed wings and unique asymmetrical mouthparts. They cause damage to plants by piercing and sucking up their contents. They lead to the abortion of flowers and frighten the rusty appearance of fruits.

Red Mites; They are part of the mite family. They usually live on the underside of the leaf. You can weave a protective silk net. They cause damage by piercing plant cells and scarring young fruit.

Mango Fly; The female fly lays her eggs under the skin of the mango. The eggs hatch into whitish larvae which feed on the fruit. This leads to fruit rot. Fruit flies are currently the most important pests of mangoes.

Diseases in Mango Farming In Kenya

Powdery Mildew; It affects the leaves and flowers of mango trees. It usually starts with white spots. Affected plants appear to have been dusted with white matter. They lead to defoliation of young leaves and severe flower abortion if left unchecked.

Anthracnose; It is a fungal infection that can affect the stem, leaves, flowers or even the fruit. It is characterized by dark sunken lesions on ripe fruit, sunken chlorotic lesions on dry leaves or flowers.

Rust This disease is characterized by the withering of the branches from top to bottom of some older plants, followed by the drying of the leaves, giving a burning appearance. If left unchecked, death can lead to the death of the entire tree.

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