Onion farming is one of the most lucrative agribusiness ideas. But, most Kenyans are hesitant to venture into it because they are afraid of losing their hard-earned money. The successful onion farmers in Kenya are making millions from the venture. Their farming journey will inspire you to venture into onion farming.
Youth unemployment is rampant in Kenya. As a result, the Kenyan government is encouraging young people to venture into agribusiness to create self-employment. Onion farming is one of the agribusiness ideas that are steadily gaining popularity in the country. But how profitable is onion farming in Kenya?
Successful onion farmers in Kenya
There are so many onion farmers in Kenya who have smiled all the way to the bank after reaping huge profits from the venture. Here is a list of successful farmers in Kenya who have reaped handsomely from onion farming.
1. Dan Onkoba
Dan Onkoba is one of the onion farmers reaping handsomely from the venture. He had a deep passion for farming since he was raised in an agricultural farming community. When he relocated to Makueni County, he ventured into onion farming. Dan harvests up to 15 tons of onions per acre from his 8-acre farm, which translates to 15,000 Kg.
He mostly sells his produce in Nairobi for Kshs 40 per kg. Dan pockets Kshs 600,000 from the venture. The cost of production is about Kshs 150,000. After subtracting the cost of production, he is left with a profit of over Kshs 400,000. He is planning to purchase additional pieces of land to increase production.
2. Peter Marwa
Peter Marwa graduated with a Bachelor of Finance degree from Kisii University. In 2018, he relocated to Hola in search of a job, but he did not get one. Then, he decided to venture into onion farming. He has planted 12 acres of onions and harvests about 10 tonnes or 10,000 kgs.
Marwa sells a kilo at Kshs 100 at the farm gate and Kshs 120 in the market. The cost of production is almost Kshs. 50,000 per acre, inclusive of labour and chemicals for weed and pest control. Marwa sells his produce to the local market in Hola and Nairobi.
3. Bonfrey Kituva
Bonfrey is a perfect example of farmers who have reaped handsomely from red creole onion farming in Kenya. Kituva grows red onions on his 2.5-acre farm located in Wautu village in Makueni County. Kituva first plants the seeds in a nursery and then transplants them to the main field after eight weeks.
He harvests close to 12 tonnes of onions from his farm and sells a kilo at Kshs 70 each. Kituva harvests the onions every three months and sells them to consumers in Sultan Hamud, Wote, and Kasikeu. Thanks to the proceeds from onion farming, he has purchased an additional piece of land, constructed a permanent house, and educated his children.
4. John Wachuma
John graduated from Kenyatta University in 2017. He decided to venture into crop farming after reading success stories in the media. Wachuma ventured into onion farming and used the proceeds to expand the farm to five acres. He pockets about KSh 410,000 from the sale of onions every farming season.
5. Margaret Njenga
Margaret Njenga is a former teacher. She sought solace in farming during the Covid 19 pandemic when the schools closed down. Margaret plants onions on her one-acre farm located in Corner Baridi in Kiserian, Kajiado County. She farms the onions under irrigation.
The cost of production is almost Kshs. 270,000. She harvests 15 tonnes of onions and sells them for Kshs 50 per kg. She gets 15 tonnes every four to five months, which translates to approximately Kshs 1 million per year. Margaret sells her onions to traders in Wakulima Market in Nairobi.
6. Gikunda Meme
Gikunda was working as a credit manager in one of the local banks. In 2003, he quit his job and ventured into onion farming. He grows onions and tomatoes on his five-acre Subuiga Hilltop Farm. Gikunda sells the onions for Khs 80 per kg when demand is high and Kshs 40 when the demand dips.
He pockets Kshs 5 million in revenue after every three months of harvesting onions and tomatoes. Gikunda mostly sells his produce to traders at the Gakoromone market. Thanks to the proceeds from onion farming, he has built flats on his quarter-acre plot.
FAQs about onion farming
- How many kgs can 1 acre of onions produce? One acre of land will produce between 10,000 and 20,000 kgs of onions under good management.
- What is the onions yield per acre? The average yield of onions per acre is between 10 and 20 tons under good management.
- What is the red onions price per kilo? The red onions price per kilo is Kshs 40 when demand is low and Kshs. 190 when demand is high.
Successful onion farmers - Wrapping up
If you are planning to venture into onion farming, these successful onion farmers in Kenya should inspire you on your journey. There is a high demand for the produce because almost every Kenyan delicacy requires the use of onions. You can sell the onions to grocery stores, supermarkets, schools, restaurants, hospitals, and other facilities.
Tuko.co.ke published an article about tomato farming in Kenya. For commercial farmers, the biggest question has always been what to plant. And tomato is, and has always been, a viable option – if done right. The commercial benefits of open-field tomato farming in Kenya or in a greenhouse boil down to how.
The average tomato yield in Kenya is approximately 8 to 10 tonnes per acre, which translates to 20 to 25 tonnes per hectare. You can make around Ksh.1,000,000 in total revenue from tomato farming in Kenya. After deductions, you arrive at a profit of around Ksh.847,000 per acre. Read this post to learn more about tomato farming.
