Is Mango farming profitable in Kenya?
Without doubt…
Growing mangoes in Kenya is a highly lucrative venture.
Why?
Mango trees have a way of multiplying an investment by 100%, 200% or even 1500% over a long period of time.
Today I am writing this post to show you how to earn unimaginable returns by growing mango trees.
In do so, this post will be rather long.
It’s lengthy because I’ve put in all the details of mango production here… so that once you finish reading this…
You’ll have all knowledge necessary for mango farming.
Here’s What is Contained in This Post in a Glance:
Here’s Why the Market demand for mangoes is super high
10 reasons Why you must grow mangoes as soon as possible
Why Every Kenyan Who Can Grow Mangoes Should do It
Details of the Amount of Land You need to Start Growing Mangoes
Is My Area Suitable for Growing Mangoes?
Economic of mango production that will set you apart from other farmers
Special tools that will set you apart from other mango farmers
The Popularity of Mangoes in Kenya and Other Parts of the World… Make mango farming profitable in Kenya
The evidence of this is how mangoes sell in the Kenyan market.
Mango sellers report, “People of all age groups scramble for these juicy fruits once they hit the market.”
From children, teenagers, young adults and the elderly.
Another sign of the popularity of mango has to do with the manufacturing sector.
Want proof?
Walk into any supermarket in Kenya and around the world—you’ll find that the leading juice is mango!
People simply can’t stop drinking mango juice or eating mango fruit.
(Click here to see for yourself the mango juice options available on the Kenyan market)
Manufactures know this fact.
They know mango is not only popular, but profitable.
That’s why they process the juice and put it into packs for sale in the supermarkets.
Simply by growing mangoes, you position yourself to profit from this mango craze.
Why wait?
Why see the opportunity slip away yet when your land that is lying idle?
Put that land into use…
buy mango seedlings here to start your mango farming journey…
and you’ll stand to gain immense returns in 4-5 years’ time
That’s not all about the popularity of mangoes in Kenya.
People in Europe, Middle East, the Far East and other export markets prefer Kenyan Mangoes.
They find our mangoes sweeter, juicer and more appetizing than mangoes from other regions of the world!
Why? Kenya is at the center of the Earth. Straddled across the equator.
…which thus provides the most pristine conditions for growing mangoes.
No wonder Kenyan mangoes are a highly sought commodity in the international markets!
The rapid population growth is another factor that favors the growing of mangoes.
Population data indicates that Kenya’s population increases by 1 million every year.
That is sweet news.
Those are more customers being born every year who have the genetics of mango eaters!
Read the Story of How Mutheu Kithuma became a major mango Exporter here
The Best Time to Start Growing Mangoes in Kenya is RIGHT Now
Why wait when there are opportunities to profit from growing mangoes?
Why let time slip away and you have the resources, the land and the energy to start growing mangoes today?
Why see others enjoy getting tons of cash, from mango farms, when you could be part of them?
Why A Kenyan Should Grow Mango Trees
- Unlike Other Crops, Mango Trees Are Resistant to Drought Caused by Climate Change
There is nothing better at tolerating dry weather like mango trees.
Mango trees have long, powerful taproots.
These taproots go deep down into the soil to sip water.
That’s not all. A mango tree has the ability to resist the driest weather and still remain green.
For instance, mango trees have never failed to produce fruit year after year even in dry weather.
In fact, very dry weather just before rains is what mangoes need to produce a bumper harvest.
Want proof?
Just ask the people of lower eastern Kenya, the coast region and the rift valley; areas that experience frequent drought.
They will tell you mango is a dependable tree.
Growing mangoes helps them survive the harsh climatic weather.
Mango is a true warrior capable of fighting drought caused by climate change.
Farmers who invest in growing mango will have joy when climate change devastates other unprepared farmers.
- Investing in Mango trees can be a future source of retirement income
Believe it or not, growing mangoes one of the best retirement investments ever! Let me explain…
You can only invest Kenya shillings 200,000/= for mango seedlings, land preparation and other costs today, but in the next 8 years, your mango trees will be producing millions of shillings.
Down in the post below, I’ve given more information on the profitability and the economics of mango production below.
- Mango growing is a low cost but high return investment scheme
Compared to other crop investment alternatives, mango is low cost but a high return investment.
I am saying this because you can be able to grow mangoes passively.
Once your mango trees mature, they require very little attention.
You don’t have to be there every day to manage your mango farm.
You can do other things as nature works hard for you!
How Much Land do I need to get Maximum Profits from Growing Mangoes?
You need 2-3 acres to get a very good income from growing mangoes.
Let me explain:
1 acre is approximately 4046 meters square.
If you grow mango seedlings at a spacing of 3M x 3M, you will have a plant population of about 450 seedlings per acre.
Let’s say you have 3 acres. You will have a total of 1350 trees.
This plant population per acre may seem big, but it is not.
Remember we have the objective of maximizing the profits from the land.
When the mango plant is young, it produces few fruits.
So the close spacing is to maximize returns when the trees are young.
As the trees become bigger, you can reduce the population of the trees in your mango orchard.
Where Mangoes are grown In Kenya?
Mangoes thrive in areas of altitudes of 0 Meters-1150 Meters above sea level.
In Kenya, those areas are found in Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Mombasa, Lamu, Garisa, Muranga, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Lower parts of Kiambu, Thika, Matuu, Mwea, and Maranjau.
With regards to rainfall, mangoes prefer areas of moderate rainfall coupled with a dry season.
A period of drought is necessary to stimulate flowering in mangoes.
Mango can grow in a variety of soils from clay, loam to sandy soils. All you need to ensure is that water does not stagnate in your mango orchard.
In Kenya, mangoes grow very well in the following areas
- Ngoliba
- Mwea
- Embu
- Machakos
- Kitui
- Kerio valley
- Baringo
- Homabay
- Kajiado
- Lamu
- Kilifi
- Kenyan coastal areas
- Kangundo
- Lower parts of Kiambu
Legal Requirements for Growing Mango in Kenya
The law in Kenya is flexible for prospective farmers who wish to engage in mango farming.
It does not have any barriers for entry.
Anyone is free to start a mango farm anywhere even if it is in your bedroom.
This free for all legal environment has its advantages and disadvantages.
Many small farmers suffer the most because they are offered the lowest prices for their produce in the market.
To beat this trap, you’ll need to be strategic and target the export market that is highly lucrative.
Now when it comes to export of mangoes, the law is well structured.
There are some requirements that you must fulfil for you to access this market.
For example,
- You must maintain records of all pesticides you use.
- You must use only approved pesticides,
- Your farm will be inspected by people from HCDA
- You’ll have to join an exporters association
- And more
- The requirements are many, so I cannot handle them here.
I intend to write a blogpost detailing all the export requirements for mango growers in future.
Once you fulfil all those requirements, you’ll know why mangoes are sweet.
Now, Let’s Discuss the Economics of Mango Production (Conventional Spacing)
You can grow 200 mango trees spaced at 8 M X 5 M in one hectare. At a spacing of 8M X 5 M each plant covers an area of 40 M2, and one tree can yield up to 1000-1200 fruits.
Now, suppose you sell one mango fruit for Kenya shillings 10/=
You will earn the following
One tree gives 1200 fruits. Therefore, from one tree you will earn 12,000/= shillings. From 200 trees you will earn 2,000,000 trees in a year.
Here are some of the initial costs you are likely to incur when you decide to grow mangoes on one Hectare of land
Seedlings @ Ksh 200 x 200= | 40,000 |
| Plowing | 12,000 |
| Harrowing | 9,000 |
| 2nd Harrowing (if was virgin land) | 6,000 |
| Irrigation | 40,000 |
| Making 200 planting holes and actual planting @ Ksh 100 | 20,000 |
| Miscellaneous | 40,000 |
| Manure 2 lorries @ Ksh 4,000 | 8,000 |
| Total | Ksh 172,000/= |
| Year | Number of expected fruits per plant | Income each fruit @Ksh15 a hectare has 200 plants | Cost of labor and other inputs like fungicides, weeding, pruning | Net income | Cumulative income |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 112,000 | -112,000 | -112,000 |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 30,000 | -30,000 | -142,000 |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 30,000 | -30,000 | -172,000 |
| 4 | 50 | 100,000 | 30,000 | 70,000 | -102,000 |
| 5 | 200 | 400,000 | 100,000 | 300,000 | 198,000 |
| 6 | 300 | 900,000 | 100,000 | 800,000 | 998,000 |
| 7 | 400 | 1,200,000 | 200,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,998,000 |
| 8 | 700 | 2,100,000 | 230,000 | 1,920,000 | 3,918,000 |
Transplanting of seedlings
The seedlings flower 5-6 months after transplanting. Remove flowers for the seedlings are too weak and young to support fruit.
How Long It Takes Mango To bear Fruit
If you grow grafted varieties, expect to see the first fruits in 2 1/2 to 3 Years.
The break-even point comes in the 5th year, but it could come earlier if the mango orchard is inter-cropped with maize or other crops.
However, if you grow mango from the seed, it can take between 5-7 years before you get your first harvest.
That’s why its a good idea to grow grafted mango seedlings!
Where do I get suitable mango seedlings?
Mango seedlings cost Ksh 200 each, but don’t worry of the price of the seedlings. A seedling has the potential to develop into a tree and yield you Ksh 18,000 year after year starting from the fifth year after transplanting for 30 years!
I have a number of seedlings in my nursery, but i can’t promise to have them beyond August 10TH. This is because the seedlings are in high demand, and the timeliness of your response matters so much!
How to order for seedlings
WhatsApp me using the WhatsApp button floating on this page
If your farm’s location is win the areas mentioned above, you are good to go.
If you are not very sure whether mangoes can grow in your area, let us discuss about it.
This is really important because mangoes can grow well in specific areas. This info will help me determine if your agro-ecological zone is suitable for growing mangoes.
If your area is suitable, and you’re ready to place an order, we meet, and discuss mode of payment, the details of delivery and any other terms we agree on.
Here is what you will get if you buy seedlings from me
- Free technical advice on how to transplant mango seedlings to your field
- Free technical advice on how to maintain the tree
- Guidance on how to control pests and diseases of mango trees
- Show you how to time your production for the market so that your mangoes reach the market when their demand high
Ps. Try growing mangoes today. Don’t let your farm lie idle yet it can mint for your money.
If you are able to sell the mangoes at 2 shillings more, you will see huge profits.
Do the math yourself
How Many Tons Mango Can I Get Per Acre
Well the answer depends on the age of the trees.
Younger trees will of course yield less Tons per acre compared to older trees.
That said, one acre can yield from 500 kilos to 8 tons/acre.
However, there are new planting systems that yield up to 40 tons per acre.
Watch the video below to learn
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