Farmers in Kenya are raking millions with fruit grafting ventures. A farmer from Kisii spoke on the benefits of fruit grafting after venturing into the business on a small piece of land.
Sabina Nyasuguta was introduced to the business when a group of businessmen from Central Kenya visited her home to explain that they could sell her grafted orange and avocado seedlings.
Grafting is a farming method where the farmer or planter joins the cutting (scion) of an improved variety of fruit trees onto the root (rootstock) of a local compatible variety.
Nyasuguta listened to their ideas and saw an opportunity to jump in, knowing well that the seedlings were scarce in Kisii.
She realised there was a lack of grafted species in her region and she was motivated to build the nursery and venture into the business since residents in her area only planted ordinary fruits that take a longer period to yield.
Some of the varieties she planted included Hass avocado, chandler strawberry, tissue culture banana, Washington orange, Pepino melon and jack fruit.
She explained that the unique technique makes seedlings take shorter periods to grow and the profits are also impressive. Nyasuguta encouraged women to venture into planting grafted seedlings because they only need a small piece of land to get high yields.
“A ripe ordinary avocado is sold at Ksh10 as compared to a grafted one that goes for Ksh30. Grafted avocados are usually exported because they contain more fats and weight. They are also beneficial because a farmer can sell their scions, making good profits,” Nyasuguta advised.
The farmer added that grafted fruits are tasty and nutritious and it also allows farmers to sell extra produce to earn cash.
This method of farming helps overcome propagation problems and it also gives farmers the opportunity to grow a greater range of plants.
Farmers say grafted trees produce fruit faster. A tree grown from grafted seeds may take 8-10 years to fruit, but a grafted tree will take approximately 4 years.
Grafting is done to improve the taste and size of the fruit and also will continue to have the same quality of fruit years later. In Nyasuguta's case, she makes extra income since she produces her own seedlings and fruit and this saves her money.
