Agriculture is the mainstay of Kenya's economy and contributes to the country's social development.
According to a report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 2009, the sector directly contributes about 25 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product and 27 per cent through linkages with manufacturing and distribution.
Despite the declining performance occasioned by climate change and global recession, some rare crops can still earn farmers a fortune starting in 2023.
Embracing these new rare crops would help address poverty, and unemployment and even fix the country's economy.
Apart from growing Kenya's main crops, maize, wheat, beans, peas, tea, coffee, pyrethrum, fruits and flowers, farmers can plant rare crops and weeds to increase their earnings.
Crops Set to Pick in Demand
According to Farm Biz Africa, an organisation that gives real data on agriculture, lavender, mushroom, ginseng, saffron, goji berries and wasabi are expected to pick in demand from 2023 to around 2027.
Lavender
Lavender is considered the most versatile crop. First, its flowers can be sold fresh or dried.
The dried flowers can be used to make floral arrangements and wreaths, especially during special ceremonies such as memorials of top political leaders.
Lavender is also an ingredient used in aromatherapy products and skin care products. Some use the crop in making herbal pillows.
It is also used to spice up ice cream, thus making it more marketable worldwide.
One acre of lavender plants can produce about 12,000 bouquets each year, selling for Ksh130 a piece.
But to get maximum yields, lavender crops require well-drained soils and proper maintenance.
Ginseng
Ginseng is a crop known for its slow-growing medicinal root.
It has culinary uses incorporated into Asian recipes. Ginseng is also included in herbal teas and drinks.
It takes six years after planting before you can harvest mature ginseng roots. However, after maturity, they fetch close to Ksh4 million per acre.
Growing ginseng under forest cover is less costly. Under forest cover, the cost of maintenance is reduced.
Saffron
Saffron is considered the most expensive crop in the world. A stuck of saffron goes for nearly Ksh100,000.
Saffron is made out of the stigmas from the crocus plant.
It takes approximately 75,000 flowers to produce one pound of dried saffron.
In Kenya, a few farmers in the saffron business grow crocus plants inside greenhouses.
Although lucrative, it requires proper care and advice from agricultural extension officers.
Mushroom
Mushrooms are among the most profitable crops in the country at the moment. With most Kenyans and other consumers increasing their demand, farming is gaining prominence.
Oyster mushrooms, for instance, take at least six weeks to mature, and they cost as much as Ksh500 per kilogram.
In Kenya, mushroom farming is mostly practised in urban areas with small pieces of land.
Mushroom products are found in supermarkets which retail them for as much as Ksh1,000 depending on the size.
Wasabi
Wasabi is a rare crop only known by a few Kenyans who have travelled to different parts of the world.
In exclusive joints within the Gigiri area in Nairobi, a wasabi ice cream served with cashew nuts, almonds and pistachio costs around Ksh1500.
Given the rarity and expense of fresh wasabi, Ksh16,000 per kilogramme, most Kenyan restaurants use powder or paste.
For instance, Zen Garden, located in Lower Kabete Nairobi, infuses wasabi into different foods.
Wasabi leaves and stems are all consumed, making it an in-demand crop.
Despite being profitable, the crop requires freshwater streams. It’s hard to grow in large quantities in a greenhouse because it’s susceptible to disease.
It takes 15 months and 2 years after planting wasabi until you can harvest the rhizome or stalk.
But the harvesting of the leaves starts after eight weeks.
