Kenya is now the leading exporter of basil herbs to Europe having benefitted from the heatwave currently affecting the continent. It is estimated that European countries source 80% of their supplies of the aromatic herb from Kenya.
Talking to Kenyans.co.ke Jane Nyasiri, a Basil farming expert and agripreneur says many farmers are warming up to the crop because the herb grows so fast and its returns are close to immediate.
Nyasiri advises that although the crop has good returns it demands a lot of care.
She points out that sowing for the first time, it takes approximately four months before the first harvest. The subsequent harvests are then done weekly.
“Europeans and Chinese people love Basil herb. They use it for various purposes, some prefer using it as a spice in their food while some take it as a herb to cure constipation, loss of appetite, intestinal gas and diarrhea,” she stated.
“I mostly harvest every Monday. I have clients who request their orders on a weekly basis thus I have to ensure by the time they are coming for their orders, I have the harvest ready,” she said, adding that even though the harvests are done weekly, she needs to cut the whole crop after six months and grow them again.
This, Nyasiri says is her way of ensuring that the crop retains its quality and and doesn’t get to the point where it grows flowers.
The agripreneur says the heatwave in Europe has really boosted their income since their greatest competitor —Italy— is unable to produce due to high temperatures currently being experienced in the country.
For 1kg of basil, Nyasiri bags Ksh1000. She sells up to 300 kgs per harvest to her target market who are mostly Europeans, the Chinese and high-end restaurant owners.
Basil thrives in cooler areas and requires great care in terms of weeding and spraying pesticides which must be done at least thrice in a week. In the three greenhouse that Nyasiri manages, she uses 3000 litres of water per day.
Ngong, Thika, Nakuru, Naivasha are some of the areas that the expert says are conducive for basil farming.
“This is the best time for farmers to venture into basil farming before the competitors in Europe bounce back on their feet,” She observed.
Even though basil farming has good returns, Nyasiri notes that there are challenges that come with it. She says it's best for farmers to brace themselves for the tangy smell of the pesticides and high temperatures since most of the time is spent in the protective gear.
“Basil is one of the most delicate crops, thus it needs one to really keep an eye on them to ensure the pests and weeds don't eat up the herb. Also, the fertilisers used on the crops can be quite expensive,” She stated.
Kenyan farmers have started directing their passion towards basil farming. Like Nyasiri, most farmers involved in basil farming have mastered what the competitors are not doing and have capitalised on that.
For instance, Israel and Morocco supply the herbs to Europe, but they sell lower quality produce and at higher prices
She notes this is a huge competitive edge that Kenyan farmers have against the two countries since Kenya produces the best quality. A parameter that can be attached to the conducive weather.
Italy has been the top cream supplier of several basil varieties. However, the heat wave experienced in Europe has had a major dent on the sowing operations with high temperatures slowing production.
