Kenya passion fruit farmers suffer disease losses

Passion fruit farmers in Kenya's Uasin Gishu and Keiyo Districts have incurred large losses following an outbreak of diseases and pests. Passion fruit has become the main income earner for most farmers in the district, with high demand which the farmers cannot meet due to low production caused by diseases and pests," says agricultural officer Grace Kirui.

In 2006 the district earned 2.2 million Kenya Shillings ($33,000) from 47,000 metric tonnes of passion fruit cultivated on about 350 hectares. Production was expected to increase to over 50,000 metric tonnes this season, but the projections might not be achieved due to the disease outbreak. Available statistics indicate that the North Rift region earned Sh13.6 billion ($200 million)last year from horticultural produce, up from the Sh8.6 billion ($130 million) it earned in 2005.

Among the most popular varieties of the fruit grown is Edulis pass flora. The Horticultural Development Authority supplies seeds to the farmers and provides transport to the market at reasonable rate.

"The orchards are expected to have a life span of more than five years, but do not last more than three years in the district due to the high incidents of diseases and pests," says Kirui.

Stringent demands by the European market remain the main challenge facing the sector, which calls for the need to train farmers on how to meet consumer requirements and expand production. Other factors that have contributed to low production of the crop are lack of organised markets and scarcity of nurseries offering clean seedlings. "We are subjected to exploitation by middlemen, who offer low producer prices, since we have no direct access to markets."

Daily Nation