By Kenya News Agency
Joe Irungu, a farmer in Kigetuini, Murang’a, has been farming pumpkins for over a decade, finding it a lucrative income source.
He initially struggled with herbal medicine but found inspiration to grow pumpkins after visiting Uganda and learning from a farmer who planted them.
Irungu planted seeds of the Israel giant pumpkin, which he believes is the best variety for commercial farming.
“A kilogram of pumpkin goes for Sh.20 therefore a single piece of this variety can fetch up to Sh1000” he noted.
Pumpkins are fast-growing, taking only three months to mature, allowing farmers to plant them up to three times a year.
They require little maintenance except during cold seasons, when they are sprayed to prevent frost damage.
Irungu also established a small processing factory to produce pumpkin flour, which he sells locally.
To sustain the flour production, Irungu engages farmers from Murang’a and neighbouring counties to supply him with pumpkins for processing.
After harvesting, the pumpkins are cut into chips, dried, and processed into flour. Blended flour is made by mixing pumpkin with other products like cassava, arrowroots, and bananas to make it affordable.
Despite being highly nutritious, many people still don’t eat pumpkins due to their perceived food status as food for small children or the poor.
However, consumers are warming up to the flour as it can be used to make various products like cakes, breads, biscuits, chapatti, pancakes, and more.
Irungu encourages more farmers to venture into pumpkin farming due to its good returns and a ready market for their produce.
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About the Author
really inspirational. How do i get his contact for a ready market because am a pumpkin farmer too.