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“We were told it fetches good money and there is a ready market, unlike the other crops. They said they will buy a kilogramme for between Sh40 to Sh45 and they estimated that one and a half acres can produce between 3,000 kilos and 3,500 kilos,” said Kadilo.
The farmers said they had abandoned watermelon farming for the sweet sunflower deal.
He added that since he started growing the crop he has invested little money as compared to what he used to spend in growing watermelons.
“Sunflower farming is less costly and I have invested Sh15,000 for the one and a half acres which were not possible with the other crops,” he said.
He said the main challenge during the planting season was however the scarcity of water.
“We love sunflower because it not labour-intensive. Our challenge has been water and we even abandoned some farms due to scarcity of water," he said.
Another farmer Mr Abubakar Mwalimu who teamed up with six others to cultivate 12 acres of sunflower said they lost two acres due to scarcity of water during planting season.
He however said sunflower cultivation was promising since he spent only Sh16, 000 compared to what he used to spend on maize and other crops whose cost exceeded Sh30,000 each season.
“I had planted and I needed water but the supply failed hence the failure of the seeds to germinate. Sunflower matures in two and a half months and it is my hope that I will make good money,” he said.
“We pay Sh5,000 per one and a half acres and pay the same for water for an entire season. We also pay Sh5,000 for preparing the land,” he added.
The Bura Irrigation scheme manager Mr Peter Orwa advised farmers to diversify on the number of crops and to stop over-reliance on one crop.
“What I encourage the farmers to do is to diversify on the number of crops that they are growing. Over-reliance on one crop is very risky. The alternative crops are to cushion them from the risks of production,” Orwa said.
He added that the farmers had over-relied on growing watermelon but the market was flooded.
“We have introduced various crops so that a farmer can try and spread out the risks,” he added.
He also assured farmers that the problems of water will end soon after the construction of the gravity water system at Kora Kora area.
“We have two contractors on site and within a year all the water problems will be solved,” he said.
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The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization
with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations,
television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group
is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in
matters of national and international interest.
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