There is no doubt that Aloe Vera farming is one of the most lucrative business ideas in Kenya; and just incase you are wondering how to get started in this line of business, Kuza Biashara is here to enlighten you. This is the first of our long series of articles that will be reviewing fresh business concepts in the Kenyan market.
How To Start Aloe Vera Farming in Kenya
To start off you need to buy seeds from your local store. Alternatively you can use a cutting from the right species. Seeds should grow within weeks depending on the weather. Cuttings may take weeks or sometimes months.
Seedlings
The best species of Aloe Vera that does best in Kenya is Aloe Vera Bardadensis (and Aloe Chinensis). One seedling of this species costs Ksh80 when delivered to your farm. You can get good seedlings from KARI or Herbal Garden Company which is based in Kasarani Nairobi.
Planting
Normally, an acre of land will carry a maximum of 4000 crops at spacing of 3ft by 3ft. Always keep in mind that spacing is extremely important for high qu 
a
lity harvest. A typical Aloe Vera plant has 25 leaves which extend up to full length of between one foot and 2 feet. This is why, experts recommend a minimum spacing of 3 feet all round.
Expert Opinion
If you are looking for expert opinion on this lucrative business idea in Kenya, you can always talk to Dr. Waturu of Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). He is quite instrumental in providing essential advice on the subject of Aloe Vera farming. You can also take advantage of Kuza Biashara’s SME Guru Platform for quick access to expert entrepreneurial advice.
Best Conditions
Aloe Vera is a sub-tropical plant. This essentially means that this crop will not tolerate cold climate. That being said, the best parts of Kenya to plant it would be in areas like Kitengela, Ngong, Tala, Machakos, Baringo and so forth.
Type of soil
Since aloe vera is a succulent plant, it is essential that it is planted in sandy soil. The best type of sandy soil for this crop is one that mimics the dirt found in the desert. It should be rocky and with low water content. The rule of the thumb is that you should always avoid too wet soil or places with stagnant water. Also, please keep in mind that Aloe Vera needs very minimal mulching and fertilizing to thrive. You can find out more information about the right type of soil by visiting this link (More info on right type of soil).
Where Do I Find Market
Now, since the Aloe Vera farming is one of the new business ideas in Kenya, finding the best market for your produce might always prove to be a challenge. So, you want to find the right connections to succeed.
The first place we would recommend you look for market is at Herbal Garden which is located in Warren Area of Kasarani. Another alternative would be to get into a supermarket, pick out a local Aloe product and then contact the manufacturer. Companies from across the country are looking for planters and you’ll be perfectly placed to reap from this opportunity. On average you can sell a Kilogram of your product at Ksh 30.
Harvesting
You can usually harvest aloe plants 4 times per year. The crop takes some 18 to 24 months to mature. Ideally, you should take around three leaves per plant. That comes to a total of 12 leaves per plant every year (keep in mind that only older outer leaves are harvested). You can expect an annual harvest of 60,000 kilograms of Aloe Vera per acre per year. Let’s do the math and see how much you can make:
Courtesy of Aloe Vera HQ
60,000kg x 30 Ksh/Kg = Ksh 1,800,000
As you can see, with an acre piece of land you can earn over Ksh1 Million per year. Of course you would have to deduct some other expenses. Also, please keep in mind that some companies charge Ksh 30,000 per annum to help you manage your farm. You need a starting capital of at least Ksh500,000 to venture into Aloe Vera farming in Kenya.
Finally
That is all you need to know about the Aloe Vera business ideas in Kenya. Feel free to leave a comment below on this subject. We would also like to welcome you to our official Facebook Page where you can interact with 100,000+ likeminded entrepreneurs from around the world.
