Baby corn, a new type of vegetable-cum-maize not so popular here in Kenya yet, is an emerging potential income earner among progressive farmers who wish to explore the export market. Closely resembling an immature maize cob, it has a vast potential as it is extensively eaten in the west as well as in some high-end joints locally. If you are a small investor, you can farm it and sell to vegetable and fruits exporters for a steady pay-cheque at the end of the 50 day maturity period.
Baby Corn Farming in Kenya
Baby corn also known as cornlettes or mini corn is a cereal-vegetable that is harvested when still immature because it is eaten whole – the cob (msogoro) included. The good thing with the crop from a business perspective is that it matures very quickly. Unlike normal maize where you have to wait for 6 to 8 months, this one grows in 50 days and is ready for sale. That therefore means shorter wait-time and potentially more flexibility on your investments unlike maize where you have to wait for a whole year to see the results.
Where Can I Plant It In My Area?
For starters you will need a farm – obviously. So step one: find a chunk of land – preferably an acre minimum – in an area with well drained soil, regular rainfall and medium temperature (Avoid areas with high temperature). The ideal soil pH is 5.8 to 7 seeds. Those are common land characteristics in Central and North Rift, Central Kenya, parts of Kajiado and Machakos and so forth. And you don’t have to be a land owner to start as you can simply lease land in any of these areas. Typically, an acre of land is leased at Ksh10,000 per year on average.
General Care and Maintenance
The crop requires moderate care. You simply plant it in rows separated by 90cm and 30 cm distance. Its recommended to use more of compost manure and a bit of inorganic fertilizer. Some of the pests you might have to deal with include cutworms, locusts and grasshoppers.
The Business Angle of Baby Corn Farming
As we have told you, market for baby corns is mainly available abroad which means you should approach the investment with exporting top in your mind. But that’s not to say there’s no local demand. If you pay a visit to major supermarkets like Chandarana and Nakumatt, you can rest assured to find baby corns on the shelves ready for sale. Clearly, demand for baby corns is growing locally although that is yet to gather national momentum.
The best way to go about this type of farming is to first explore various options that exist on the market. For instance, you can start by talking to local exporters e.g. Kenya Fresh, Danka Investments and Kenya Horticultural Exporters (KHE). These exporters will furnish you with details on which varieties to plant, how to care for the crop, which pesticides to use etc.
Don’t be in a rush to start without adequate intel because the international market is very stringent on standards. Its easy to get your entire harvest rejected for not adhering to specific standards – so, be sure to liaise with exporters prior to venturing into the farm.
Once you link up with the exporters, you can then go back to the farm and implement all the tips they share with you. Usually,
there’s ready demand of baby corns if you follow this route.
How Much To Invest (Per Acre, Minimum)
Land leasing – Ksh10,000
Tilling and prep – Ksh5,000
Fertilizer – Ksh5,000
Insecticides – Ksh3,000
Seeds – Ksh1,650 per Kg x 5 = 8,250
Miscellaneous – Ksh5000
TOTAL BUDGET = Ksh36,250
N/B: An acre requires 5Kgs of seeds bringing you to about 35,000 crops. Each crop will give you 2-3 cobs on average.
How Much To Expect (Per Acre, Minimum)
A typical one acre farm produces a harvest of 65,000 cobs translating to about 500Kgs – 1 Tonne in quantity. We did not manage to get the exact farm-gate price for baby-corns but a 250gram package goes for Ksh95 in local supermarkets (translating to about Ksh380 per kilo on retail). Even if you sell your produce at a throw-away farm-gate price of Ksh100 per kilo you will still be making profit (500Kg x Ksh100 = Ksh50,000 in just 50 days).
There are challenges however. The crop requires all-round care and secondly the international export standards are very stringent. About 15% of your produce may be rejected for cosmetic reasons.
In addition you can earn more income by selling the branches as fodder to livestock farmers. A truck full of fodder goes for Ksh4,000.
Some of the popular seed varieties are Thai Gold, Baby Corn ZS206, G5414 and SG18.
Final Word
A vast market potential and a short growth time span are the two factors that make baby corn farming an interesting venture. If
you are looking to expand your hustle, this could easily be your next best hunting ground.
