Tomato farming is considered the riskiest enterprise in crop farming in Kenya. Perhaps because of the high number of farmers run bankrupt due to low market prices and crop destruction by pests and diseases.
Despite the challenges, more farmers are still getting into tomato farming. The main question remains is tomato farming in Kenya profitable at all?
To understand the profitability of tomato farming we must focus on the cost of tomato production and the net revenue from sales.
How much it costs to produce Tomatoes in Kenya
The main costs of tomato farming are labour, seed, fertilizers, insecticides, and staking.
To produce Tomato Per Acre you Need at least Sh 185,000.
| Inputs | Quantity | Costs | |
| 1. | Seeds | 12,000pcs (25g) | 15,000 |
| 2. | Labor | 70,000 | |
| 3. | Fertilizers | 600kgs | 30,000 |
| 4. | Insecticides | 50,000 | |
| 5. | Other Costs | 20,000 | |
| Total costs | 185,000 |
This cost varies with management and location. If tomatoes are poorly managed and infested by pests such as tuta absoluta and diseases like blight the costs go high.
How much you can earn in one acre of tomatoes in Kenya
Tomatoes prices in Kenya vary with market supply. In low-supply seasons, the prices are high though these seasons don’t last long. Tomatoes are sold per crate or in Kilograms. Grades 1 and 2 attract premium prices.
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A crate sells at sh 300 to sh 2,000 depending on season. One acre can produce 300 to 400 crates under good management. This means the farmer earns Sh.90,000 in low and Sh. 800,000 in high seasons.
Brokers also tend to exploit farmers by using Probox as a measure of quantity buying one at sh 10,000-sh 20,000. This is a bad unit of measure that leaves farmers in losses. This exploitation is what has run most tomato farmers into losses.
The Profit per acre of tomatoes
Selling a crate at sh 300 earns a farmer a loss of sh 65,000. Farmers only make a profit selling a crate of tomatoes above sh 1000. This gives the farmer a profit of sh 150,000. This is the minimum price a farmer can sell and make a profit.
The secret to profitability in tomato farming is maintaining low production costs and good timing.
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