By MaryAnne Musilo

Laikipia farmer Thiong’o Gachie has moved into growing hibiscus that he reports can earn over Sh4m an acre from its petals used to make health-giving teas.

“I started growing hibiscus last year. I had known about it for quite some time, but the real interest came when I began introducing it to farmers as a commercial herb,” said the. regenerative agriculture trainer and consultant.

Based in Rumuruti, Laikipia, he also grows rosemary and lemongrass. His first attempt at hibiscus failed due to poor rains, but he tried again.

“The seedlings I transplanted in my trial bed all died because there was no rain. But instead of quitting, I started all over again with better tactics,” he said.

While rainfall provides about 80% of his irrigation needs, he supplements with water from a small farm pond.

“I started thinking about value addition. Now, I dry the petals and make hibiscus kombucha, which has been well-received in the market.”

He sources seedlings from Machakos, starting them in a nursery before transplanting. “From seedling, hibiscus takes about four months to mature. If you plant directly from seed, you’ll need around six months before harvest,” he said.

Pest attacks, mainly from aphids, have been a challenge, but Thiong’o uses organic methods to manage them. “My farm is fully organic. I don’t use any pesticides. I’m now experiencing aphids attack, and I am considering introducing predators to feed on the aphids instead of constant spraying,” he said.

Market demand is strong. “I can’t even meet the market demand right now,” he said. “That’s why I’m encouraging other farmers to join. Earlier this month, I met with a group of farmers to discuss forming a community-based organisation so we can aggregate produce, add value, and sell together.”

Hibiscus farming, according to Thiong’o, can be a very profitable venture even for smallholder farmers. He sells seedlings at Sh50 each and has also explored export markets, where dried petals can fetch up to Sh1,500 per kilo. “I recently exported 10 kg of dried hibiscus, giving me Sh15,000,” he said.

In hibiscus, the calyx is the fleshy, red outer covering that remains after the petals fall. This is the part harvested, dried, and sold for making hibiscus tea, juice, kombucha, and other products.

At six plants per square metre, an acre holds about 24,282 plants. Each plant can produce around 250 flowers in a season, with each flower yielding roughly 0.5 g of dried calyx. That works out to just over 3 tonnes of dried hibiscus an acre, worth more than Sh4.5 million at export prices.

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It’s a crop that is ideal for smallholders, he said. “Most farmers start with 10 to 20 seedlings. It’s better to begin small and expand as the market grows.”.

He is also keen on sharing knowledge. “If someone wants to start, I can offer guidance based on the season and their conditions,” he said. “Hibiscus tea is known for health benefits like helping with blood pressure, though it should be taken in moderation as it can be acidic for some.”

Contact

0717735165  – Thiong’o

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