Strawberry farming is gaining popularity in Kenya due to its high profitability and demand.  Learn how drip kits are applied to irrigate strawberry plants and boost yield.

Since the crop is a rich source of vitamins, it fetches high prices in grocery stores, markets, and fruit vendors.

Drip Irrigate Strawberry with Aqua Driplines

Aqua Hub Kenya trains farmers on how to start, drip irrigate and manage strawberry farms. We supply and install drip kits to ensure our clients yield high and elevate their livelihoods from strawberry investment.

Where to Buy Drip Kits in Kenya

Visit our offices in Nairobi to inquire about drip irrigation kits, strawberry farming, and other plant irrigation solutions.

We deliver driplines to clients anywhere in East Africa through their preferred courier services at cheap rates.

Call 079719020

Cost of Drip Irrigation Kits: strawberry Drip Package

• 1 Acre, KES 135,000- KES 180,000
• ½ Acre, KES 70,000-KES 90,000
• ¼ Acre, KES 40,000- KES 55,000
• ⅛Acre, KES 20,000 -KES 25,000

Drip irrigation of Strawberry

Strawberry farming is best done inside greenhouses and shade house environments with high control. Although strawberries also do well in open fields, not all regions have the right conditions for growing strawberries. Regions such as Murang’a, Nyeri, and Kiambu are ideal for strawberry farming in Kenya.

Why Strawberry Farming is Lucrative in Kenya

Strawberries take a short time to mature, approximately 90 days for a young transplant to produce ripe fruits. Strawberry plants also have a long harvest season.

The plants also take up less space in the backyard as they are closely spaced at about 30 cm apart. A small land of ⅛ acres can yield up to 50 kg of strawberry fruits every week. Nowadays, vertical farming also enhances the yield per unit area as the plant grows tall and yields more fruits.

Strawberry farming generates higher profitability as a farmer can earn up to 100,000 per week for an acre of land.

Drip Irrigate Strawberry: Ecological Conditions

Any farmer who has a vision or plans to drip irrigate strawberries should ensure the regions meet the conditions for the growth of the plant. The climatic conditions for growing strawberries include.

• Altitude of 1500 to 2500 meters
• Soil PH of 5.5 to 6.8
• Well drained soil
• Temperature of 15° – 25°

Strawberry Varieties to Drip Irrigate in Kenya?

• Chandler – Produces large, red, and sweet fruits.
• Douglas – Medium, firm berries, disease-resistant
• Aiko – High yield, sweet, disease-resistant
• Pajaro – Large, flavorful fruit with, a long shelf life
• Fern – Medium, sweet fruits, high yield, disease tolerance

Requirements to Drip Irrigate Strawberry

1. Water tanks – Steady water storage and access.
2. HDPE Pipes – for carrying water on the mainline section
3. Driplines – to water strawberry plants at the root zone level.
4. Drip fittings – Connection of HDPE pipes and driplines on the drip irrigation system.
5. Smart Controllers – to automate the system for effective irrigation
6. Sensors – common in advanced drip irrigation systems. Integrates with smart controllers to deliver water in an automatic mechanism.
7. Fertilizer kits – to distribute fertilizers into the drip irrigation system.

How to Plant and Drip Irrigate Strawberry

Land Preparation

• Clear the vegetation and cultivate the land 9 -12 cm deep.
• Break the soil loose to ensure proper root growth.
• Have an agronomist test the soil PH. Should be around 5.5 to 6.8.
• Ensure the soil has good drainage.

Water Availability Assessment:

• Check whether it is available near your farm. If not, drill a borehole or connect to a reliable water supply line.

Seedling Selection

•  Select healthy and viable seedlings when propagating.

Spacing

• Strawberry seedlings are planted 30 cm apart on lines.
• The row spacing is 1 meter apart.

Greenhouse Strawberry Farming

The propagation of strawberries in greenhouse environments is reliable

Benefits of Applying Drip Kits to Irrigate Strawberry

• You harvest quality strawberry fruits. Drip kits lower diseases and pests thus quality fruits.
• Higher yield of strawberries because of high efficiency.
• Lower cost of production. Drip irrigation has zero cost of operation and uses less water.
• Farm utilization: Less land produces more strawberries because the spacing is close.
• Does not limit you to growing on the field. Drip kits also work in greenhouses and in-door environments.
• Drip Kits are affordable and can be scaled to cover additional farm blocks.
• It does not erode the soil and thus organic matter is retained.

Tips for Management of Drip Irrigated Strawberry Plants

• Ensure the driplines are in good condition by checking if they water all strawberries equally.
• Constant irrigation is ideal to prevent the plant from water stress. Irrigate at least 3 times a week.
• Increase the irrigation frequency when flowers start forming to ensure quality and high fruit development.
• Avoid excess watering to prevent waterlogging as it kills the plants.
• Drip fertigation begins when flowering starts
• Weeds are removed by applying mulching paper on the farm. Mulching stops weeds from growing and thus enhancing proper yield.