Growing bullet chillies for export in ‘cattle district’

Rangenga in the farm where he grows chillies in Kitengela. PHOTO | CAROLINE WAMBUI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Rangenga has been growing and exporting chillies to United Kingdom,Germany, Norway and France from 2011.
  • Dried chilli powder is an important ingredient in the spice mix known as curry powder while hot chilli is used as a condiment in the preparation of soups, chilli sauce, spicy water, vinegar-spice mix among others.
  • Harvesting is done after every seven days by qualified trained personnel with high levels of hygiene being observed like having short nails so as not to injure the produce and subsequent rejection in the market.
  • Each fruit is sampled singly for any sign of damage or any presence of pests.

While most of his neighbours are either pastoralists or engaged in some form of livestock husbandry, Paul Rangenga, 40, has concentrated his energies on a farming venture few are interested in.

Six Kilometres from Kitengela town off Namanga Road stands Lerizone farm, a model chilli farm where quality meets standards.

It is here that Rangenga has been growing and exporting chillies to United Kingdom,Germany, Norway and France from 2011.

From the two-acre farm, Rangenga harvests a total of 466 boxes of chillies each weighing a kilo, per week. A box sells for Sh320.

The plant has some great health and medicinal benefits. Fresh chilli peppers (red and green) have high levels of vitamins and minerals with mild variety peppers being used as vegetables in cuisines in many parts of the world with chopped peppers are used in the preparation of chilli sauce and in variety of dishes.

Dried chilli powder is an important ingredient in the spice mix known as curry powder while hot chilli is used as a condiment in the preparation of soups, chilli sauce, spicy water, vinegar-spice mix among others.

Rangenga says the seedlings requires a nursery bed of 1m by 10m with fine compost manure mixed thoroughly with the soil to enhance early strong seedlings. Holes of between 3cm and 4cm in depth are then created to facilitate fast and uniform germinations.

Rangenga warns that chicken manure is not recommended for use because it contains high levels of nitrogen that inhabits proper roots formation and establishment. He, however, points out that chicken manure is only ideal for use at the top dressing stage.

TRANSPLANTED EARLY MORNING OR LATE AFTERNOON

To prevent and control pests at an early stage, the nursery bed is drenched with insecticides and watering is done during the morning hours only as evening water encourages root rot activities.

The seedlings are then raised in the nursery for six to eight weeks depending on the weather before being transported to the main field.

The seedlings can be transplanted into smaller polythene bags two weeks after germination and later transplanted into the main field four to six weeks later to help reduce transplanting shock and allow fast establishment in the main field.

“Transplanting should be done when the sun is not very hot i.e. early in the morning or late afternoon as this helps reduce the transplanting shock arising from seedling evapotranspiration,” he says.

The seedlings are then drenched with insecticides during transplanting to prevent early attack by aphids, thrips and cut worms. Compost manure mixed with a compound fertiliser with adequate phosphorous is used to hasten plant growth and help in fast root formation and reducing possible repetitive gapping.

“Chilli plant grows in different soil varieties, but for maximum production, the plant should be planted in deep fertile soils to allow proper root penetration as the plant is a heavy nutrient extractor that calls for periodic replenishment of nutrients in line with the soil requirements and in the correct proportions which is done after one has confirmed the soil nutrients levels through soil analysis to help determine the soil nutrient levels,” says Rangenga.

He adds: “Soil nutrients levels should always be checked to help determine the deficit element or nutritional requirements.”

INSPECTION OF THE PRODUCT

The plant takes between 75 and 80 days after transplanting to be harvested which can continue for six months with good care, but before harvest, the scouting team mandated to check on the pest and weeding has to give a report on the farm to the pest management team.

Harvesting is done after every seven days by qualified trained personnel with high levels of hygiene being observed like having short nails so as not to injure the produce and subsequent rejection in the market.

At the park house, each fruit is sampled singly for any sign of damage or any presence of pests where if any is noted, the sample is forwarded to the pest management team for further investigation.

The rejects are also weighed for farmers’ evaluation so at to determine with time whether the venture is making profits or loss. The produce is then graded and labelled with a traceability code.

The produce is then cleaned, dried, graded and parked then forwarded to Kenya Plant health inspectorate Service for inspection where again every carton is inspected and given a green light for shipment.

Like with other produce for export, chilli farms have to be inspected by Horticultural Crops Development Authority.