Two times a week we bring tomatoes to the market

In the middle of January, we started our green houses project for tomatoes. Within approx. 3 weeks the green houses were built and seeded. Since the middle of Mai 2011, a continuous harvesting started and now this gives us a regular income.

Key figures for growing of tomatoes in green houses in Kenya:

1. Green house 1, 22 x8 meter big
2. Green house 1, 28 x8 meter big
3. Usability of the green houses over 3 to 5 years
4. Total investment, approx. KSHS 300,000. - or approx. CHF 3000.-
5. Work load, 1 -2 full time engagement
6. Sales input, 2 -3 times per week with 2 people to the local market
7. Continuous harvesting in the green houses over 6 – 10 months
8. Repeated planting in the same green houses possibly with approx.Month’s transitional period without crop yield.
9. 2 x harvesting per week, from 7 to 10 crates each 28 KG
10. At the moment the selling price per 30 KG , KSHS 30.- to 50.- / KG, KSHS 1,200.- to 1550 per crate
11. Turnover per month, from 2. Month approx. Kshs 70,000.- to 90,000.- based on KSHS 1,200 per crate.
12. The investment can refinance itself within a year.

Conclusion:

We can consider the green house project for tomatoes as complete success. We produce top quality tomatoes and the market loves them.

Note:

But here, we would like to additionally point out, that building of such greenhouses requires a specific existing knowhow.Through the production process very different challenges and problems can occur. The owner of the green houses must in this case react timely and correctly in order to avoid loses.

Thanks to all employees.

We would like to thank the Ministry of Agriculture in Kenya for their continued support of this project which every is offered to every farmer. And we thank our strong farm team who everyday were there to work for the success of the project.