Make Money by Understanding the Basics of Tree Tomato Farming

August 1, 2023

Do you want to make money with tree tomato farming? Do you to see how post-harvest losses affect farmers? This is the right article for you. Read on:

Tree Tomato Farming In Kenya

Farming in Kenya remains the backbone of most rural communities. The agricultural sector consists of six subsectors. Among these subsectors, horticulture is the most important and accounts for 33% of the GDP and 38% of the country’s exports. Fruit farming is a key factor in the growth of this sector and contributes up to 29.6 % of total horticultural production.

A tree tomato (Solanum betaceum) also called tamarillo is among the major fruits that contribute to fighting food insecurity in our country.

Reducing poverty and promoting food security within farming communities is a major concern in world today (NAFRP, 1999). Poverty affects certain occupations, such as smallholder farmers, and is a significant cause of food insecurity.

Horticultural crop production provides an opportunity for increased food self-sufficiency, revenue generation, and job creation (Ganry, 2007; Ganry, 2009).

Tree tomatoes are fruits of Andean origin that many farmers produce on a small scale in Kenya. The fruit has different uses such as fresh produce, juice, and in the agro-food industry. It has a high nutritional value, containing ascorbic acid, enzymes, and bioflavonoids, as well as minerals like chromium, potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins and amino acids. To diversify sources of income beyond coffee, tea, and sugarcane, the intensification of fruit production, such as tree tomatoes, remains a feasible option capable of reversing poor economic status, both locally and internationally.

Health Benefits Associated With Tree Tomato Farming

Controls the blood pressure

The mineral and potassium content of tamarillo helps to reduce elevated blood pressure in your body.

Good for the skin

The tomato tree offers vitamins A, C, and E to ensure the health and shine of your skin. Anthocyanin, phenols, and flavonoids protect the skin from oxidative stress and pollution.

Tree tomato also assists with anti-aging. Similar to ordinary tomatoes, you can use them in home remedies for various skin problems.

Inflamed tonsil cures

Tamarillo could help manage tonsil problems. In Ecuador, the natives heated the leaves of tree tomatoes and wrapped them around the neck to treat inflamed tonsils. The absorption of heat via leaves helps reduce pain.

Help fight cancer

Anthocyanins contained in darker tree tomatoes have powerful antioxidants that help fight free radicals that cause cancer. They also possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that prevent cancerous outbreaks.

Treats diabetes

Fiber is beneficial in regulating the sugar levels in your blood. Tamarillo maintains the level of sugar in circulation, which helps your body.

Supports longevity

Various studies report the role of vitamin C in prolonging life. It shows that it increases lifespan, which can be emphasized in the study concentrated on Werner.

Ecological Requirement for Tree Tomatoes Growing In Kenya

Tree tomatoes prefer subtropical climates.

Soils

To grow vigorously, tamarillo need fertile soil that is well-drained and rich in organic matter. They are susceptible to water-logging.

Tree tomatoes perform well in a pH of 5 to 8.5 and do not tolerate tightly compacted soil.

Rainfall

Even though you can plant under irrigation, rainfall between 600 and 4000 millimeters is appropriate. The crop cannot survive in areas of long-term drought and must have enough water during the dry season. Mulching retains moisture in an orchard of tree tomatoes and also reduces weed growth.

Annual temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius are ideal for the production of fruit tomatoes. It is intolerant to freeze (less than -2 °C) and to stress caused by dryness. Tree tomatoes thrive at altitudes ranging from 1500 to 3000 m above sea level.

Propagation

The majority of Kenyan farmers use seeds as a means of propagation, but tree tomatoes also use cuttings for propagation. The farmer should know that the seedlings first develop a straight trunk, approximately 1.5 to 1.8 meters high, before branching. Seed propagation is easy and ideal within protected areas.

keep the seedlings in the nursery until they reach a height of 1 to 1.5 meters because they are very susceptible to frost.

Varieties of Tree Tomatoes

There are several varieties of tree tomatoes in Kenya. You can differentiate by the respective color. The variety of yellow fruits has a higher flavor. That’s why this type is good at conservation.

The variety of red berries has an eye-catching color. It is common in Kenyan markets.

The black or dark red types have superior quality and are great.

Nutritional Requirements

For tree tomatoes, you require 25-30T/ha of organic manure for planting. The nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium required per year are 100:100:100 kg/ha, which makes around 600 kg of NPK 17-17-17.

The mineral fertilizer is applied in 3 portions: on planting, months, and 6 months after planting. For subsequent years, the recommended N P K is also distributed in 3 divisions at 4-month intervals.

Harvesting and Market

Crops take approximately one year to mature. You can pick the fruit twice a week throughout the year, except when sprayed to kill pests. The commercial life of a tamarillo plantation is about 8 years when diseases are well managed.

Every tree produces on average 20 to 30 kg of fruit per year. Therefore, would take about 20–30 tons of fruit per year an acre and one kilogram of tree tomatoes sell at around 100KSH locally.

The market for tree tomatoes has a high demand for them both locally and internationally.

Pests and Diseases

The crop is relatively disease resilient. However, it is affected by powdery mildew and Fusarium wilt that makes the leaves whitish and eventually crumble. They are also affected by early blight during cold weather and when the temperature is warm.

Good management practices have the potential to prevent these diseases.

Tree tomatoes are also affected by pests like thrips, whiteflies, and aphids which suck sap. All of these pests can be organically controlled through the continuous application of neem, chili, and marigold extracts.

Post-Harvest Management

Tree tomato fruits to store for long for up to nine weeks at temperature ranges of 3 – 4.4 c and moisture of 90 -95%.

Parting Shot

Tree tomato farming is an achievable agribusiness that trending across Kenya. Since it is gaining popularity and many farmers are adopting it, the creation of awareness is necessary among local farmers on the cultivation method necessary for growing tree tomatoes. Before starting tree tomato farming, it is important to have a lot of information regarding fruit production and the market in your area.