The pixie orange belongs to the tangerine and mandarin families of citrus. They are known for their juicy texture and bright orange color, making them a popular choice for consumers in Kenya. Pixie oranges originate in California. Agriculture in Kenya has taken on a new form as more and more Kenyan farmers have ventured into the cultivation of exotic fruits for local and export purposes.
Pixie orange farming is one of these attainable agribusiness, and has gained popularity in Kenya due to their unique taste, easy to peel the skin, and features of high nutritional value, making them heavily consumed. Farmers have recognized the tremendous opportunity that comes with demand and are working to address the shortfall. However, pixie orange is a new fruit crop and its growing technique is fairly new to many Kenyan farmers, which is making its production fairly low.
Accurate agricultural production in an agricultural system facing climatic hazards is critical to increasing productivity. Accuracy in breeding and selection of rootstocks is crucial in modern citrus production. Although growing citrus from rootstocks is more feasible, choosing an ideal rootstock remains a challenge for many farmers. Pixie orange is a successful transplant and perhaps the fact that Pixie oranges can be grown even in arid and semi-arid regions such as Machakos, Kitui, Baringo, and the coastal regions of Kwale and Kilifi, is what has led to high rates of adoption in the country.
Health benefits associated with pixie orange.
1. Rich in antioxidants. Pixie oranges are high in antioxidants that suppress the growth of free radicals. Free radicals cause unwanted oxidization in the body. In addition, these oxidative reactions trigger the development of diseases and inflammatory disorders.
2. Pixie oranges have a high water content. About 70 percent of our body contains water. Water is the fundamental requirement for the proper functioning of organs and the organ system. An average-sized orange supplies about four ounces of water.
3. It also reduces risk for liver or breast cancer.
4. Contains vitamin C, which helps prevent colds and is vital to the proper functioning of the immune system.
5. It also helps lower blood pressure and control the quantity of sugar in the blood.
Pixie Oranges contain magnesium and hesperidin that help control blood pressure. In addition, it even has a lot of vitamin B6, which favors the production of hemoglobin.
Advantages of pixie farming over normal citrus fruits.
Ready markets. Pixie oranges are in high demand both at home and abroad because of their unique taste and nutrition. So, it’s a valuable crop for farmers trying to make a good income.
Increased yields. Pixie orange trees are known for their high yield. One plant can give up to 50 fruits.
They’re easy to peel. Pixie oranges are popular for customers looking for quick convenient food as they have a thin skin, and can be peeled easily.
High dietary value. Pixie oranges are high in vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C, folate and potassium.
Ecological requirements for the cultivation of Kenyan pixie orange.
Soils. Although they grow in a wide range of soils, pixie oranges have the best results in deep, fertile, loam-to-loam soils, whose pH ranges from 6.5 to 7.3.
Precipitation.They do well in areas where precipitation is low to moderate. This means that it can perform well in arid and semi-arid areas. In dry zones, it is necessary to water the plants regularly.
Temperatures: Ideal temperatures for breeding pixie range from 10°C to 30°C. Plants are susceptible to extremely cold or hot temperatures.
Altitude: They thrive at altitudes as high as 2100m above sea level.
Propagation of pixie orange. Pixie oranges are native to California and have no seedlings. Thus, the only method available for spreading this variety in Kenya is grafting. Another advantage is that the grafted seedlings mature more quickly.
Planting. The planting holes should be prepared well to a size of 2×2 feet – 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep. Separate the top soil from the bottom soil and use the rich top soil mixed with manure to plant your seedlings. Mix the soil and manure at the ratio 1:2 (1 bucket of manure for 2 buckets of soil.Recommended spacing for pixie
Spacing . The Pixie orange trees reach a height of 4 meters and extend for a radius of 3 meters. Hence, the recommended spacing for pixie is 3 by Spacing .Pixie orange trees grow to a height of 4 meters and spread to a radius of 3m. Therefore the recommended spacing for pixie is 3 by 5 meters: 3m from plant to plant and 5m from line to line. With this spacing, you can plant 270 high yielding trees in one acre.
Fertilization. Pixie orange trees require regular fertilization to promote healthy growth and a high yield of fruit. Farmers should use a balanced fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Maturity and yields. Pixies mature and start bearing between 2-3 years. At full maturity each plant can give up 60kg of fruits and proper management.
pests. Mites, Bark eating caterpillars, Mealybugs, Aphid, and Leaf miners.
Diseases. Gummosis, Collar rot, Twig blight, and Damping-off
Grafting techniques improve plants resistance to some common pests and diseases in citrus trees. This is due selection of varieties while grafting. organic chemical control is highly recommend.
