ISHS Acta Horticulturae 21: I East African Horticultural Symposium
SECTION D - FRUIT CROPS - POSSIBILITIES FOR GROWING DECIDUOUS FRUIT TREES IN KENYA |
| Author: | J.H.G. Waithaka |
| Abstract:
Deciduous fruit trees such as apples (Pyrus sylvestris L), pears (Pyrus communis L), peaches (Prunus persica L) and plums (Prunus salicina L) have been grown in small orchards in the Kenya highlands for many years. Marloth (1945) carried out a survey and concluded that possibilities existed for the development of fruit growing in Kenya. Brown (1963) has classified fruit crops as cash crops of limited increased potential in the pure cash crops group. He further estimates that the development of various fruit crops could bring in an additional annual farm income of about E.A. £ 467 000 in exports and import substitution. The areas suitable for the cultivation of these crops are those with fertile deep soils at high altitudes with cold periods. Only one crop per year would be possible under these environmental conditions. These areas currently produce wheat, pyrethrum, barley, sheep, some vegetables and fruit. The introduction of deciduous fruits into Kenya was initiated by European settlers, but these introductions were predominantly propagated from seed and hence varieties of unknown parentage resulted. However, some varieties of known origin were successfully introduced. The Department of Agriculture has continued the importation of known varieties over many years and conducted variety trials in various localities in the highlands. Some of the observations and results obtained by private growers are also discussed in this paper. | |
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