Why i think dragon fruit farming in Kenya is a scam.

K

kenthefarmer

Lister
A few years ago, I bought a single dragon fruit in Kiambu for Ksh 250, curious about the exotic fruit everyone was raving about. Today, I bought the same fruit for Ksh 10 in Nairobi . This dramatic price drop tells a story of overhype, false promises, and a reality that doesn’t live up to expectations.
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Here’s why I believe dragon fruit farming is more of a scam than a viable venture:

Unrealistic setup costs

Dragon fruit farming demands heavy investment in infrastructure. You need to install concrete posts for trellising, often supported by old motorcycle tires to stabilize the plants. This setup is costly and labor-intensive, making it financially prohibitive for most small-scale farmers. Add this to the high cost of seedlings, and you’re looking at a venture that requires significant capital to start capital that rarely offers a return.

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The crippling market collapse

When I first heard about dragon fruit farming, it was marketed as a premium crop. However, oversaturation of the market and limited demand have caused prices to crash. Farmers in places like Nyangati Kirinyaga are cutting down their plants because they can no longer find buyers or recover their investment. The Ksh 10 price tag I saw today is a reflection of a market that has been overwhelmed by false promises and hype.

Taste that doesn’t impress

While dragon fruit has an exotic appearance, its taste leaves much to be desired for many first-time buyers. It’s mild and bland, unlike the bold flavors Kenyans enjoy in fruits like mangoes or oranges. As a result, most people who try dragon fruit once are unlikely to buy it again, making it difficult to sustain a loyal customer base.
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Export market myths

Promoters often claim that dragon fruit is perfect for export, but they fail to highlight the challenges. Exporting requires strict adherence to international standards, access to reliable logistics, and well-established market networks none of which are readily available to small-scale farmers. For most farmers, the export market remains an unattainable dream.

Comparison to failed ventures

The hype around dragon fruit farming reminds me of the quail farming craze from a few years ago. Just like dragon fruit, quail farming promised quick riches and became a trend almost overnight. But the bubble quickly burst, leaving many farmers with losses and unsellable stock. Today, dragon fruit farming is heading down the same path, with farmers who initially invested heavily now abandoning the crop.

I, Ken the farmer, bought dragon fruit in Kiambu out of curiosity and to understand its real value, but what I’ve seen confirms the growing frustrations of farmers in areas like Nyangati Kirinyaga. The hype around dragon fruit farming has not lived up to reality. Instead, it has turned into another failed venture that leaves farmers with empty pockets and wasted time.

Agriculture thrives on proper planning and market research. Before venturing into any crop, ensure it has proven demand and sustainable profitability. Don’t let exotic trends mislead you. Let me stick to bulb onions that are consumed in every homestead.

~village investor.
 

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Of a slightly different opinion, With increased production, price must come down, and also price of planting materials come down due to increased production. So what is happening is ideally a balancing of the demand & supply. With that the fruit becomes a normal priced fruit. Other plants like plantain banana have gone through the same process too.
 
Fala12 said:
Of a slightly different opinion, With increased production, price must come down, and also price of planting materials come down due to increased production. So what is happening is ideally a balancing of the demand & supply. With that the fruit becomes a normal priced fruit. Other plants like plantain banana have gone through the same process too.
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What he is communicating is that farmers heavily invested expecting to sell at those prices...imagine how they are feeling now that they are selling at thise unimaginable prices
 
There's no way the fruit is going for Kshs 10/-, their prices may have gone down but not that low.
 
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Fala12 said:
Of a slightly different opinion, With increased production, price must come down, and also price of planting materials come down due to increased production. So what is happening is ideally a balancing of the demand & supply. With that the fruit becomes a normal priced fruit. Other plants like plantain banana have gone through the same process too.
Click to expand...
Prices aren't so bad still, bought this week at kes 300/kg. Meaning farm gate is still atleast 150/kg.
And again cost/margins in agriculture vary a lot from farmer to farmer
 
Fala12 said:
Prices aren't so bad still, bought this week at kes 300/kg. Meaning farm gate is still atleast 150/kg.
And again cost/margins in agriculture vary a lot from farmer to farmer
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I bought 1 piece at 10ksh from those ladies along shield karume road at night.
 
Fala12 said:
Of a slightly different opinion, With increased production, price must come down, and also price of planting materials come down due to increased production. So what is happening is ideally a balancing of the demand & supply. With that the fruit becomes a normal priced fruit. Other plants like plantain banana have gone through the same process too.
Click to expand...
Thank you for sharing your opinion as I did.
 
Very bland fruit. I use them to add colour/contrast in juice/smoothies za watoi.
or cut chunks into kids yoghurt.
 
Dragon fruit farming met the same fate as quail farming. But also the issue with Kenyans also they tend to copy a venture once it gets trending and so the market floods, leading to losses.
 
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