Started by Mira Mehta and co-founder — Shane Kiernan — in 2014, Tomato Jos is a social business that’s working hard to… Growing a garden for profit is something that definitely needs to be kept simple. Ssentamu urges the government to set training centres for farmers such that they improve on their farming methods such that they don’t get many losses. Profitable Tomato Farming in Kenya: BY SMART HARVEST – Nicholas Njagi’s seven acre tomato farm located in Igamba-ng’ombe, Tharaka Nithi County, produces 400 boxes of tomatoes per acre and this season is no different. Juma Ssentamu thought his hope of having a bright future had ended, when his mother got seriously sick. Challenges The tree … There is a problem of efficient organized marketing system in the country yet I still have potential to grow more tomatoes in my garden”, he says. Debbie Otwell has learned tomatoes can be as profitable as they are tasty. Tomato farming is very profitable, so if you reinvest the profits you get, you can quickly grow. Tomatoes are nutritious vegetables that provide good quantities of vitamins A and C. Lack of training sites for farmers on propagation of right planting materials. The process include, getting tomato seeds, determining their viability, ensuring that your soil is of the required state to grow your tomatoes. You can have small greenhouse too where propagation of t… According to Don’t Lose the Plot (DLTP) a television program produced by The Mediae Company whose other productions include Shamba Shape Up , onion farming can give you an income of of Ksh 354,000 per acre (This after deducting your expenses). Achievements ... Other crops which you can plant and harvest in a short time and are profitable include potatoes, tomatoes… It is comprised of 14 topics on tomato, including history of tomato production, cultural practices, pest management, harvesting, handling and marketing. California and Florida are the largest tomato-producing states. Elections Uganda@50 Project Success Amin. Flowers. If you are new to growing these tasty tomatoes, you … Tomato crop has the following uses: Areas in Uganda That Grow Tomatoes Challenges notwithstanding, Ugandan agriculture has enormous potential to transform the economy and make farming much more productive and profitable for Ugandan smallholder farmers, the report says. Garlic is loved … Because heirloom tomatoes can be harvested in as little as 60 days after planting, it’s possible to produce an income in just a few weeks. He says he is using traditional methods to maintain his project. A box sells at Sh. Juma sprays his tomatoes with pesticide. After three months of thinking where to start, “I choose to grow tomatoes because they require small piece of land, capital and they are not labour intensive. They produce best when daytime temperatures are between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures are above 60 or 65 degrees Fahrenheit. 2. The demand for tomato comes from the following areas. Productive heirloom tomato varieties will produce 20 pounds or more of salable tomatoes, worth about $80 at retail prices. By Umar Nsubuga Ssentamu also faces a challenge from the high cost of pesticides and unpredictable weather like this season the rainy season has been long and this has destroyed his crops like pumpkins and cabbages. Juma sprays his tomatoes with pesticide In this year, I have really convinced that this project may be more profitable. Tomatoes are among the vegetable crop grown by small scale farmers for both home use and domestic markets and can be grown all year round. The small scale farmers face the following challenges: Tomato Actors in Uganda His vision is to have the largest tomato project on his village. If you're thinking about growing tomatoes commercially, here's a guide to get you started. It is, therefore, a very profitable venture but has its own challenges. “I always do this such that I don’t want to lose any nutrients from the soil”, he says. This publication is a joint effort of the seven disciplines that comprise the Georgia Vegetable Team. All the above can be controlled using both natural and artificial measures including the use of specialised pesticides like Dithane and Dursban. Ssentamu has also found a better method of dealing with the unpredictable seasons “I use to irrigate my tomatoes, am not affected by the weather changes”. The production process involved in a tomato farming business is basically the same from the point of planting to the point of harvesting. After some few months, i harvested and the results were good in just quarter an acre”, he narrates. After the first sale in quarter an acre, his brain had been opened. Tomatoes can be grown in the smallest of spaces. Amazing tomato numbers in the Netherlands, Greenhouse tomato growers root for market, After Google Glass, Apple Watch, Japan offers wearable tomatoes, Tomatoes have helped him to change his fortunes, Former Makindye East MP to seek court injunction. The reason is that if you try and do a whole bunch at once, then you won’t be great at any of it. It is important to note that prices can go as high as Shs400, 000 per bag. Future plans List of members of the Tenth Parliament of Uganda, Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, Economic Community of Central Africa States, The Economic Community of West African States, The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Tomato production is an important part of Uganda’s economy, as well as a food source for its people. You need to be in the garden all the time and this is what I have been doing since I started this business. Even if you are not planning to get a loan, you should still get a tomato farming business plan to guide you in starting and operating the business. The plant responds well to organic fertilizers too. Proudly powered by BigDrum Associates. What You Need to Know About Growing Tomatoes Commercially Tomatoes are immensely popular, and there are plenty of varieties that can make you a steady profit. Diseases, pests and high costs to combat them, Limited funds to improve farm productivity, Dependency on rainfall which leads to seasonality in production, Lack of  effective transport to distant markets, National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) located on Entebbe, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Agribusiness development centre located in Kampala, Horticulture Exporters Association (HORTEXA), Agribusiness Development Centre located in Kampala, Britannia Allied Industrial Ltd located in Kampala, Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) located in Kampala, Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE and NGO) located on Nakasero road in Kampala, Uganda Spices Producers Association (NGO) Baumann House Parliamentary Avenue. Today Ssentamu’s tomato project is among the largest in Busukuma village. Cost of Tomato seed for 1 acre: Tomato seed rate for 1 acre is 200 gm, whereas it is only about 60 … P.O. Methods He usually plants seedlings on February 1 so that the crop can be ready at May and the next crop on August 8 to time the crop for December. Tomatoes are grown all over the country but the key areas that grow tomatoes include the following: Constraints for Tomato Growing Varieties for Tomatoes in Uganda Tomato production is an important part of Uganda’s economy, as well as a food source for its people. could bring $40,000. Besides regular weeding and mulching, he uses chicken dropouts (kalimbwe) and mixes it with water after a week, he irrigates all the young tomatoes to boost soil fertility. However, Uganda's rainy season makes tomato plants very susceptible to diseases and pests. Basil is a popular herb used in tons of different dishes. true In mulching, he uses dry grass because they are better at conserving moisture and also suffocates weeds. Be particular in sowing tomato seeds. If you are looking for a high-value specialty crop that can produce an income in the first … Growing heirloom tomatoes for profit is quite easy and can be very profitable. The tomatoes are attached by the following diseases: The pests that attack tomatoes include Aphids, Boll worms and Termites. If the 144 bags are sold at Shs200, 000 per bag, a farmer will earn Shs28.8m. I dropped out of school in Senior Five due to school fees problems. There are many varieties of tomatoes on the market including the following: Diseases and pests that attack tomatoes She got the idea after visiting the LSU AgCenter’s Red River Research Station in Bossier City. Since I joined the tomatoes project the nutrition status of my family because they eat fresh vegetables like entula, egg plants cabbages among others.