There is no doubt that Aloe Vera farming is one of the most lucrative business ideas in Kenya; and just in case you are wondering how to get started in this line of business, am here to enlighten you.

To start off you need to buy seeds from your local store. Alternatively, you can use cuttings from the right species. Seeds should grow within weeks depending on the weather. Cuttings may take weeks or sometimes months.

The best species of Aloe Vera that does best in Kenya is Aloe Vera Bardadensis (and Aloe Chinensis). One seedling of this species costs Ksh.80 when delivered to your farm. You can get good seedlings from KARI or Herbal Garden Company which is based in Kasarani Nairobi.

Planting

Normally, an acre of land will carry a maximum of 4,000 crops at spacing of 3ft by 3ft. Always keep in mind that spacing is extremely important for high quality harvest. A typical Aloe Vera plant has 25 leaves which extend up to full length of between one foot and 2 feet. This is why, experts recommend a minimum spacing of 3 feet all round.

Best Conditions

Aloe Vera is a sub-tropical plant. This essentially means that this crop will not tolerate cold climate. That being said, the best parts of Kenya to plant it would be in areas like Kitengela, Ngong, Tala, Machakos, Baringo and so forth.

Type of soil

Since aloe vera is a succulent plant, it is essential that it is planted in sandy soil. The best type of sandy soil for this crop is one that mimics the dirt found in the desert. It should be rocky and with low water content. The rule of the thumb is that you should always avoid too wet soil or places with stagnant water.

Also, please keep in mind that Aloe Vera needs very minimal mulching and fertilizing to thrive. You can find out more information about the right type of soil by visiting this link http://www.aloeplant.info/the-type-of-soil-an-aloe-vera-plant-needs-to-thrive/

Where Do I Find Market

The first place I would recommend you look for market is at Herbal Garden which is located in Warren Area of Kasarani. Another alternative would be to get into a supermarket, pick out a local Aloe product and then contact the manufacturer. Companies from across the country are looking for planters and you will be perfectly placed to reap from this opportunity. On average you can sell a Kilogram of your product at Ksh.30.

Harvesting

You can usually harvest aloe plants 4 times per year. The crop takes some 18 to 24 months to mature. Ideally, you should take around three leaves per plant. That comes to a total of 12 leaves per plant every year (keep in mind that only older outer leaves are harvested). You can expect an annual harvest of 60,000 kilograms of Aloe Vera per acre per year.

Let’s do the math and see how much you can make:

60,000kg x 30 Ksh/Kg = Ksh.1,800,000

As you can see, with an acre piece of land you can earn over Ksh.1.8 Million per year. Of course you would have to deduct some other expenses.

Finally

You don’t have to be an agriculture expert to succeed in Aloe Vera farming in Kenya. Aloe Vera farming in Kenya is still a soft target that you can take on provided you are willing to put a little more effort than everyone else. Remember, nothing good comes on a silver platter. Don’t just sit there and complain. Start small and dream big.

As I conclude, I would like to invite you to join our Investing in Bitcoins Training.