Tamarillo farming changes the fortune of retired teacher

When Fredrik Muya retired from his teaching profession, he had to look for an alternate source of income that was also consistent.

Muya who is from Kamune in Mathioya subcounty, had started farming in 2008 which complemented his income.

Since 2003, Muya had planted the highly marketable hass avocado and passion fruits on his five-acre farm before venturing into spices such as coriander, rosemary, lemon grass, mint and hibiscus.

As a mixed farmer, Muya also planted various vegetables which helped feed his family and acquired a ready market from neighbours.

“I have always done my farming organically which costs less and leads to higher and sweeter harvests,” he said. But when he retired, Muya ventured into Tamarillo (commonly known as tree-tomatoes) farming after realising there was a gap in the supply of the fruit in the market.

Muya has over the years garnered a wealth of experience that has allowed him to make his own farm inputs such as fertilisers.

He also uses cow milk and charcoal dust mixed with manure to hasten the growth of his crops.

The two ingredients enhance soil fertility and boosts the plants’ growth while enhancing their nutrients and water retention.

“Milk especially has live bacteria especially when it is fermented, and that improves the health of the soil while providing calcium and Vitamins which are beneficial to crops," he said.

Notably, his efforts in minimising environmental impact in his farming and promoting healthy soil and ecosystems has made him a name in horticultural production as buyers troop from far and wide to purchase his produce and learn how to practice organic farming.

“I use mixed farming because it allows me to have diverse sources of income. When one produce drops in prices, I still have the rest of the crops to make up for the reduction in earnings. I plant traditional and improve crop varieties organically.”

Muya farms with his wife, also a retired teacher, and the two have since planted over 1,000 tamarillo fruit crops.

The crop requires moderate, well-distributed rainfall, temperature of between 15 to 20 degrees Celsius and a soil pH of five to 8.5.

There are over six varieties of tamarillos though Muya focused on the ruby red variety which is fast maturing and resistant to pests and diseases.

Other varieties include the ecuadorian orange, gold mine, inca gold, red oratia, rothame, solid gold and yellow tamarillos.

They are all differentiated by colours ranging from yellow, orange, red and purple.

He acquires the seeds from local agrovets and plants them in a nursery after which he transplants them to the farm.

Transplanting is done when the seedlings are between 60 to 70 days old or when the seedling is 20 to 30cm long. The crop should be planted in deep holes to protect them from winds.

He explained that a planting hole should be 30 to 45cm deep with a diameter of 60cm to accommodate a sufficient volume of manure. The crops mature in nine months but commercial selling can only be done after a year.

Once it starts producing fruits, the tamarillo plant can be harvested all year long for up to seven years. With each crop producing an average of 60 to 100kgs, Muya is able to sell a kilogramme at Sh200 at the nearby Othaya market and its environs.

“The tamarillo crop requires regular watering. With the erratic weather patterns that sees rains disappear for long periods, I am forced to source for water because the soils should be water logged.”

Akin to many fruits trees, tamarillos are susceptible to pests and diseases, the most common being aphids, whiteflies and spider mites.

He explained that he uses locally made manure. He also uses locally available natural materials to make botanical pesticides like the sodom apple, mexican marigold, tigonia, garlic, rice husks and tobacco.

Milk also comes in handy in repelling fruits flies especially in the early stages of fruits production. Using synthetic farm inputs such as fertilisers overly makes the soil too acidic which gives the fruits a sour taste.

“We harvest the fruits when they develop a rich colour and feels slightly soft to touch,” Muya said.

Fruits are a good source of vitamins A, C and E that are essential for maintaining healthy skin, boosting the immune system and promoting good vision.

They also contain potassium, iron and calcium that contribute to overall health, and are also rich in antioxidants, including flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which help combat oxidative stress and reduce inflammation.

Muya said research on what crops to plant and the right crops husbandry has earned him the success, praising organic farming for helping him to engage in sustainable agriculture.

He urged fellow farmers to ensure they produce crops that are safe enough to be consumed by their families and shun overuse of synthetic products.

Instant analysis

Muya has planted about 1,000 tamarillo crops in his five-acre farm in Mathioya, Murang'a. With each crop producing an average of 60 to 100kgs, Muya is able to sell a kilogramme at Sh200 at the nearby Othaya market and its environs.