Specialist crops and agritech services
Beyond general farming (methods 281–296), some high-value crops and agricultural technology services offer strong opportunities, especially for export and modern farming. They usually need good research, quality inputs and reliable markets.
What these methods share
- Research and extension support: consult agricultural officers and research institutions.
- Certified inputs: seedlings and seed from certified sources (KEPHIS-regulated).
- Markets and contracts: export crops need buyers and quality standards.
- Scams: "guaranteed export market" seedling schemes and fake buyers.
633. Avocado farming (including export varieties)
What it is: Growing avocados (e.g. Hass) for local and export markets. How it works: Certified seedlings → orchard management → harvest → buyers/exporters.
| Skills | Orchard management |
| Cost & equipment | Land, certified seedlings, water |
| Where to find work | Exporters, local markets |
| Payment | Per kg |
| Realistic earnings | Medium (after trees mature) |
| Time to first income | Years (trees take time) |
How to start: Buy certified seedlings; join farmer groups that link to exporters. Pros: Strong export demand. Cons & risks: Long wait; export quality rules. Scam warning: Fake seedlings and "buy-back guarantee" schemes. Kenya notes: Export registration and maturity rules apply.
634. Macadamia farming
What it is: Growing macadamia nuts. How it works: Orchards → harvest → processors.
| Skills | Orchard management |
| Cost & equipment | Land, seedlings |
| Where to find work | Processors |
| Payment | Per kg |
| Realistic earnings | Medium (long-term) |
| Time to first income | Years |
How to start: Learn regulations on nut sales and processing. Pros: Valuable crop. Cons & risks: Long wait; theft. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Nut sales are regulated; sell to licensed processors.
635. Flower farming (small-scale, for export or local)
What it is: Growing flowers for florists or export via aggregators. How it works: Greenhouses or open fields → harvest → sales.
| Skills | Horticulture |
| Cost & equipment | Greenhouse, inputs |
| Where to find work | Florists, exporters, events |
| Payment | Per stem |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Start with local florists and events. Pros: High value. Cons & risks: Export standards. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Kenya is a major flower exporter.
636. Tissue culture banana farming
What it is: Growing disease-free tissue culture bananas. How it works: Certified plantlets → management → harvest.
| Skills | Banana management |
| Cost & equipment | Plantlets, land |
| Where to find work | Markets, processors |
| Payment | Per bunch |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Buy from certified labs. Pros: Higher yields. Cons & risks: Water needs. Scam warning: Fake plantlets. Kenya notes: Research institutions supply certified plantlets.
637. Passion fruit farming
What it is: Growing passion fruit for juice processors and markets. How it works: Trellis system → harvest → sales.
| Skills | Crop management |
| Cost & equipment | Seedlings, trellises |
| Where to find work | Juice processors, markets |
| Payment | Per kg |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Use grafted, disease-resistant seedlings. Pros: Relatively fast returns. Cons & risks: Diseases. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Juice processors buy in bulk.
638. French beans and export vegetables
What it is: Growing vegetables for export through contract farming. How it works: Contracts with exporters → production to standards → collection.
| Skills | Good agricultural practices, record keeping |
| Cost & equipment | Land, inputs, irrigation |
| Where to find work | Exporters' outgrower schemes |
| Payment | Per kg (contract) |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Join exporter outgrower programmes. Pros: Guaranteed buyer if standards met. Cons & risks: Rejections for quality. Scam warning: Verify exporters are legitimate. Kenya notes: Export certification standards apply.
639. Tomato and onion farming (open field and greenhouse)
What it is: Commercial vegetable farming. How it works: Planting → management → market sales.
| Skills | Crop management, pest control |
| Cost & equipment | Inputs, irrigation |
| Where to find work | Markets, traders |
| Payment | Per crate/kg |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium (volatile prices) |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Plan planting to avoid glut seasons. Pros: High demand. Cons & risks: Price volatility. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Timing harvests for low-supply periods improves prices.
640. Herb and spice farming (rosemary, basil, chillies)
What it is: Growing herbs and spices for hotels, supermarkets and export. How it works: Small plots → harvest → sales.
| Skills | Herb cultivation |
| Cost & equipment | Small land |
| Where to find work | Hotels, supermarkets, exporters |
| Payment | Per kg |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Secure buyers first. Pros: Small land needed. Cons & risks: Niche markets. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Hotels value fresh herbs.
641. Smallholder tea and coffee farming
What it is: Growing tea or coffee and selling through factories and cooperatives. How it works: Production → delivery to factories/cooperatives → payments.
| Skills | Crop management |
| Cost & equipment | Land, bushes |
| Where to find work | Factories, cooperatives |
| Payment | Per kg, bonuses |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months to years |
How to start: Join cooperatives; improve quality. Pros: Established markets. Cons & risks: Price fluctuations. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Cooperatives and factory structures govern sales.
642. Aquaponics systems
What it is: Combining fish farming with vegetable growing. How it works: Fish waste fertilises plants; water recirculates.
| Skills | Aquaponics knowledge |
| Cost & equipment | Tanks, pumps, power |
| Where to find work | Urban buyers, hotels |
| Payment | Sales of fish and vegetables |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Train; start small. Pros: Efficient. Cons & risks: Technical complexity. Scam warning: Overpriced kits. Kenya notes: Suits urban spaces.
643. Hydroponic fodder production
What it is: Growing animal fodder without soil. How it works: Trays → sprouting → feeding/sales.
| Skills | Hydroponics |
| Cost & equipment | Trays, structure |
| Where to find work | Dairy and poultry farmers |
| Payment | Sales |
| Realistic earnings | Low |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Test economics carefully. Pros: Dry-season feed. Cons & risks: Costs may exceed benefits. Scam warning: Exaggerated claims. Kenya notes: Calculate costs vs conventional fodder.
644. Agricultural drone spraying services (licensed)
What it is: Spraying crops with drones. How it works: Licensed drone operations; per-acre services.
| Skills | Drone piloting, pesticide safety |
| Cost & equipment | Spraying drone (high cost), licences |
| Where to find work | Large farms, cooperatives |
| Payment | Per acre |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Meet KCAA drone and pesticide regulations. Pros: Efficient service. Cons & risks: Regulation; capital. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Drone and pest control product rules apply.
645. Soil testing services
What it is: Testing soil and advising on fertiliser use. How it works: Sampling → testing (labs or kits) → recommendations.
| Skills | Soil science |
| Cost & equipment | Testing kits or lab partnerships |
| Where to find work | Farmers, cooperatives |
| Payment | Per test |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Partner with accredited labs. Pros: Improves yields. Cons & risks: Farmer awareness. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Soil health programmes exist.
646. Drip irrigation installation
What it is: Designing and installing drip irrigation systems. How it works: Design → installation → training.
| Skills | Irrigation design |
| Cost & equipment | Tools |
| Where to find work | Farmers, greenhouses |
| Payment | Projects |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Partner with suppliers. Pros: Water efficiency. Cons & risks: Water source issues. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Irrigation enables year-round farming.
647. Certified seed bulking (contract)
What it is: Multiplying certified seed under contract with seed companies. How it works: Contracts → inspected production → delivery.
| Skills | Seed production standards |
| Cost & equipment | Land, inputs |
| Where to find work | Seed companies |
| Payment | Contract prices |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Work under licensed seed companies with KEPHIS inspection. Pros: Premium prices. Cons & risks: Strict standards. Scam warning: Never sell uncertified seed as certified. Kenya notes: KEPHIS regulates seed production.
648. Farm advisory app agent / digital extension agent
What it is: Helping farmers use digital advisory, market and payment platforms. How it works: Agent for agritech companies; commissions.
| Skills | Farming knowledge, digital skills |
| Cost & equipment | Smartphone |
| Where to find work | Agritech companies, cooperatives |
| Payment | Commissions/stipends |
| Realistic earnings | Low |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Partner with reputable agritech platforms. Pros: Bridges digital gap. Cons & risks: Commission-based. Scam warning: Avoid platforms promising guaranteed farm profits. Kenya notes: Kenya has many agritech platforms.
649. Sericulture (silk farming)
What it is: Rearing silkworms and growing mulberry. How it works: Mulberry → silkworms → cocoons → sales.
| Skills | Sericulture |
| Cost & equipment | Mulberry plants, rearing house |
| Where to find work | Processors |
| Payment | Per kg cocoons |
| Realistic earnings | Low |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Train with research institutions. Pros: Niche crop. Cons & risks: Limited markets. Scam warning: Confirm buyers. Kenya notes: Small but supported niche.
650. Farm produce grading, sorting and packhouse services
What it is: Sorting and packaging produce for buyers and exporters. How it works: Packhouse operations.
| Skills | Quality standards |
| Cost & equipment | Facility, cold storage |
| Where to find work | Exporters, supermarkets |
| Payment | Fees |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Meet hygiene and export standards. Pros: Value addition. Cons & risks: Capital. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Export packhouses require certification.
Summary
- Specialist crops and agritech methods include avocado, macadamia, flowers, tissue culture bananas, passion fruit, export vegetables, tomatoes and onions, herbs, tea and coffee, aquaponics, hydroponic fodder, drone spraying, soil testing, drip irrigation, seed bulking, digital extension, sericulture and packhouses.
- Use certified inputs, secure markets first, and verify exporters.
Check yourself
Which body regulates seed certification and inspection? (abbreviation)
Show answer
KEPHIS
Should you sell uncertified seed as certified? (yes or no)
Show answer
no
Which authority's rules apply to agricultural drones? (abbreviation)
Show answer
KCAA