KIAMBU, Kenya -The rising demand for organic products and the possibility of high profits have encouraged young people to invest more in the organic chilli industry.
Growing, processing, and marketing organic chillies is a common aspect of this business, which takes advantage of consumer preferences for healthier foods.
Profitability can be increased by taking advantage of opportunities to develop value-added products.
Y News went to Gitaru, Kiambu County, to learn more about the chilli products from Winnie Nyawira, a businesswoman who shared in-depth knowledge about the venture.
Nyawira is the brains behind Manny’s Chilli, established 8 years ago.
She told Y News that she was motivated to enter the trade because of the demand for healthy food products.
“You see, unlike organic products, the rest of the industrial products are full of chemicals and colour, which puts many people’s lives at risk,” Nyawira told Y News in an exclusive interview.
How Winnie Nyawira earns from her organic chilli products
Nyawira disclosed that she buys raw chilli pepper from local farmers before processing and packaging the organic products for the market.
“I supply my organic products to supermarkets, conduct door-to-door delivery, and sell them to pop-up markets and restaurants.
“The prices of my products, replicas of tomato sauce, range between Sh 200 and Sh 350 for between 200 grams and 500 grams,” she explained.
Nyawira says their organic products and natural ingredients are uniquely compared to the rest.
“The ingredients I use are healthy, fresh from the farm, and certified by the relevant authorities. These ingredients range from chillies, herbs, garlic, ginger, and so on,” said the business lady, who said that she had no regrets about venturing into the trade.
Her challenges include marketing and more funding to expand her business.
“Yes, people have embraced my products, but the elephant in the room is marketing as well as the high cost of production, which is the real issue here. I need funding to boost my business and fetch more returns,” Nyawira told Y News.
Nyawira advises anyone seeking to invest in this kind of venture to have passion and dedication.
“If you have passion for something, you can make it. You are good to go if you care about people’s well-being. If you’re consistent with your quality, you will go far,” said the business lady.
What we know about the chilli pepper farming in Kenya
Meanwhile, according to information obtained by Y News, growing chilli peppers in Kenya has long been one of the most lucrative industries in the nation.
The crop offers excellent nutritional value as a source of iron, potassium, magnesium, vitamins A, B, and C, and promising yields.
Kenya has a tropical climate; chilli farming becomes ideal as the plants become hotter with warmer growing conditions.
However, research will enable one to select his crop from the various types available, including Cayenne Pepper, Birds Eye, Jalapeno, Serenade, Habanero, African Birds Eye, and Demon.
According to NAFIS, a farmer can profit about Sh140,000 from an investment cost of Sh85,000 on half an acre.
France was the biggest importer of chilli from non-European nations in 2016, accounting for 13,000 tonnes of all imports.
Germany came in second with two tonnes, the Netherlands with one, and the United Kingdom and Spain with six each.
Anyone considering a career in this field must realise that the market consistently requires products of the highest calibre.
High standards for drying and grading activities must be upheld.
