Melon farmer’s winning plan

Mr Musyoka Kivungi, a watermelon farmer shows some of his produce at Ndithini village in Makueni county. [Philip Muasya, Standard]

When Musyoka Kivungi settled at Ndithini village, one of the driest and harshest parts of Kibwezi West in Makueni county, many thought he was crazy. This is because the area was uninhabited and was known for its harsh weather where no plant survived save for indigenous thorn trees and unfriendly thickets that were scattered all over. But it was here where Kivungi bought a huge chunk of land, and quickly put up a home determined to make the area not only habitable but also agriculturally productive. Years down the line, Kivungi would surprise many by turning over 10 acres of his once barren land into a lush green farm and becoming one of the successful commercial farmers in a sun scorched region.

Rain water collection

His immediate strategy was to engage in a rain water collection technology by taking advantage of the short-lived rains that are witnessed in most parts of Kibwezi. He constructed a giant pond at his farm with capacity to hold over 100,000 litres and directed the surface runoff to it through shallow furrows.

“We had to find a way of surviving in this harsh environment and make the place habitable. The first thing I did was to construct a farm pond and direct all the surface runoff to it,” he says. That was in 2014 and with the first rains that hit the ground, his pond was filled to capacity.

With enough water at his disposal, Kivungi plunged into irrigation farming for commercial crops, mainly growing onions and watermelons. With bumper harvests every season, he opened up more farmlands to expand his venture.

“I soon realised the soils around this area are very fertile. What was lacking was water and that is what I was working on. The first farm produce were a major drive that inspired me to make commercial farming an all time occupation,” says the farmer with contentment. During our recent visit to his farm, Smart Harvest found the farmer supervising his workers, where some were harvesting ready watermelons while others watered young crops. 

Drip irrigation

The farmer has 10 acres of watermelon fruit under drip irrigation but at different stages to allow for spaced maturity, thus continuous harvesting throughout the year. On the day of our visit, Kivungi sold 15 tonnes of the fruits on farm.

“Customers come from far and wide, some pay me in advance and only come to collect their fruits. It feels good to see customers bring you money to your farm. It is something I never imagined in this part of our county,” he points out.

In the recent years, the farmer has slowed down on onion farming and concentrated fully on water melons which he terms as less labour intensive and with high returns. His favourite is Sukari F1 variety that matures in 70 days after planting.

The melons are grown under drip irrigation which saves on water consumption. Even then, Kivungi says the crops require alot of water, especially during the flowering period so as to give good and healthy fruits. This is exacerbated by the fact that the region is extremely hot and dry.

He reveals that in his farm, an acre consumes 10,000 litres of water after one day. To irrigate the fruit plants, water from the farm pond is pumped to elevated three, 10,000 litre tanks through solar power, from where it is released to the farm through gravity. The drips are then opened fully for 15 minutes then closed. 

Mr Musyoka Kivungi, a watermelon farmer shows a farm pond that collects surface runoff during the rains, enabling him to use the water for commercial farming. [Philip Muasya, Standard]

Sunk a high volume borehole

Due to the huge water consumption and with the expansion of his farm, the farmer in 2018 sunk a high volume borehole to boost his water capacity from the proceeds of his farm.

“We now have enough water and we farm throughout the year. We can grow any crop in this farm,” says Kivungi who also grows pixie oranges under drip irrigation, tomatoes and even maize.

His farm is highly productive where a single fruit weighs between 10 and 15kgs. With a kilo going for between Sh18 and 25, Kivungi is always raking in good money, season after season. He says an acre can produce up to 15 tonnes of watermelon if the crops are well taken care of.

Other than watering, the farmer reveals that the fruits require spraying with chemicals to control diseases and pests that, if unchecked, can destroy the entire crop. He laments that some of the chemicals are expensive, but discloses that he uses pest traps to cut on such costs. One trap is placed in every acre, he says. The other husbandry for the fruits is the normal weeding. Unlike other crops, he says watermelons do not require crop rotation as long as the farm is well prepared and the soil well manured. In his farm he uses compost manure, also from his farm where he keeps livestock. 

Mr Musyoka Kivungi, a watermelon farmer shows young watermelon fruits at Ndithini village in Makueni county. [Philip Muasya, Standard]

Suffered losses

Four years ago, however, his farm was attacked by a serious fungal infection that wiped out his entire crop in six acres. He was forced to uproot the whole crop and destroy it before the infection spread to other parts of the farm. Despite the losses, this drawback did not dampen his spirits. Currently, the farmer says he has no challenges with market but reveals that during the period of lockdown due to Covid-19, the market shrunk to low levels, forcing him to sell his produce at throw away prices. Kivungi is member of a network of watermelon farmers drawn from Makueni and Kitui counties who share online forums to discuss about pricing, any emerging new diseases and market among other issues around watermelon farming.

“The forums help us to discuss and agree on, among other things, pricing beforehand so that when buyers come, they do not exploit the farmer,” he says, revealing that majority of the buyers prefer watermelon fruits from lower parts of Makueni and Kitui county where temperatures are humid, giving the fruits a healthy, sweet taste. From his farm, some of the fruits are exported to neighbouring countries such as Tanzania.

Mr Kivungi advises other farmers in arid and semi arid regions of the country to concentrate on water collection during the rains, saying no drop should go to waste during the few days that rains pound the dry areas.

“The county governments also need to sensitise the communities on proper water harvesting and water use for food production and for commercial farming.”

For those interested in melon farming, he says farm preparation would include ploughing the farm and mixing the soils with manure. The farm is then divided into sizable plots where the watermelon seeds are planted directly. Young fruits should not be turned but should be left to lay on their original position. Watermelons do best in loamy, somewhat-sandy, well-drained soil. Dry weather produces the sweetest melon.