Drylands to green gold: commercial melons
Tharaka Nithi's hot, dry lowlands suit melons. Where farmers can harvest and store water, watermelon and related crops can deliver strong returns on land many consider marginal. SACEP Kenya is developing this 'drylands to green gold' opportunity with partners.
Programme idea — in development
What we do
- Water harvesting and small-scale irrigation to carry melons through dry spells
- Producer groups that plant on agreed schedules for continuous supply
- Aggregation points where volumes attract serious buyers
- Grading, packaging and branding that lifts farm-gate prices
- Public-private partnerships for water infrastructure and market contracts
Melons are heavy, perishable and price-sensitive — they reward organisation and punish going it alone. That is why this work is built around producer groups and partnerships, not individual gambles.
This is a programme idea under development. Active project details will be published once confirmed.
Who we work with
- Producer groups in Tharaka Nithi's lowland wards
- County partners for water infrastructure
- Private buyers and off-takers