Meru engineer turns love for dragon fruit farming into wealth

Meet Anthony Mugambi, an engineer by profession, but famously known as the king of dragon fruit farming in Meru county.

The Kathuura village in Imenti Central farmer has earned recognition far and wide for the trade.

The Star met with him at Kalro’s open week for Food Crops Research Institute in Kabete, where he was showcasing his dragon fruit products.

Dragon fruit, a member of the cactus family, grows in arid and semi-arid areas. “It’s a fruit which is super rich in antioxidants and vitamins. It is good for health as much as it is good for wealth,” Mugambi said.

The farmer’s introduction to dragon fruit was unexpected.

“I first encountered it in China in 2003. At the time, I didn’t know what it was, but I found it calming and refreshing when I ate it. Later, a Chinese friend introduced me to it and I learnt about its fascinating origins as a cactus family plant,” he recalls.

Mugambi grows the fruit on approximately 20 acres of his Gravity Farm in Central Imenti.

“I grow three varieties; the red-flesh, white and yellow dragon fruits. Each has its own unique flavour,” he says.

His background as an engineer has been beneficial. “Being an engineer gives me the ability to approach farming with a problem-solving mindset, which is crucial for success,” Mugambi says.

This logical approach has allowed him to optimise his farming practices, combining technical skills with the details of agriculture.

Dragon fruit’s origins trace back to South America, before Portuguese and Spanish explorers introduced it to Asia, where it became a symbol of royalty and power.

“In Asia, it was associated with the mythical dragon Long, a symbol of strength and grace and was traditionally consumed by emperors and high priests,” Mugambi says.

“There’s a lot of arid land in Kenya that is perfect for growing dragon fruit.” Mugambi’s farming process begins with setting up plant supports.

“Dragon fruit plants have shallow roots, so you don’t need to dig deep pits. Just set up posts, add some manure and plant. Guide the plant up the post and in about a year or a year and a half, you can start harvesting.”

In just one acre, Mugambi plants around 2,000 dragon fruit plants. About 500 posts support the plants.

Depending on the care given, each acre can yield between five and 15 tonnes during a single fruiting cycle, which typically lasts from November to June.

“What’s interesting about the fruit is that you can also grow it off-season with proper management,” the farmer says. Looking ahead, Mugambi hopes to expand his operation to 50 acres within the next two to three years to meet the growing demand.

“Kenya is already on the global map of dragon fruit producers and in 20 years, I believe we will be one of the top three global producers,” he says.

A kilo of dragon fruit sells for Sh1,000 and there is demand for it locally and internationally. On average, one can easily make between Sh5 million to Sh10 million per year per acre with good husbandry, Mugambi says.

It will also cost an average of Sh1.5 million and Sh2.5 million to set up dragon farming on an acre of land. Despite meeting all the export requirements, Mugambi currently focuses on satisfying local demand.

“We’ve had to suspend exports because we can’t meet the local demand. It’s growing fast and it’s exciting,” he says. Prices for dragon fruits vary. The yellow variety fetches higher prices due to its sweetness, despite being smaller in size.”