Most people think serious money in farming only comes from maize, beans, or dairy cows. But there’s a hidden gem many Kenyans are waking up to—tree tomato farming, popularly called matunda ya damu (tamarillo).
If done right, this fruit can put over KSh.100,000 in your pocket every single month.
If you have been dreaming of eating the fruits of your own labour then the idea of farming tree tomatoes (aka tamarillo or matunda ya damu) is a literal way to do just that.
The oval-shaped fruit is gradually taking over the market and supermarkets are scouting for farmers to help them meet growing demand.
One good thing about this crop is that once you plant a few seedlings you do not have to care of them everyday which means you can set-up a farm somewhere near your current place of work and monitor it remotely as a side hustle.
The most interesting bit of it is that you can get started with your meagre savings and make as much as Ksh.133,000 per month out of a small chunk of land.
But before you rush to invest here are some steps you need to follow.
Why Tree Tomato?
Tree tomato is not just another fruit. It has:
High demand: Loved in homes, hotels, and juice processors.
High market price: 1 kg sells between Ksh.80 – Ksh.150 depending on the season and quality.
Quick returns: The tree starts bearing fruits in 8–12 months and can produce for up to 5–6 years.
Small space, big harvest: You don’t need 50 acres—just one acre can set you on the path to six figures monthly.
The Numbers That Add Up to Ksh.100,000+
Let’s do the math with a 1-acre farm:
You can plant about 1,200 tree tomato plants (spacing 2m x 2m).
A mature tree can produce 15–30 kg of fruits per year.
Average production = 20 kg per tree per year.
That means:
1,200 trees × 20 kg = 24,000 kg per year.
Monthly average = 2,000 kg.
At Ksh.100 per kg = Ksh.200,000 per month in gross income.
Even after expenses (labour, fertilizers, transport, packaging), you can comfortably clear Ksh.100,000 net profit every month.
Step-by-Step Success Formula
Step 1: Find Land
Obviously, in order to plant anything you need some land. But you don’t necessarily have to buy one. Nowadays, you can easily lease land from farmers across the nation.
The ideal piece of land is one that is fertile and well drained. Preferably located in a place with adequate supply of water and relatively calm winds.
This is to say you can plant your tree tomatoes in places like Central Kenya, Western, parts of Nyanza, Taita Taveta and even parts of Rift Valley.
The fruits can even grow in semi-arid areas provided there is adequate water to irrigate them (in addition to mulching).
Set aside Ksh.15,000 for leasing land if you do not have any available.
Step 2: Prepare The Land
Apart from tilling the land and preparing the holes you will need to buy a water tank. This will come in handy during dry seasons because tree tomatoes require adequate watering at least once a week.
A good water tank with 1,000 litre capacity will cost you about Ksh.10,000.
Step 3: Find Good Seedlings
Not all tree tomato seedlings are good. Some take too long to grow and their fruits are bitter and unsightly.
So at this point you need to look for high quality seedlings that are grafted. A good breed is the red otaria family that only takes 8 months to mature.
The reason the red otaria type is popular is because 97% of it is edible and it has no seeds inside.
A seedling goes for Ksh.50 from HCDA and KARI recommended nurseries in the country.
An acre of land will require 1,200 seedlings amounting to Ksh.60,000. Remember, you can always start small e.g. on 1/8th acre which requires 300 seedlings and thus a smaller budget of Ksh.15,000.
Step 4: Plant and Wait
Plant the seedlings, keep caring for the farm and wait for about 8 months. Normally, that is the time it takes to see the first fruits.
And one more thing…remember to set aside a small budget for insecticides because aphids can sometimes be a bother.
Step 5: Care and Management
Watering: Needs regular irrigation, especially during dry months.
Pruning: Remove weak branches to allow strong fruiting.
Pest & Disease Control: Watch out for aphids and blight; treat early.
Manure & Fertilizer: Feed the trees every 3 months with compost and supplements.
Step 6: Harvesting
Fruits are ready when the skin turns deep red. Pick carefully to avoid bruises that reduce market value.
Where to Sell Tree Tomatoes
Market for high quality fruits is always available. In fact by the time your first crop matures you will start to receive calls from potential buyers.
But other than that, you can recruit a few young unemployed people to be retailing the fruits in shopping centers and bus stops near your place.
Alternatively, you can transport them all the way down to Githurai 45 market in Kiambu County or Wakulima Market in Nairobi County…or even Kongowea Market in Mombasa.
And if you have connections with supermarkets, you can package your product nicely and deliver them to the shelves.
Local Markets – Gikomba, Marikiti, and Ngara wholesale.
Supermarkets – Naivas, Quickmart, Carrefour (require neat packaging and consistency).
Hotels & Restaurants – High demand for fresh juice and fruit salads.
Juice Processors – Companies like Kevian and local juice blenders.
Direct Consumers – Sell through social media, WhatsApp groups, and home deliveries.
How to Boost Your Profits
Value Addition: Instead of selling raw fruits at Ksh.100/kg, process into juice and sell at Ksh.200 – Ksh.300 per litre.
Branding & Packaging: A neatly branded box of fruits can sell at a premium price in supermarkets.
Contract Farming: Partner with juice companies for guaranteed offtake at stable prices.
Agri-Tourism: Allow school groups or tourists to visit your farm and learn. Charge a small fee + sell fruits directly.
How Much To Invest
For a small farm like the 1/8 acre one you will require about Ksh.20,000 to get started.
However, because we always believe in thinking big, we shall give you estimates for an acre of land for purposes of planning.
-Leasing Land: Ksh.15,000
-Buying Seedlings: Ksh.60,000
-Farm Labour: Ksh.20,000
-Manure and DAP: Ksh.20,000
-Water Tank + Connections etc: Ksh.20,000
-Insecticides etc: Ksh.5,000
-Miscellaneous items: Ksh.10,000
1 Acre Total Budget: Ksh.130,000
Final Word: A Money Tree in Your Backyard
How many investment opportunities in this world allow you to inject Ksh.130,000 to reap Ksh.1,600,000 per year?
Well, very few.
That is why the idea of planting matunda ya damu is a timely one. You can start small today and build onto to bigger things.
If you do it so well, you can ditch your current occupation and focus on more potential revenue streams such as selling seedlings and value addition e.g. producing tree tomato juice.
What a lucrative business idea!
Tree tomato farming is no longer just “another crop.” It’s a cash crop disguised as a fruit.
With one acre, you can comfortably hit the six-figure mark monthly. But remember—it’s not automatic. Success comes when you:
Start with quality seedlings,
Manage your crop with care,
Build strong market connections, and
Add value whenever possible.
👉 Treat tree tomato farming as a serious agribusiness, and very soon you will be among the few Kenyans making Ksh.100,000+ per month consistently.
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