40 tonnes from 3 acres: Hannah's rainfed butternut and pumpkin story

When Hannah decided to grow butternuts and pumpkins on her 3-acre plot in Kilifi County, she was not planting for the local market alone. Her crop was destined for a buyer as far away as Croatia — and that meant every decision, from land preparation to harvest timing, had to be planned with the end market in mind.

Digichange Agronomists walked with her through the whole season. Our support began before a single seed went into the ground: pre-production planning, crop scheduling and agronomic guidance tailored to her soils and the coastal climate.

Remarkably, the entire crop was grown under rainfed agriculture — no irrigation infrastructure, just well-timed planting, good agronomy and the seasonal rains of Kilifi.

The result was a bumper harvest: 40 tonnes of butternuts and pumpkins from just 3 acres. That works out to over 13 tonnes per acre — a yield many irrigated farms would be proud of.

Just as important as the yield was the market. Because the crop was planned around a confirmed buyer in Croatia, Hannah was not left searching for a market after harvest — the market was part of the plan from day one.

Hannah's story shows what is possible when a farmer combines commitment with the right technical support and a secured market. Rainfed land, well managed, can compete at export level.

Are you a farmer with land and ambition, or a buyer looking for reliable Kenyan produce? Talk to us — we support farmers from pre-production planning all the way to the market.