Okra, locally known as ebombo, is a highly nutritious vegetable with increasing demand in both food and herbal markets.
With proper planning and sound agronomic practices, okra farming can become a reliable source of income. But success requires more than just planting seeds, it demands consistency, care, and clear financial calculations.
Evanice Manyiraho, an experienced herbal farmer from Kicwamba in Kabarole district, has been growing okra for over ten years. She says okra thrives in well-drained loamy soils and needs warm temperatures to flourish.
“I always prepare my garden before the rains begin. I plant in rows, spacing the seeds 60cm by 30cm to give each plant room to grow,” she explains.
She applies organic manure in each hole to boost early root development.
“Okra matures in 45 to 60 days. I harvest every two weeks, and each plant can produce up to 25 pods over time,” she notes.
On a quarter-acre plot, she grows about 500 plants. If each yield 20 marketable pods sold at sh100 each.
Twaha Kakooza, a herbal medicine practitioner and okra grower, highlights the crop’s added value.
“Besides selling fresh pods, I dry some for medicinal purposes and extract oil from the seeds,” he says.
He advises mulching and early weeding to maintain soil moisture and reduce competition for nutrients.
Both farmers stress the importance of tracking input costs, like seeds, manure, and labour, to accurately measure profit.
“Proper record-keeping helps you understand whether your garden is making money,” Manyiraho advises.
With the right techniques, okra farming offers fast returns and fits well into diversified farm systems. Whether grown for food or herbal use, okra is truly a green goldmine for smart farmers.
