How to Make a Fortune Growing Habanero Pepper

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To some people, agribusiness is a joke. Growing habanero pepper for money is even more foolish. It’s a waste of time and resources.

It just isn’t a career. It isn’t a way to make money.

It’s a hobby, a diversion, a fad that’ll come and go. Sure, you can grow some peppers, but don’t count on them to make you any money. That’s just silly.

Those people find justification in the fact that the global average farmer is at least 60 years old, most likely dirty, with dirty fingernails and definitely with no money.

But wait,

Those people don’t have the kind of information you have. Those farmers don’t have access to this article you’re reading right now.

And yes, I dare say that you can make a fortune from agribusiness. And yes, the journey to your fortune lies in one of the world’s hottest pepper – the habanero pepper.

growing habanero pepper
The habanero is one of the world’s hottest chili pepper.

If you’ll take the time to read through this post to heart, it will pay off.

Because here’s the thing:

You are not a joker. You are not foolish. You can make money from agribusiness. You can make more money growing habaneros!

You want specific steps.

Fine.

Here we go.

Here’s exactly how to make money growing habanero pepper.

Ecological requirements

The habanero chili pepper is a warm seasoned crop. That means that it requires relatively higher temperatures to thrive well.

For that matter, if you’re in areas that experience bright sunlight in most part of the day, then you might be successful growing the habaneros.

Related: Proven Tips for Growing Habanero Peppers in Containers

Soil and land preparation

You’ll require a well-drained loamy soil that has s good water holding capacity. The second important point is to ensure the soil PH is in the range of 5.7-6.5.

You can measure the soil PH yourself with the aid of a specialized PH meter, or send to a soil’s lab near you.

Once, satisfied with your soil properties, till your land accordingly to get a proper tilth. If possible add some composted manure into the soil to improve its structure.

Compost also guarantees that the soil has a good water holding capacity and enhances a better cation exchange capacity (C.E.C).

Habanero peppers grow extremely well in raised beds.

Therefore, make raised beds spaced 1.5 to 2 meters apart from their centers and cover them with a black plastic mulch.

Whenever possible, install a drip system which has proven to utilize water efficiently and increase the yields.

Habanero pepper seeds

Your choice of seeds will determine your success. It’s always advisable that you buy only high quality certified seeds. If you’re in Kenya, I’d advise you to buy ‘super habanero’ by Amiran or your favorite stockiest.

The habanero seeds are relatively small. So, you need to start them in a nursery bed, then thin them out so that only strong healthy seedlings remain.

Once the seedlings have attained at least six mature leaves, it’s time to transplant them.

Read: Effective Hacks for Growing Garlic Indoors

Planting and mulching

As earlier mentioned, mulching is very necessary to help keep the root zone warm and conserve water. Make sure that you mulch using a black plastic mulch that can absorb and retain heat much better.

Cut the holes on the black plastic mulch and then plant your transplants. Plant your seedlings in double rows of between 35 to 45cm apart and 40 to 60cm between the plants in a row.

Typically, a one-acre piece of land should easily accommodate about 10,000 to 14,000 habanero plants.

Irrigation and fertilizer application

Habanero pepper requires a lot of high-quality water to flourish. The water consumption ranges 25 to 30 inch of water throughout the growing season or 2-3inch per week.

This is again the reason why you need to make use of drip technology as well as mulch your crop.

Ensure to water or irrigate the peppers infrequently and yet deep enough.

When it comes to fertilizer application, make a feeding recipe based on a soil analysis report.

Take your soil samples to a soils lab near you to check which nutrients are deficient or otherwise.

However, when growing the habanero pepper, the rule of the thumb is to apply Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK) at the rate of 18:18:36 kilograms per acre at planting and 18:18:32 kilograms per acre injected through the drip over the growing season.

Pest management

Most peppers like any other crops are susceptible to a number of pests. The most common disease for habaneros is the blossom end rot caused by calcium deficiency.

To prevent blossom end rot from becoming a problem, ensure that you minimize deep watering during the flowering period.

Insects are equally notorious and it’s important to make use of sticky traps and insect nets in your habanero farm to keep them at bay.

Other common diseases include bacterial leaf spot, phytophthora blight, anthracnose fruit rot, bacterial soft rot and viruses such as tobacco mosaic virus and potato virus.

You can prevent these diseases by avoiding overhead irrigation, using resistant varieties, ensuring the soil is properly aerated, and practicing crop rotation between seasons.

Read: 31 Low Light Houseplants That You Shouldn’t Miss Out

Good agricultural practices

This is by far one of the most important points.

Remember that you’re growing food for human consumption. And as such, food safety is key.

The only way to ensure that you’re growing safe and high-quality pepper is by following the best agricultural practices.

Internationally producers and consumers are embracing the practices and ideals of GLOBAL GAP. It’s not just a requirement but an important component in enhancing food safety.

If you are in Kenya, start by implementing Kenya GAP as a benchmark and then slowly progress to GLOBAL GAP.

Risk management

It’s worth reminding you that any business venture has its own share of risks. And agribusiness is not an exception. For that matter, insure your crop against any foreseeable threats.

Additionally, all your farm equipment should be insured too.

The other way to cushion yourself against unexpected losses is by growing other crops other than the habanero pepper, just in case an epidemic against habaneros erupts.

There’s always a chance.

Don’t dismiss it.

Market Outlets for Habanero Pepper

What’s the market potential for habaneros?

Well, practically speaking the market potential for these super-hot chili pepper is fairly huge. There exist various market outlets that you can instantly tap into.

These outlets include; wholesale grocery stores, processing companies, food services, farmer markets, convenient roadside markets, and exporters of fresh produce.

Remember that the market should always drive your decisions and strategy.

Related: How to Export Fresh Produce from Kenya

Yield, Harvesting, Precooling, and the Money!

All the hard work aside, let me show you the money.

But first, let’s briefly go through the harvesting stage.

Harvesting of habanero peppers is done 2 -3 times during the entire growing season after attaining their horticultural and physiological maturity.

A mature habanero fruit is firm, edgy, deep colored and glossy.

growing habanero pepper
The fruits come in all colors including; green, red yellow, orange, purple, and brown

After harvesting, grade your peppers according to color, size, as well as check for any deformities or pests. Packaging and labeling should be done according to Good Handling Practices (GHP).

Then arrange for precooling as soon as possible to improve the shelf life of the fruits. Proper storage at 90 – 96% relative humidity, and under temperatures between 8-13ºC will extend the shelf life by 14 – 21 days.

According to Texas A&M University, habanero peppers yield between 4.5 to 9 tons/acre, with an average of 6.81 tons per acre.

In Kenya, the price for habanero pepper ranges between Kshs. 80 to Kshs. 120 per kilogram depending on the growing season and prevailing market demand.

Most at times, the price average is always at Kshs.100.

Let’s do the math.

6.81 tons of produce per acre = 6810kgs/acre

1kg = Kshs. 100

6,810kgs = 100*6,810/1

Which equals to Kshs. 681,000 per acre in 120 days.

With an estimated production cost of Kshs.200, 000,

You make a profit of Kshs.681, 000-Kshs.200, 000 = 481,000 or $4,810 in 120 days.

Assuming you never have to lift a finger for the rest of the year, you’ll still make Kshs.40,000 per month for one year!

Now, that’s what I call making a fortune.

Related: 17 Reasons Why Your Agribusiness is Doomed!

Conclusion

You’ve read the process of growing, caring, marketing and finally how to make a fortune growing habanero pepper.

You have two choices, the first one – dismiss this article as verbose and overly promotional or second, take action and start making a fortune while others doubt.

It’s your choice.

If you can make a net profit of $4,810 in just 120 days per acre, imagine how much more you could make with let’s say 5 acres or more. Don’t imagine, do it.

What are your thoughts? Let me know.

55 thoughts on “How to Make a Fortune Growing Habanero Pepper”

  1. Hi my name is moses Lee room Malaysia. I m interested on this superb idea.. But where cN I buy the seedling? How long can I keep on the seedling. Should I frozen those seed. I seen this super habanero chili while on holiday to sarawak.(East of Malaysia) but small in size. Appreciate if you can help me out. Thk you

  2. Wonderful post!!!! I love that you explain in simple straightforward manner the facts. In addition, there is a need to spread the word that chilis are high in vitamin c contents and other micro-nutrients above and beyond the fact that it will improve taste of highly processed food like in Amrica

    • Hello, Adele,

      I’m grateful for your kind words. I feel humbled.

      And yes, chilies are among those fresh produce that contains significant amounts of vitamin C.

      Thanks for the additional point.

  3. I’ve already grown them and got a descent profit out of them. The only correction I can make is that they can be harvested twice in a week for as long as they live in their 2- 3 life span. In Uganda, they r specifically for export and we have also had a chance to introduce pheromones that kill some fruit fly pests hence a reduction in spraying pressure. Also, they need a good start with manures more so with chicken litter and during flowering they need an NPK fertilizer to supplement on the chicken manure. I recently ventured into chilly and now busy looking for a business partner so that we can do something on reasonable acreage and in the right nutritional way. Spacing should also be a standard 90cm apart. Any reduction from that reduces yields as space, light penetration, agrochemical sprays etc don’t reach the plant so well. I’ve seen that all in my previous trials. For additional infor/ partnership, I’m on [email protected]

    • Hey Derrick,

      Thank you for dropping by and for the correction.

      It’s much in order and most welcome.

      As we all know, most of the farming operations are dictactated by each individual’s objectives. And as such, those operations are likely to vary from person to person or even region to another.

      However, all farming operations should be based on food safety and profitability. I specifically support the use of pheromones in combating fruit flies.

      Thanks for your valuable comment.

      I’ll be hitting your inbox soon for a further discussion.

      • Thk for sharing. I m from Malaysia. Love this hobby. Still waiting for answers about the seedling, where to buy them. Can I frozen those seed b4 use?? Please advise. Thk you

    • Hi Derrick, I live in Kenya and interested in growing them, i would like to know where you sell your products if it’s possible to deliver from here?

  4. This site offers no room for correction but in my comment, I meant 2- 3 years life span. Someone may talk of si units as with academicians.

  5. I am wondering if this habanero pepper is the same one we call here in Costa Rica ” Panamanian pepper”

    • Panamanian peppers are types of Scott Bonnet. People confuse them with habaneros because of their close resemblance, owing to the fact that Habanero and Scott Bonnet both belong to the same species of chili pepper (Capsicum chinese)

  6. Great article Chris! We grow cotton with 60000 SHF’s in Cabo Delgado Mozambique and are looking for another cash crop for them to grow, this may be it!

  7. I have 12 acres, and the $$ necesary, to start in this Habanero buisiness.
    We are In Baja California South, Mexico
    My concern its the market. Are you have clients ??
    Thanks
    Alfredo

  8. Hi Chris, kindly let me know the places where Habanero does well in Kenya, would it for instance thrive in a place like Kisii

    • Hi Eric,

      The habaneros will perform optimally in most altitudes ranging from 1200 to 2000 meters above sea level. However, lower altitudes are mostly preferred. So yes, they can perform well in some parts of Kisii as well long as the soil conditions are favorable.

  9. Thank u chris. Am bless in uganda…i have already started the business but am mainly in chilli..i have about 4500 plants and plants are planted in banana plantations and they are now 1months after harvesting but am woundering whether the requirements for chilli and habonero are the same. Advise about the pests, and soil requirements for my chilli. And @blickd tel me the market in uganda ..thanx

  10. Hi bless, visit KK foods- Naalya along the northern bypass. I hadnt seen your comment in time. Those r the market leaders in terms of hot pepper and chilly export

    • Derrick Blink, Thank you for the information. Is Habanero Pepper the same as the hot pepper whick the KK foods buy? If so where can I get the seeds. I want to plant now, now. School fees is killing me. Am from Tororo.

  11. Hi there, am a Liberian eagerly wanting to venture in this lucrative agribusiness for I have seen the unbelievable fortune it brings to the very few growers in my Country but how can I get quality seedlings of the discussed hybrid?

    • Hi Samuel, you can get the seeds in any Amiran certified agrovet/store. You can give super habanero by Amiran a try. Thanks for dropping by.

      • Hi Chris, thank you very much for the update. I will pass by Amiran his coming week. I will keep all of you posted on the goings on….. Thanks again.

  12. for a pilot project am doing 1/4 an acre comparing with other varieties to make conclusive to go commercially. Cris can you help in finding exporter Habanero pepper in Kenya?

  13. Hey folks, I am a Liberian from Liberia and I have had the passion for entrepreneurial pepper farming and I wish any of you guys can possibly be a help in getting the best seedlings of Habanero hybrid.

  14. Hi friends, I planted Hot pepper but there is a caterpillar that is in it. What can I do? How can I control it.

  15. Thank you chris, but I want to know the best season for growing Habanero peper, is it good at dry season or raining season? I want to plant this in Uganda but I stay and work in the USA.

  16. Hi Chris, I really loved the article and i feel this is what i want to do but i was wondering if you know the markets in south African where i can supply my habaneros after harvest.

  17. Chris..that was a a priceless piece there.
    Am in Uganda and already done the nursery bed for about 4 acres.
    Couldn’t have read it at a better time.
    Gerald

  18. Chris, Is this the only way to communicate with you. Am pursuing a venture presently and will be looking for exporters. My e-mail is rlong@ cableone.net. Robert Long

  19. Helpful piece
    I am on a pilot phase in Sierra Leone
    Got some seeds from Uganda

    Thank you so much

  20. I’m a Rwandan farming habanero pepper. But I’m still selling my production locally. Can I get anyone helping me exporting my harvest?

  21. I have recently discovered habanero and I must say your piece has guided me a lot. I am interested in looking for market for the chillies, any assistance will be highly appreciated.

  22. Thanks alot for this article .I’ve planted 15 stems only of habanero pepper and in what was to be a trial I’m shocked at the amount of harvest I’m getting however I’ve no idea where to get market for my produce. When I get ready market I’m planning to do two acres of habanero. Please help out.

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