Irrigation

Pawpaw or Papaya Irrigation Farming

Grekkon Limited’s pawpaw or papaya irrigation farming systems are for commercial pawpaw growing in Kenya. Button drip, and the conventional drip lines (but with a wall thickness of 0.8mm – 1mm) are the best irrigation system for production of pawpaw in whichever location. Commercial pawpaw farming is through irrigation for pawpaw market in Kenya, and for export. Pawpaw varieties do not determine the irrigation method adopted. However, pawpaw spacing in Kenya has an effect on the irrigation system cost. Papaya yield per acre is significantly higher under irrigation than with the traditional rain-fed method. With a button drip irrigation system, papaya fertigation is possible, and water use efficiency achieved is up to 98%. Other ways to irrigate papaya is by

Rain hose kits. Best to use for pawpaw seedlings while in the nursery
Rain gun sprinklers

Pawpaw or papaya irrigation farming requirement with button drip systems

The mainline supplies water from the source. Your irrigation water source will be either a reservoir, a river, a well, or a tank. The size of the HDPE or PVC pipe will depend on your acreage. A farmer with 10 acres will take a larger main pipe than one with a half-acre of trees
A sub-mainline will deliver water from the mainline to the 16mm HDPE pipes that serve the fruit tree
A button dripper connected to the 16mm HDPE line to directly irrigate the tree

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Benefits Of Pawpaw Drip Irrigation

It is water efficient because it uses 70% less water than sprinkler irrigation
The system is easy to install and maintain
It requires just one individual to run it over very large acreage
Every button dripper will meet the tree’s water need as adjusted

How To Irrigate A Pawpaw Tree

1. Check the soil moisture

Assess your soil moisture to a depth of 10 cm. If it is all dry, it is time to irrigate your pawpaw tree

2. Assess the state of your crop

Do the leaves droop and seem water-stressed? Then proceed to irrigate

3. Pawpaw drip irrigation system management

Irrigate according to the various blocks. Move to irrigate the next block after the soil is fully moist but not overflowing with water

Papaya Irrigation Farming FAQs

1. What is the cost of pawpaw irrigation farming in Kenya

Button drip irrigation system is from Kes 85,000 an acre
Rain gun sprinkler irrigation system or rain hose irrigation kit is Kes 55,000 an acre

This cost includes; the mainline and fittings, the sub mainline, and fittings, and labor.

For the button drip irrigation system, there is the 16mm HDPE line and fittings, and button drippers

For the rain gun sprinkler irrigation system or rain hose kit, the relevant accessories for each.

2. How do you irrigate a papaya tree?

Use a button drip irrigation system as defined above or a rain gun sprinkler system

3. Do pawpaw trees need a lot of water?

Yes, they do need plenty of water, especially during the flowering period, through to the end of fruiting.

4. How often do you water papaya?

In the dry season, water the fruit tree twice or thrice a week. During the wet season, irrigate only when it dries

5. Can you over-water a pawpaw tree?

Yes you can which will lead to root rot

6. What does an over-watered pawpaw tree look like?

The leaves will be small and pale. Then they will turn yellow. The fruits too are tiny and few.

7. Does the pawpaw tree like water?

Yes it does

8. How many litres of water does a papaya tree need?

Mature papaya trees need 4 liters of water weekly. Younger trees need more water to establish a good root system.

Admin

Established in 2017, Grekkon Limited is a Kenyan agribusiness company. It specialises in the provision of; - Irrigation systems - Greenhouse construction - Dam liners installation - Water pumps - Solar dryers construction - Agriculture nets - Borehole drilling The company has operations offices in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nyeri, Meru, and Nyahururu