KENYA · GUIDE 0006 · EDITION 4.2
Spring Onion Farming Risks: Crop Identity, Trimming and Delivery
Test the finished product, not just the bed
A spring onion trial should establish whether the identified crop can be harvested, trimmed, bundled and delivered to a buyer’s agreed specification. The name used in a market conversation may describe different products, so confirm crop identity with competent local advice and the buyer before purchasing a larger planting quantity.
Define observable decision gates
| Risk | Evidence to retain | Decision if the check fails |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer expects a different crop | Named planting source and approved sample | Pause the commitment and resolve the product identity |
| Root treatment is unclear | Written roots-included, trimmed or removed instruction | Agree the change and recalculate preparation work |
| Bunches look uneven | Reference count or weight, length and display feedback | Re-sort and test whether the revised bunch meets the order |
| Soil or damaged bases remain | Preparation inspection and rejected quantity | Hold affected output and correct the handling process |
| Green tops are crushed | Condition at packing versus buyer handover | Revise loading or container arrangement before adding stops |
| Customer delays payment | Accepted count, agreed due date and collection record | Limit credit to an affordable amount |
These are proposed controls, not evidence that a specific farm has passed them. Obtain competent advice for crop or plant-health issues; this page does not prescribe a pesticide, dose or harvest interval. KEPHIS and WRA provide seed and water enquiry routes for the actual operation.
Stage the work according to the real crop cycle
First confirm the buyer’s product, roots, bunch and receiving specification. Check the planting source, plot, water and applicable requirements. Then grow and monitor a bounded trial using locally appropriate advice. Record lifted output, trimming time, rejected stalks and prepared bunches when the crop is actually ready.
Do not promise a weekly count based on a packet label or a 30-day planning checklist. If the buyer changes root treatment or bunch size, adjust the production record and cost before committing to the new order. If safe handling or a required approval is unresolved, pause the affected work.
Review the trial as a whole
Compare accepted and paid bunches with sorting, ties, transport, returns and outstanding balances. Continue, change one part of the specification or defer expansion based on measured evidence and your loss limit. One successful sample or delivery does not guarantee continuous yield, local demand or profit.