Dania (Coriander) Farming: Benefits, Planting Guide & Market Prices
- BeyondForest
- Jun 1, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: May 23
2.)Uses of Dania
4.)Dania Price Review
5.)Where To Buy Coriander
6.)Challenges Facing Dania Farming
7.)Secret to Dania selling
With proper planning, multiple harvests are possible annually, enhancing income potential.
Image of Dania plantation ready for market by Enzo Noni Mudryk
Coriander, commonly known as dania in Kenya, scientific name is Coriandrum sativum is a versatile herb cherished for its culinary, medicinal, and economic value.
Mostly when you depend on rain everyone plants -Lucy Njenga
Cilantro Leaves are ready for harvest in 4–6 weeks; seeds mature in 3–4 months
Both its leaves and seeds are integral to various cuisines and traditional remedies. In Kenya, dania thrives across diverse climates, making it a staple in many farms and households.
Image of Coriander powder
Coriander is native to Western Asia and Southern Europe where it grows wildly. The Coriander plant has all its parts edible .The leaves,the seeds and the stalk .Coriander leaves are referred to as Coriander leaves or fresh coriander
Image of Coriander Flowering by Mk Peterson
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Yeah the moments you plant a lot of dhania prices fall , when you decide to pause then boom the demand is high -Agronomist Kenya
Image post on Facebook by Mutuma Pius
In china Corriander is referred to as chinese parsely In the US and Canada Corriander is referred to as Cilantro and in swahili it is referred to as Dania
Dania farming is a lucrative venture in Kenya due to its short growth cycle and high demand.
Image of Dania Seeds by Evar Githaiga
Sow the seeds at three-week intervals for a continuous harvest of fresh leaves throughout the season.
Step 1: Choose the Right Location
Dania thrives in full sun to partial shade (at least 4–6 hours of sun daily).
Dania Prefers well-drained, loamy or sandy soil rich in organic matter.
Image of Coriander seeds
Corriander Thrives between 10°C and 25°C; regions like Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Kiambu, and Nyandarua are optimal
Step 2: Prepare the Soil
Image of Corriander seedling by Moseh AJ
Clear the land to remove weeds, stones, and debris.
Dig or till the soil to a depth of 6–8 inches.
Mix in compost or well-rotted manure to improve fertility and drainage.
Image of Corriander seedling by Moseh AJ
Germination of coriander Occurs within 7–10 days.
Image of Dania Seeds by Mk Peterson
Use fresh, high-quality coriander seeds from a trusted agrovet.
Germination doesn’t take long and you will be able to see crops sprouting 9-10 days after sowing. Sometimes the seeds can take 2 weeks to germinate so don’t panic.
If you need quick gemination for Coriander soak overnight
Step 4: Planting
Sow seeds 0.5–1 cm deep, spacing rows 15–30 cm apart.
Broadcast or row-planting both work; rows help with weeding and harvesting.
Cover lightly with soil and water gently.
Germination doesn’t take long and you will be able to see crops sprouting 9-10 days after sowing. Sometimes the seeds can take 2 weeks to germinate so don’t panic.
Image of Dania plantation by Waithaka Junior
Water regularly but moderately.
Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during germination (first 7–10 days).
Avoid overwatering which can cause root rot or fungal diseases.
Weed regularly to reduce competition for nutrients.
Avoid excess nitrogen, which encourages leaf growth but reduces flavor.
Step 7: Fertilizing
Use organic compost or a light application of NPK fertilizer (10:10:10) every 2–3 weeks.
Step 8: Harvesting
Image of Dania Plantation by Marret Cyan
You can begin harvesting leaves after 3–4 weeks.
Cut outer leaves with scissors or a knife, or pull entire plants depending on use.
For continuous harvesting, grow in successive batches every 2–3 weeks.
For seeds (coriander spice), let plants fully mature and flower, then dry and harvest seeds.
An Acre of Land can be planted with 5 kilograms of Dania. You can harvest the leaves when they are about 4 to 6 inches tall, or let them grow until they flower and produce seeds.
Choose varieties based on intended use—leaf production or seed harvesting.
Uses of Dania
Image of a 100 gram corriander spice costing 160Ksh
Dania has two culinary uses: the fresh leaves are used as a Ingredients in foods such as Kachumbari,Marination of chicken ,beef and mutton ,inorder to make the coriander leaves effective the coriander are often used raw as toppings or added to the cooked dish few minutes before end of cooking to avoid heat diminishing the coriander flavor
If the market is worse take yourself to Marikiti then sell and then plant another round the next round you plant will be favored by the prices- Gitau
Image of Food spiced with Dania by Joy Trishnar
To harvest the seeds, cut the flower stems when the seeds are brown and dry, and shake them into a bag.
On average, coriander yields range from 1,500 to 2,000 kilograms per acre.
Advice :If market is very bad visit the end users around you like butcheries n hotels -Muthoni Njenga
Image of a Dania planation by Jackson Kairu
Dried seeds are used as a spice.
Coriander is also rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and essential oils that have many health benefits.
Dania Price Review
The price of Dania seems to be very volatile as on 2023 the price of one kilogram of dania farm gate price was 50Ksh .Still at 2023 the price of Dania seeds was 150Ksh per Kilogram . The current Farm gate Price as at 2025 of Dania seeds is 300Ksh per kilogram while the Dania leaves price is 100Ksh per Kilogram
Mix your Coriander seeds with dry soil to increase seed rate
Where To Buy Coriander
Mk Peterson | .0739570741 | Dania Seeds |
Mkulima Kemboi | 0754310251 | Dania Seeds |
Evar Githaiga | 0762496796 | Dania Seeds |
Image of Waithaka Advertising his Dania Farm
Best time to spray dania is when it is two leaves exactly while spraying is done early in the morning
Of all the challenges that faces dania farming most farmers complain the market is one of the biggest challenges to Dania Farming due to market fluctuations
For Farmers Bondo area siaya county the main challenge for Dania farming is Diseases like Aphids & spider mites
Image of a Dania Farmer on Facebook Complaining on Dania Market prices
How long does it take for Dania to grow?
Coriander takes 45 days to grow which is about 6 to 7 weeks under good management Dania can grow by 6 weeks .To ensure the Dania take 6 weeks water sufficiently
The cost of Dania seeds in Kenya is 250 grams which cost 650 Ksh implying the cost of one kilogram of Dania seed is 2600Ksh
According to Agronomist Kenya 1 Kilogram of Corriander Seeds can fit a uarter acre of land implying for one acre one would need 4 kilogram of Corriander seeds. With 500 grams planted one is able to harvest 870 Kilograms of corriander making it a profitable venture
The best dania seeds to buy are from Simlaw Seeds as the benefit of buying simlaw seeds is that once you buy you can harvest your dania seeds and use them in the next season if you want to grow the dania for seeds
Image of a Hand holding Dania by Fredrick Kimori Mwaura
Dhania leaves and seeds contain vitamins A, C, and K, calcium, iron, and antioxidants.
Dania aids in digestion by stimulating digestive enzymes and juices, relieving bloating and indigestion.
Dania Contains compounds like linalool and cineole that fight inflammation.
Dhania leaves add a fresh, citrusy flavor to food, while seeds are used as a warm spice.
Dania Matures quickly (within 3–4 weeks), ideal for small-scale farmers and kitchen gardens.
In Kenya and much of East Africa, "dhania" is the most commonly used term in Swahili and local English to refer to coriander leaves (also known as cilantro in the U.S.).
Can Dania be eaten raw?
Yes, dhania (coriander leaves) can absolutely be eaten raw, and it’s commonly consumed that way. Fresh dhania is widely used as a final topping on dishes like soups, stews, grilled meats, beans, and Kachumbari to add a burst of flavor and color.
Secret to Dania selling
Image of a 100 gram coriander seeds costing 500Ksh on Jumia
Best way to curb major challenge facing Dania as is very common with most farmers is to value add the Dania by not only planting Coriander for Leaves but seeds as Seeds are used as spices for instance if the farm gate price of Dania is currently at 100Ksh per kilogram and the price keeps fluctuating the cost of coriander spice for a 100 gram is 160Ksh implying that 1 kilogram cost 1600Ksh if you decide to even sell at a half price to hotels or even restaurants you are more likely to bag some loyal customers
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